Volunteerism is, overall, an act of kindness; however, Louise Kavita (42) from Swakopmund is giving new meaning to volunteerism by helping the girl child.
Kavita, a wife and mother of four children, who is juggling her work as a health assistant and counsellor, also set up a centre in the democratic resettlement community (DRC) in Swakopmund to look after babies and non-school going children of teenage mothers so they can go back to school. The centre, dubbed Vanessa health care, is registered with the master of high court as a trust and the ministry of gender.
On top of that, she provides counselling and support services to those struggling to accept their HIV status, as well as extramural activities on Saturdays and Sundays in the informal settlement to support the community.
She set up the centre in 2018 and currently looks after 15 kids with two volunteers: Ndapewa Mwatilile, also a teenage mother, and Penehafo Hamutenya, who matriculated last year.
Kavita says through her years of counselling, she realised teenage mothers suffer a lot in DRC, and that their children could also get caught up in the same vicious cycle if the issue is not addressed.
“I have seen the suffering of many young girls.
They become vulnerable and get exploited by elder men, who expose them to HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy and poverty,” she said.
The only thing that can help teenage mothers to become self-reliant is going back to school and getting a proper education.
However, she says, this can only be achieved if the mothers have a good support system.
“Hence, I saw a need to help them so that they can help their kids by going back to school and getting an education. Currently, one girl is in grade 11, two in grade 12, and five are currently doing their grade 10. Some of them secured jobs, while others who have not yet gotten jobs also come and volunteer at the centre frequently,” she explained.
She says she also spends her off days, lunch hours and weekends at the centre.
The soft-spoken woman says her experience with teenagers also made her realise emotional support, and a good support system is needed for them to go back to school.
“Most of these girls come from struggling backgrounds. However, sitting at home will not help them at all, as this might result in them going into prostitution, and alcohol and drug addiction,” she said.
Kavita added that teenage mothers drop their kids every day just before school and pick them up after school unless they have extramural activities. Those who have the means to come to the centre at break time do so to breastfeed their babies.
“The children are dropped off with food, especially vegetables and bread, to eat while their parents attend school. However, we encourage breastfeeding, as it eases the financial burden of the mother who often takes care of the baby alone,” Kavita explained.
She added that some of the girls do not even get a decent meal at their homes. She is now appealing to Good Samaritans to assist her to at least start a soup kitchen for the girls, as this will help them regain strength and produce breast milk.
“The only mistake these girls made was falling pregnant so young but that does not mean we should punish them or their babies. Their babies are part of them, and in order to help them, we are planting the foundation for them to empower themselves for their babies. We all deserve a second chance.”
“If you can, in any way, help at least one girl to go back to school, you will not only impact her life but that of her family as well. Let us intervene while we have a chance before they end up on the streets,” Kavita said.◆