Humans of Windhoek

Picture a man wearing a checkered blue shirt, red pants and a pair of sandals, almost resembling sneakers. His face may seem gloomy, almost lost, but that is not what he feels on the inside.

As he sits on the pavement somewhere in the streets of Windhoek, he has a can of paint sitting in front of him, but this is not just an ordinary paint can. The brim is covered by black material, tied together by strings of wires and rope. With a stick in his hand, this man plays the drum like a professional, along with his cousin, and uses his skills to produce beats and clicks to entertain the crowd.

These are one of the stories that the inspiring page Humans of Windhoek tells and the masses seem to love it.

Humans of Windhoek was started in November 2014 by Joash Perera and his friend Gary van Wyk.

“I started it to encourage a mate who was going through depression. I saw how the Humans of New York stories were encouraging and inspiring people who wanted to give up on life,” says Joash.

Assisted by a few other friends who transcribe some of the interviews and also contribute stories, the team believes that the main focus should not be on them, but on the people who really matter – the inhabitants of the city whose stories need to be told and shared.

With over 3 000 likes on Facebook, the Humans of Windhoek page is a true testimony to the quote “don’t judge a book by its cover.”

One such story that has inspired is that of 15-year-old Benjamin Snyders who is still in high school.

“I want to become a lawyer when I grow up and build a house for my mother. I also want to buy a car,” he says. What’s extraordinary about Benjamin is that he washes cars for a living so that he is able to pay his school fees and assist with other payments at home.

“I also do different jobs for people so I can earn money. My goal in life is to be successful in everything I do and be happy,” he explained to the team.

When asked why he wants to be a lawyer one day, he responded that he wants to change crime in the country by “bringing peace and order through the small courts”.

Although young, Benjamin made clear his vision to make a difference in not only his life, but in other people’s lives and the country as a whole. This sad, summarised tale has gained close to 2 000 likes and 249 shares on Facebook and eventually triggered the ‘Help Benjamin Project’.

“The Help Benjamin Project has really been overwhelming!” Joash explained. “We were really touched to see the generosity, positive comments and encouragement from the general public. There were people offering to let Benjamin come and wash their cars. A law company also offered to give him work during the school holidays.”

Friends from social media also came together to support Benjamin and the Humans of Windhoek team is amazed by the effect one post has had on the general public. “What transpired with the Benjamin story really exceeded our expectations and showed us that this is actually a fantastic platform to highlight people who don’t always get their story heard in the hustle and bustle of life,” Joash said.

“#PeopleMatter and that’s why we rather focus on them and that they have a platform like the Humans of Windhoek page to highlight their plight in life.”

Approaching people randomly must be a difficult task, but Joash says being a people’s person and talking to everyone makes the job easier. “There’s so much value in every conversation I have with people and I always walk away with something that either blesses me or challenges me. I love using humour to make people laugh and smile. It breaks barriers, people let their guard down and this helps me capture a special story for the page.”

Humans of Windhoek has also highlighted the noble story of a young woman who you may pass on the street. Her story is certainly one to inspire. Every night, she plays the role of a cleaner, keeping the malls squeaky clean for the average shopper. During the day, she studies IT and English at the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) in Katutura with hopes of uplifting herself and her family.

“I’m happy when I’m washing (floors at the mall), at least I’m earning something to help myself,” she tells the team. Dreaming of one day travelling to Cape Town in South Africa, anything is possible when you put your mind to it. The support she has received has been tremendous.

The same can be said for one of the homeless men featured on the page. “I know that the person we featured who helped the homeless guy with a blanket and groceries got donations through his church to help the community and to also help those who are in prison too,” Joash explained.

This man asked for a blanket, which a Good Samaritan offered to buy. “If God wouldn’t help him that day, he was going to commit suicide,” it says on the post.

A few months later, this same homeless man got a job at the mine and gives all credit to God who has provided him with the basic needs.

Someone who has been affected positively by this page has been George, who did wire craft arts. “After we featured him, his business started to pick up and he was also asked to come and teach kids at some of the local schools too. So it’s great to see someone like George being highlighted and that people can invest into his business and make a difference in his life.”

The idea of inspiring and encouraging through the Humans of New York page came to life in the summer of 2010 by Brandon Stanton. The 30-year-old photographer and blogger thought it would be a great idea to create an exhaustive catalogue of fellow New Yorkers. At first, his main idea was to get out there and take photos of 10 000 New Yorkers, plotting their photographs on a map, but it changed into something bigger and better.

With over 14 million followers on social media platforms such as Facebook, the group is only going to get bigger. Already, Stanton has scored various nods such as a place on Time Magazine’s ‘30 Under 30 World Changers’. There is also a New York Times bestselling book ‘Humans of New York’ in various outlets around the world. “It’s been quite a ride so far. Feel free to follow along,” Stanton concludes.

One of their notable Facebook posts includes the story of an Afghan man and his American love. “We first met at a café in the West Village, and I was completely taken by her. But the next day I had to leave for a six-week trip to Afghanistan. Soon after I arrived, I bought her a traditional Afghan locket that holds a small prayer. Instead of a prayer, I wrote a little poem, and stuffed it inside. It said, ‘Mountains and months away, and I’m still haunted by one afternoon in New York.’”

To nominate someone you know or highlight a story that needs to be told, go to the Humans of Windhoek’s Facebook page or email howc@mediahubink.com.