Matheus David

In Windhoek lives a man many call a hero, even though he never refers to himself as such. Samuel Kapepo, a community man, has become a voice of hope for children growing up facing the same struggles he once knew.

Kapepo grew up without parents, fighting hard days that many young people still face today. Now 43, he says the pain he lived through is the reason he refuses to let other children walk the same road.

“I know the pain and the gain of being in the streets,” he says. “I don’t want my African queens and kings to go in my footsteps.”

For 17 years, Kapepo has been running a soup kitchen for hungry children and families. He often donates sanitary pads to young girls and also organises tours that allow visitors to see real life in the ‘ghetto’. It is not for entertainment, he said, but for creating understanding and respect. His work is not easy. He faces challenges and is often misunderstood, yet he keeps going.

“God chose me. This work was born in me,” Kapepo said when asked what keeps him going.

He believes that when the heart is in the right place, support will come on its own. “Whoever sees what I’m doing will come. I don’t ask for much. My trust is in God.”

Despite the struggles, Kapepo sees the impact of his work. He said he has paid school fees for children and helped families through difficult seasons. Today, some of the children he once fed are teachers, lawyers, and proud young adults who know exactly who helped shape their journey.

Kapepo’s message to the people is simple: Be yourself, be kind, and never lose hope.