Foreign aid dries tears of Namibia’s vulnerable children

The organisation Tears of Hope at Swakopmund has grown into an unintended mission for founder Naftalina Mauha.

Mauha has devoted much of her life to caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Her journey began over 30 years ago when she took needy children from her extended family in. What began as an act of familial duty, evolved over time into a formalised sanctuary for many children.

“These children were crying out for help and their cries were often overlooked,” Mauha says.

“We named the organisation Tears of Hope because their tears were seen by a higher power and it was our duty to respond.”
Tears of Hope was registered as a welfare organisation in 2007, by which time it had already been operating informally for several years.

Today, it provides not just shelter, but also education, healthcare and hope for a better future. Yet, sustaining its mission remains a constant struggle due to erratic funding.

Presently, Tears of Hope cares for approximately 18 children of various ages, from toddlers to young adults. While the Namibian government offers minimal assistance – providing grants for only two children – the bulk of support comes from overseas donors.

These international contributions have sustained the orphanage over the years, with donors often being connected to Namibia through tourism and volunteer projects, especially from Germany.

“We’ve had visitors who arrived from ships and left with a promise to help. Sometimes, they returned with suitcases full of supplies,” Mauha recounts.

While the orphanage has been fortunate in maintaining some of these contacts, foreign donors have certainly become more cautious, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We had more donors before, but things have changed. Now, we survive mostly on small donations from those who still support us, and for that we are grateful,” she says.

The challenges of running the orphanage extend beyond securing funds for daily expenses. There is also a need for support of long-term projects, such as education, which Mauha regards as a cornerstone of breaking the cycle of poverty.

“We do our best with the limited resources we have and sometimes even engage in fundraising to buy uniforms and school supplies for the children,” she says.

However, Mauha’s work in managing the home has taken a personal toll, she says.

“There are times when I cry at night, but I must remain strong for the children.”

COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Certainly, the limited involvement of local entities raises concerns about the sustainability of orphan care in Namibia.

“It would be a blessing if the government could provide regular monthly support. Overseas funding is not always guaranteed. If we had steady local support, we could plan better and do more for these children,” she emphasises.

Without foreign support, many of the children would lack not only a home but also a mother figure to care for them.

“We cannot do this alone. These are our children, and it is our responsibility to dry their tears,” she says.

Recent data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (2016) indicates that approximately 28% of Namibian children are classified as OVCs, with 8% strictly meeting the definition of orphan.

The prevalence of orphans varies across regions, with the Zambezi region recording the highest rate at 12,2%, while Khomas reports a relatively low rate of 4,3%.

Other regions, such as Erongo and Kavango East, see rates of 9,5% and 9,1%, respectively.

Unicef Namibia communications associate Rochelle van Wyk says the regional disparities call for the need to employ targeted interventions to ensure that children receive the necessary support.

Unicef collaborates closely with the Namibian government, offering both technical and financial assistance to the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.

“The organisation has contributed significantly to strengthening the social protection system, including supporting the government’s efforts to increase grants for children and people living with disabilities,” Van Wyk says.

Despite the government’s commitment to social protection, which includes increasing the children’s grant from N$250 to N$350 per child, and increasing the disability grant to N$1 600, significant challenges persist, particularly in rural areas.

Van Wyk says only 36% of eligible children benefit from the children’s grant, with barriers such as a lack of national identification documents preventing needy children from getting the support they need.

Efforts by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security to address generational undocumented status, including a mass registration campaign that reached over 110 000 people, have seen some made progress. However, timely birth registration remains a significant hurdle for many families, limiting their access to essential services.

She said that while Namibia is classified as an upper-middle income country, it has one of the highest income inequality rates in the world. Children, who make up 42,3% of the population, are more likely to experience multidimensional poverty.

“Foreign aid has been crucial in helping Namibia maximise its resources, better target support to the neediest, and improve the efficiency of aid distribution,” Van Wyk highlights.

“International support fills gaps and enhances the impact of domestic revenue by ensuring that systems are in place to respond swiftly to the needs of vulnerable populations.”

Organisations like Promiseland, a non-profit at Walvis Bay, have become essential for children affected by food insecurity, lack of educational resources and emotional trauma.

According to project coordinator Jenny Esterhuizen, foreign funding remains critical to meeting the needs of vulnerable children, while government support, though essential, often falls short.

“Grants like the maintenance grant and foster care grant are helpful, but they do not cover all necessities, such as food, healthcare, education and emotional counselling,” Esterhuizen points out.

Promiseland’s collaboration with international organisations, like the German Red Cross, has been critical in expanding its reach. These partnerships facilitate programmes that provide academic support, holiday activities and early childhood education.

As the organisation scales its operations, Esterhuizen emphasises the need for continued foreign funding.

Local donations, such as fish from fishing companies, have dwindled, creating shortages that impact the feeding programmes.

“Foreign donations have kept us afloat, ensuring that we can continue to serve those in need,” she says.

With high poverty rates and limited local resources, many OVCs face difficult circumstances without sufficient support.

Margo Pfeil, a practice manager at Erongo Social Services, describes poverty as one of the greatest challenges for OVCs.

“It is difficult for a child to concentrate on anything else when they are hungry,” she says.

Pfeil addresses cultural issues that compound the problem, such as a sense of entitlement that can undermine progress.

“We must teach these children to work hard and develop a sense of responsibility,” she emphasises, noting that fostering a sense of self-reliance is essential for breaking the cycle of dependency.

BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES

While foreign aid has been a lifeline for many OVC programmes, bureaucratic obstacles often discourage potential donors.

“In Europe, people want to contribute to projects where they see real change, but here they are faced with endless paperwork, even for small donations,” Pfeil explains.

She says the complexity of regulations frustrates both foreign donors and local organisations.

Moreover, a shortage of social workers further complicates the provision of care.

“The government is simply not producing enough social workers to meet the demand,” Pfeil says.

This shortage leads to a focus on crisis management rather than proactive support, with many children falling through the cracks. Overworked and underpaid, social workers struggle to meet the overwhelming needs of their communities.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare Lukas Haufiku says the government’s initiatives include the maintenance grant, which helps guardians meet essential expenses for orphans, while the foster care grant supports families caring for OVCs.

Additionally, community-based programmes in collaboration with NGOs, promote education, healthcare and psychosocial support.

“However, limited financial and human resources restrict the ministry’s ability to expand services and reach all vulnerable children,” Haufiku acknowledges.

He says international aid remains crucial for bridging the gaps in access to services. Major organisations like Unicef, USAID, and the World Food Programme support Namibia’s orphan care programmes indirectly, channelling their assistance through subsidiaries like Project Hope and LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia, which are registered with the social welfare ministry.

“Partnerships with these reputable organisations allow the government to leverage additional resources and expertise, enhancing the overall support system for orphans,” Haufiku notes.

He further assures that the stringent requirements of Namibia’s Child Care and Protection Act ensure that only qualified entities are involved in orphan care. While this vetting process safeguards children, it also poses challenges for foreign entities seeking to engage in this field.

“Nevertheless, international collaborations remain vital, enabling the ministry to bridge resource gaps and improve service quality.”

While government investments in child grants, education and healthcare have improved conditions for OVCs, Haufiku says foreign support remains indispensable.

“The well-being of Namibian children is not only a matter of humanitarian concern, but also a critical factor for the nation’s future. As such, both domestic and international efforts are required to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive,” he adds.