When Rakkel Hamalwa talks about her business, she smiles easily and speaks proudly about her small business. For her, Journals by R is not just about paper and pages. It is about helping people feel less overwhelmed and more in control of their lives. 

Hamalwa is a qualified secondary school teacher with a bachelor’s degree in education. Outside the classroom, she has always been creative. She loves art, design, and finding meaningful ways to help people. But she never planned to become a business owner until life pushed her in that direction. 

The idea started during a stressful but joyful time. Two of her close friends asked her to be their bridesmaid. Suddenly, there were dresses to organise, payments to track, meetings to attend, and dates to remember. 

“I felt overwhelmed. To cope, I suggested buying a small notebook so I could write everything in one place. That simple notebook changed everything,” she said. 

As she watched how much easier planning became, she felt inspired to do more with the idea. 

With faith as her guide, she designed her first journal for one of the brides. Soon, she realised that many people struggle with the same problem not just with weddings, but with money, business, faith, and everyday life. 

“In April 2024, Journals by R was officially born. At first, I only made wedding journals. Today, the business has grown to include budgeting journals, business planners, pregnancy journals, personal growth journals, and spiritual journals,” she said. 

Each journal is carefully created from scratch and personalised for every client. Hamalwa believes that being organised brings peace. 

“When things are written down, your mind feels lighter,” she said. 

Although Journals by R is still a part-time business, it plays an important role in her life. 

She works full-time as a teacher, but the business helps support her financially. Coming from a big family, she has many responsibilities, and the extra income helps her manage when one salary is not enough. 

The business currently supports Rakkel and one secretary. Together, they handle everything from design to client communication. 

Growth has not been easy. Equipment is expensive, suppliers are far away, and profits are often small. 

Like many small business owners in Namibia, she has learned to be patient and build slowly. 

During difficult months, she plans carefully and balances her teaching income with business earnings. She said discipline and flexibility help her survive slow periods. Above all, her faith keeps her going. 

“There are days when you doubt yourself. You wonder if people will come, or if your idea really matters,” she said. 

In those moments, she turns to God. Her business is rooted in James 1:5, a verse that reminds her that wisdom is always available, even when answers are not clear. 

Yet, many small businesses struggle. Research shows that most small businesses in Namibia face high risks in their first years, with many closing within their first five years due to lack of finance, training, and other support. 

But she remains hopeful and positive. 

In the face of a recovering economy, soaring inflation and high interest rates, small business owners in Namibia are navigating challenging times. Now more than ever, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is important, given their significant contribution to the domestic economy. 

It is estimated that there are over 40 000 SMEs in Namibia, supporting the livelihoods of more than 200 000 people and contributing approximately 12% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). 

To help business owners, the government has introduced support programmes. These include loan schemes backed by banks that make it easier to borrow money, equipment aids to help buy tools and mentoring and training programmes to build business skills. 

Even so, access to funding and affordable resources remains one of the biggest challenges for many entrepreneurs. 

-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na