‘Imagine, dream and believe in a brighter tomorrow’ with Temba Kids Library

Hilma Weber grew up in a village in northern Namibia without a single storybook to call her own. Today, through Temba Kids Hub, she's making sure the next generation of Namibian children never has that gap in their own story.

“Growing up in a small village in northern Namibia, I did not have access to children’s storybooks,” she said. “It was only later in life that I discovered the joy and possibilities they hold.”

Weber's own path to Temba Kids Hub began after she started volunteering at under-resourced early childhood development (ECD) centres and kindergartens in Windhoek's informal settlements, reading to children, assembling library boxes and running basic literacy activities.

It was there that she saw how directly a shortage of books can narrow a child's world. “Children in these communities have limited access to books and age-appropriate learning materials,” she said.

“This lack denies them the opportunity to imagine beyond their immediate environment. Their story resonates with my own experience, growing up in a small village in northern Namibia with no access to storybooks,” Weber added.

That work fed directly into her first book, My Children's Picture Atlas of Namibia, produced with support from Development Workshop Namibia and distributed in thousands to ECD centres nationwide.

New worlds through books

It was, in many ways, a rehearsal for something bigger: in November 2025, Weber formally established Temba Kids Hub, dedicated to producing Namibian and African-inspired picture books, puzzles and early-literacy resources, alongside story and reading events for children.

“Every child deserves the best start for the best future; that is why at Temba Kids Hub we expand access to books so children can read, imagine, dream and believe in a brighter tomorrow,” she said.

Along with her published work, she continues to advocate for the importance of early literacy and access to books for all children.

The Hub has since opened a library at the Mekenificent Wellness Centre in Windhoek, with more than 3 000 children's books due to arrive in November.

Once the collection is established, Temba Kids Hub plans to run free mobile library visits to under-resourced communities across Windhoek and, eventually, the rest of the country. "It is our dream to see a children's library in every town or village," she said.

“We believe that every child deserves access to books, irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances,” Weber said.

“It is our dream to see a children's library in every town or village, so we hope to expand the Temba Kids Library to other parts of the country.”