A German doctor will be remembered for many years by the residents of the Democratic Resettlement Community, an impoverished community living on the outskirts of Swakopmund in the Erongo region.
She donated N$9 million for the construction of a development centre in DRC.
Dr Annedore Knak, who was terminally ill, heard about the DRC Women’s Community project that was established by Anja Rohwer in 2010, through a flyer that was passed to her through a member of the German-Namibian Society (DNG), a non-profit, non-partisan and private organisation with around 1 500 members and sponsors that support projects in Namibia to promote youth and cultural exchange, among others.
Knack died in 2017 but kept her word by donating N$9 million to the project.
Rowher has been running a soup kitchen,
preschool, an early childhood development centre as well as a skills training income-generating project for
the residents of DRC with the assistance of German donors. The project started in 2010 on a small site in the informal area of the DRC, consisting of three shipping containers and a wooden hut.
Her proceeds and those of other donors gave birth to a fully-fledged centre in the heart of the DRC, which was constructed to the tune of N$12 million.
Rowher says the donation made it possible they could purchase the current piece of land on which the new centre was constructed.
“This centre validates the dreams of every child and woman in this community and gives us hope that they too can become successful in whatever they do,’’ Rowher said during the opening of the centre on Wednesday.
She said the new centre can cater for 100 preschool learners, and early learning education to 60 learners and provides meals twice a week.
“This community project’s main purpose is to provide a better living standard and support to women and children living under harsh circumstances.
A fully equipped sewing centre with sewing machines will also enable more women to become breadwinners and thus ensure a better future for themselves and their children.
The centre also started a small vegetable and fruit garden to assist with the feeding programme, as preschool learners received their daily meals from the centre.
Also speaking at the opening of the centre, entrepreneur Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun applauded Rowher for her selfless act, further paying tribute to Knack and other donors for making the project a reality.
“This is an initiative that will create change in the life of so many Namibians – not only today but in the years to come. I would like to commend you for ploughing back into the community of Swakopmund. I have no doubt that this has been a long journey but your vision to uplift your fellow Namibian
and consistent effort to create selfless change in women and children is truly remarkable and humbling,” Namundjebo-Tilahun said.