Monika Amunyela 

The DesertKidz Care Foundation, a Namibian non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting vulnerable communities, marks a decade of serving Namibian communities.

Founded in 2015 by Jasmine Goagoses, the initiative began as a personal calling shaped by the community, she grew up in. A community filled with a culture of service and a deep love for children and people. What started as a small community initiative has now grown into a nationwide organisation addressing both immediate needs and long-term empowerment.

The organisation which started off under the name NAM Kid, ran multiple community programmes throughout the years, before it was officially registrated in 2023 as DesertKidz Care Foundation. During these early years, the organisation focused on delivering food, clean up campaigns, winter relief packages and provided awareness programmes across Windhoek and communities nearby communities, helping thousands of people in the process. 

As any other NGO they also were faced with challenges, from limited resources and periods of minimal support, this only pushed them to help even more, refusing to stop assisting communities. 

Today, the organisation’s mission centers on addressing urgent social needs while creating opportunities that can assist individuals on a long term basis and not just at the moment.

One of DesertKidz’ most impactful initiatives is the Kiddies Survival Course, launched nationwide in 2023. The course took place in different towns such as Rundu, Swakopmund, Karasburg, Ruacana, Katima Mulilo. The programme equips children and adolescents with life skills. 

Their focal topics included sexual education, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, substance abuse prevention, and mental and physical health.

This course then evolved into Desert Skills Studio Crash Course, where children help create short films that address social ill topics, these films are produced in a day. 

This hands-on approach has shown stronger understanding and retention among participants.

Supported by dedicated volunteers from across Namibia, DesertKidz continues to expand its reach through seasonal drives and hospital toy donations. Some of their future plans include free housing initiatives and expanding on the skills training they already offer. 

-mamunyela@nepc.com.na