Christmas comes early to Okahandja Park
In a community challenged by high levels of poverty, substance abuse, violence and crime, the annual CRC Christmas party is a welcome distraction for many.
Hundreds of toys, snacks and soft drinks, as well as bags filled with essential household goods, were donated to residents of Okahandja Park during an annual Christmas charity drive over the weekend.
A member of the Christian Revival Church (CRC) in Namibia, Dina Rittmann, intimately knows the hardships and challenges faced by her neighbours and community.
A resident of Okahandja Park, she has acted as a crucial link between the informal settlement and the church's charity initiatives for many years. Around 270 children and 40 adults received gifts, food parcels and clothing at the CRC's Christmas outreach event on Saturday.
In a community beset by a lack of infrastructure, including water, electricity and toilets, and challenged by high levels of poverty, substance abuse, violence and crime, the annual CRC Christmas party is a welcome distraction for many.
“Drugs, shebeens, theft are rife here, mostly because of the high levels of poverty and joblessness,” Rittmann said.
Few households have electricity and water points are far way.
Toilets are mostly absent, she explained, and children and elderly people face numerous risks when visiting the bushes, in addition to being exposed to health risks.
Rittmann said the Christmas party has taken place for seven years now and aims to bring joy to the children and address some of the needs of the community.
“This is the type of place where many children rummage in rubbish bins looking for food. There is Harambee in Namibia, but not all benefit from it,” she said.
Rittmann has acted as a coordinator for the CRC church's goals for several years, and helps the church to identify the needs of the community.
The Christmas celebrations and donations on Saturday were hosted at her home, deep in the heart of Okahandja Park.
Hundreds of eager and excited children and adults, some who are also members of the CRC, quickly filled up Rittmann's yard, spilling over onto unpaved streets.
Volunteers from the CRC arrived in several cars, packed to the brim with toys for the kids, cool drinks, sweet bags and large bags of groceries for 40 households.
The grocery bags contained food items such as maize meal, oil, sugar, rice, soup packets, tinned fish and beef, macaroni and vegetables. Other essential items included toilet paper, candles, washing powder and soap.
Junior Garoeb (11) said he was overjoyed with his gift, a ball gun, and the sweets and cool drink. Garoeb, who is starting grade 6 next year, said he is the only brother among five sisters.
He said living in the area is tough at times, and he often struggles to fall asleep because he worries what the next day will bring.
“I worry about the lack of electricity. Sometimes when we can't get wood, it's difficult to make food.”
Nevertheless, he said he was excited to join his family for Christmas celebrations in Keetmanshoop and was looking forward to his gifts, which usually included clothes and other practical items.
Mildred Kooitjie (14) was given a doll and snacks and said she was very happy with her gifts.
Kooitjie, who has three brothers and three sisters, said during the school holidays she sometimes cleans houses but also takes time to play and relax.
She said she hoped to receive clothes, food and toys for Christmas.
JANA-MARI SMITH
A member of the Christian Revival Church (CRC) in Namibia, Dina Rittmann, intimately knows the hardships and challenges faced by her neighbours and community.
A resident of Okahandja Park, she has acted as a crucial link between the informal settlement and the church's charity initiatives for many years. Around 270 children and 40 adults received gifts, food parcels and clothing at the CRC's Christmas outreach event on Saturday.
In a community beset by a lack of infrastructure, including water, electricity and toilets, and challenged by high levels of poverty, substance abuse, violence and crime, the annual CRC Christmas party is a welcome distraction for many.
“Drugs, shebeens, theft are rife here, mostly because of the high levels of poverty and joblessness,” Rittmann said.
Few households have electricity and water points are far way.
Toilets are mostly absent, she explained, and children and elderly people face numerous risks when visiting the bushes, in addition to being exposed to health risks.
Rittmann said the Christmas party has taken place for seven years now and aims to bring joy to the children and address some of the needs of the community.
“This is the type of place where many children rummage in rubbish bins looking for food. There is Harambee in Namibia, but not all benefit from it,” she said.
Rittmann has acted as a coordinator for the CRC church's goals for several years, and helps the church to identify the needs of the community.
The Christmas celebrations and donations on Saturday were hosted at her home, deep in the heart of Okahandja Park.
Hundreds of eager and excited children and adults, some who are also members of the CRC, quickly filled up Rittmann's yard, spilling over onto unpaved streets.
Volunteers from the CRC arrived in several cars, packed to the brim with toys for the kids, cool drinks, sweet bags and large bags of groceries for 40 households.
The grocery bags contained food items such as maize meal, oil, sugar, rice, soup packets, tinned fish and beef, macaroni and vegetables. Other essential items included toilet paper, candles, washing powder and soap.
Junior Garoeb (11) said he was overjoyed with his gift, a ball gun, and the sweets and cool drink. Garoeb, who is starting grade 6 next year, said he is the only brother among five sisters.
He said living in the area is tough at times, and he often struggles to fall asleep because he worries what the next day will bring.
“I worry about the lack of electricity. Sometimes when we can't get wood, it's difficult to make food.”
Nevertheless, he said he was excited to join his family for Christmas celebrations in Keetmanshoop and was looking forward to his gifts, which usually included clothes and other practical items.
Mildred Kooitjie (14) was given a doll and snacks and said she was very happy with her gifts.
Kooitjie, who has three brothers and three sisters, said during the school holidays she sometimes cleans houses but also takes time to play and relax.
She said she hoped to receive clothes, food and toys for Christmas.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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