Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK With less than a week to go before Namibians celebrate the country’s 16th independence anniversary, formerly disadvantaged children from ‘Moria Grace Our Shelter’ in Katutura are also preparing themselves for the historic day. In their own special way and for the very first time this year, they will be commemorating the day at a local farm, Samfontein in the Groot Aub area, just a few kilometers outside Windhoek. The significance of this year’s Independence Day for the over 500 children of the shelter cannot be underestimated. The children also want to demonstrate support for President Hifikepunye Pohamba as Head of State after he was sworn in early last year. “We felt that we would like to stand by our President and make this very special celebration for the children,” said Head of the Shelter, Wilhelmina Afrikaaner. She said that the venue was ideal for the children to commemorate the day, since Samfontein was initially the birthplace of the shelter 18 years ago. Established on October 10, 1988, Moria Grace Our Shelter has become home to hundreds of street children and Aids orphans in and around the city. Later this year, the shelter will also be moving from its current location in Soweto to a new building near Augaikas Primary School in Katutura. Mother Afrikaaner, as she’s affectionately known, said it was high time that the shelter does something for itself for a change such as staging Independence Day celebrations. “We have to stand up and do something for ourselves also for a change,” she added. The day will be marked by a variety of entertainment activities, including the Nama Stap, horse-riding for the children, a flag parade by the Marjorie girls. Food and drinks will be offered and an official from the Khomas Regional Council is expected to open the event at Farm Samfontein next week Tuesday. “All kinds of donations are very welcome and we also invite everyone to come and enjoy the day with us,” said Afrikaaner. She added that time has come to show love towards the disadvantaged children of the country in the upcoming 16th independence anniversary. It is only in this way that the future generations can also be proud and value the historical legacy of the country’s hard won freedom.