In collaboration with Inno-Grows and The Agribank of Namibia, former Miss Namibia Selma Kamanya has unveiled the first-ever hydroponics urban farming unit at the Church Alliance for Orphans (Cafo) centre, which supports the Bernard Norkamp Centre. The initiative holds significant promise in combating the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The project was established in 2021, with a vision to equip communities that rely on feeding schemes with essential agricultural skills, empowering them to cultivate their own sustenance.
She highlighted that the aim is to contribute to Namibia’s overall food production systems, firmly believing that urban agriculture, even on a smaller scale, can foster local food production value chains, strengthen our ecological footprint, and enhance the resilience of our modern food
systems.
“Projects like this are necessary for our society to foster holistic, well-rounded children. They need to be provided with the basic necessities to realise a future in which they can make something of themselves and actualise their dreams as the leaders of tomorrow.”
The urgent need for such initiatives is underscored by recent reports revealing the devastating impact of malnutrition. In the Omaheke region alone, 45 children have tragically lost their lives due to malnutrition, with 132 cases recorded from January to June 2023.
Kamanya’s journey as a volunteer over the past five years led her to realise the importance of sustainable solutions. The experience of sourcing temporary fixes and donations for the soup kitchen at a centre in Goreangab made it evident that a long-term, sustainable approach was necessary. The focus shifted towards providing nutritious meals, educating children about healthy eating habits, and igniting a passion for agriculture that could pave the way for a brighter future.
Expressing her gratitude to the Agribank of Namibia, Kamanya acknowledged their instrumental partnership with the Innovation Foundation in this gardening project. Despite encountering challenges along the way, she praised the bank for its proactive approach and unwavering support for women in agriculture initiatives. Their pledged assistance to this project aims to expand to different regions of Namibia.
Together with the support of Agribank, Kamanya proudly presented the hydroponics unit to the Cafo centre, which supports the Bernard Norkamp Center, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children in communities.
“They provide psychosocial support training, early childhood development programmes, and academic support to children in need.
The Cafo centre, in collaboration with the Bernard Norkamp Centre, ensures that approximately plus or minus 130 children receive daily meals, which, for some, maybe their only source of sustenance for the entire day. With the new hydroponics unit, the children will have the opportunity to grow and harvest nutritious vegetables for their meals,” she explained.
“The Cafo/BNC centre is more than deserving of our commitment to combat the lack of accessibility to food in Namibian communities,” emphasised Kamanya.
She added that it takes a community to raise a child, but it takes just one seed to spark change in an entire community.
“We must join hands, we must support initiatives that empower and provide sustainable solutions to the issues faced by children and vulnerable communities and we can only do this when we are driven by a shared purpose,” she noted.