Rudolf Gaiseb

The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare said street kids in Namibia ignore the government’s support to remove them from the streets. 

This support includes providing shelter, education opportunities and eradicating hunger. 

After the home affairs ministry announced on 21 May 2024 its plans to relocate stateless child vendors, New Era enquired what measures and initiatives the government has put in place to assist homeless Namibian children who are similarly roaming the streets, eating out of trash cans, and sleeping in the open. Gender equality ministry’s spokesperson Lukas Haufiku indicated that enough is being done to cater street kids, saying the ministry runs an After-School Centre (ASC) aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable and homeless children, particularly those living and working on the streets.  “The ASC focuses on reintegrating these children into society through various services and activities. These key initiatives include street children’s programmes, including regular home visits and street visits to identify and support street children; integrating children into formal and informal educational institutions across various regions; and reconnecting children with their families,” he said.

Haufiku said other programmes include counselling and psychosocial support, offering mental health support to children, helping children find their families, providing temporary overnight accommodation, soup kitchens, ensuring children have access to food, and for school-going children, holiday activities, and engaging children in productive activities during school holidays. The ASC programmes also include income-generating projects designed to assist parents and children in generating income through activities like gardening, sewing and bead-making. “This helps families become self-sufficient, and reduces the likelihood of children returning to the street. The ministry collaborates with various stakeholders, including other ministries, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, United Nations agencies, business communities and the City Police to ensure the well-being of these children. The ASC aims to equip them with life skills, and provide early intervention strategies to keep them off the streets,” he added.–rrgaiseb@gmail.com