Hilma Kandjimbi is a social worker for the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, responsible for Oranjemund and Rosh Pinah.
She is amongst the few professionals in the country mandated to carry out many functions under the Child Care and Protection Act.
She has an honours degree in Social Work from the University of Namibia, and has been working for three years.
She joined the public sector after completing her study in 2021.
As a social worker, she wears many hats, and has a staggering list of responsibilities.
She is responsible for providing counselling to children who are victims of abuse, including those who witness violence at home or in the community.
She also offers grief counselling to children who have lost their parents or caregivers, as well as dealing with social issues faced by children such as inadequate care, neglect and behavioural problems.
Other duties on her shoulder include being responsible for facilitating access to basic services such as health education, protection and care.
“Sometimes, I also conduct school awareness talks to sensitise children on their rights and violence against children, as well as educating stakeholders on the Childcare and Protection Act, including mandatory reporting,” she noted.
Kandjimbi, who also served as a medical social worker for the health ministry, told New Era that she is responsible for conducting assessments on the child disability grant as well as neglect, labour and trafficking-related to children.
As a social worker, she conducts case management on statutory services such as custody, adoptions, access rights, foster care, kinship care and guardianship.
Joining public service
Queried on why she joined the public service, Kandjimbi revealed she has love and compassion, especially for children who have been impacted by various social issues.
“My position as a social worker based at the constituency level gives me a great opportunity to execute my work while operating in the community, and it is well-aligned with the constituency office and other line ministries that work directly with children,” she divulged.
She added: “Serving my community and country has always been my passion. Joining the public sector was an opportunity for me to fulfil my dream of making a positive impact on society, and contributing to the development of my country. For me, serving the people of Namibia is not just a job. It’s a calling that I take great pride in”.
Kandjimbi asserted that working for the government is an opportunity to grow professionally.
She could not shy away from the stability and job security that come with her job.
She has also previously worked in the private financial sector
“The experience I gained in the private sector laid a solid foundation for my career as a social scientist (social worker), and fuelled my passion to join the public sector. I am passionate about serving the community,” she said.
Challenges
Although she cherishes every moment she spends on the job, it is not without challenges.
She admitted that interacting with individuals from diverse cultural and social backgrounds can be a bit challenging.
“It is a fact that there is no job without challenges, but the public sector is responsible for the entire population. Therefore, the challenge for public servants is much greater. Numerous contributing factors can at times delay the provision of efficient services, especially when there is a lack of resources and budgeting constraints to carry out the planned activities,” she noted. The young, passionate social worker said it is satisfying to help Namibian children, regardless of their social status.
“This has made me grow in my profession by working in an environment that gives priority to my clients,” she remarked.
Memorable moments
Concerning work-related accomplishments or memorable moments, Kandjimbi said “What I found most memorable is the recognition of the service I provide in the community, and the generous support our office always received from different stakeholders within the constituency”.
Plans
She said only the future holds the answer to the question of how long she will remain in the civil service.
“I have not thought about resigning yet, but I’m prepared to reach the highest level my career can offer, and perhaps at that level make a difference in policy formulation that would serve our population better,” she said.
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