Born without arms
Ndeyapo Haufiku does not want anyone's sympathy and has big dreams for her five children.
Ndeyapo Haufiku, 42, a resident of Okaandje village in the Ongwediva constituency of the Oshana Region, was born without arms; but this has never stopped her from doing whatever she wants to.
Haufiku, a single mother of five, said she does not consider herself “disabled”, as the only thing she cannot do is cultivate a mahangu field.
“I am a very hardworking single woman. I am raising my five children on my own and I do everything for them. Whenever they are returning from school they will find me having already cooked food for them. I wash their clothes and bath them, especially the little ones, and I also make sure the house is clean,” Haufiku said.
She said the only thing that makes her feel uncomfortable is when people pity her because she does not have arms.
“I am not disabled. My legs are my arms and I can do a lot of activities that people with arms are not doing. The only thing I do not do is to cultivate the mahangu field, but I can pound mahangu and do other things. I am so thankful to God that he gave me wisdom and strength and that I do not sleep at home and wait for people to help me,” she said
Haufiku said she is the second eldest of her mother's eight children.
She attended Eluwa Special School in Ongwediva, where she failed grade 10 in 1995.
She then came home to stay with her mother, until her death in 2005.
Haufiku said her mother taught her how to do most household chores and use a hand operated sewing machine.
“When we grew up as children my siblings used to rely on me to help them with their work. I used to cook for them and do other work,” she said.
The Oshana regional councillor for the Ongwediva constituency, Andreas Utoni, said his office is aware of Haufiku, but they hardly see her looking for support, unlike other people with disabilities.
“Haufiku is very hardworking and does not look to government for help all the time. The only time you see her at the office is when she needs her or her children's papers to be signed. She is very good inspiration for other people with disabilities and for those who are not having any disability, but are finding it hard to work for themselves,” Utoni said.
Haufiku said she is praying to God to bless her children, so they do well in school.
She wants them to be able to create a better future for themselves.
She said her eldest child completed grade 12 last year, but did not obtain enough points to be admitted for tertiary studies.
Her second eldest is in grade 10 and she is also doing well at school.
Haufiku said she and her five children receive monthly social grants from government, and she is very thankful.
“The money is okay, but even though it does make a difference, it is not easy, especially when it comes to assisting children with their school needs. Every day they require lunch boxes, they need to look neat and I also have to dress them. I am also thankful to my neighbours. They are so helpful, especially with the mahangu field work. They are always there to help us,” she said.
ILENI NANDJATO
Haufiku, a single mother of five, said she does not consider herself “disabled”, as the only thing she cannot do is cultivate a mahangu field.
“I am a very hardworking single woman. I am raising my five children on my own and I do everything for them. Whenever they are returning from school they will find me having already cooked food for them. I wash their clothes and bath them, especially the little ones, and I also make sure the house is clean,” Haufiku said.
She said the only thing that makes her feel uncomfortable is when people pity her because she does not have arms.
“I am not disabled. My legs are my arms and I can do a lot of activities that people with arms are not doing. The only thing I do not do is to cultivate the mahangu field, but I can pound mahangu and do other things. I am so thankful to God that he gave me wisdom and strength and that I do not sleep at home and wait for people to help me,” she said
Haufiku said she is the second eldest of her mother's eight children.
She attended Eluwa Special School in Ongwediva, where she failed grade 10 in 1995.
She then came home to stay with her mother, until her death in 2005.
Haufiku said her mother taught her how to do most household chores and use a hand operated sewing machine.
“When we grew up as children my siblings used to rely on me to help them with their work. I used to cook for them and do other work,” she said.
The Oshana regional councillor for the Ongwediva constituency, Andreas Utoni, said his office is aware of Haufiku, but they hardly see her looking for support, unlike other people with disabilities.
“Haufiku is very hardworking and does not look to government for help all the time. The only time you see her at the office is when she needs her or her children's papers to be signed. She is very good inspiration for other people with disabilities and for those who are not having any disability, but are finding it hard to work for themselves,” Utoni said.
Haufiku said she is praying to God to bless her children, so they do well in school.
She wants them to be able to create a better future for themselves.
She said her eldest child completed grade 12 last year, but did not obtain enough points to be admitted for tertiary studies.
Her second eldest is in grade 10 and she is also doing well at school.
Haufiku said she and her five children receive monthly social grants from government, and she is very thankful.
“The money is okay, but even though it does make a difference, it is not easy, especially when it comes to assisting children with their school needs. Every day they require lunch boxes, they need to look neat and I also have to dress them. I am also thankful to my neighbours. They are so helpful, especially with the mahangu field work. They are always there to help us,” she said.
ILENI NANDJATO
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