Poultry farm benefits vulnerable kids

A Tsumeb centre for orphans and vulnerable children, Tov, has received funding from the Social Security Commission (SSC) to the tune of N$1.1 million to establish a poultry farm.The farm has 1 950 chickens that produce about 1 300 eggs per day, and supplies Tsumeb residents. Tov technical director, Reverend Edward Amadhila, said they are thankful for the SSC's support, because for the past 19 years, they have been trying hard to make sure that Namibian children are educated.The centre cares for 65 orphans and vulnerable children from the Tsumeb community, seven of whom are girls who live at the facility.“The SSC invested N$1.1 million in the establishment of our poultry farm infrastructure and our people were trained. We supply eggs to Tsumeb residents and every day, they get sold out. We cannot meet the demand for eggs in Tsumeb,” Amadhila said.“The little we are making now helps us to meet the current and future needs of Tov. We believe that every Namibian child deserves the opportunity to be fed, clothed, educated and empowered. For 19 years, we have been committed to our mission of providing physical, emotional and educational support to school-age children.”The poultry farm is situated at the Tov Evergreen Farm near Tsintsabis. The project is managed by Frederick Oaseb and provides employment to five San women from the area.Alessandra Kambanda, a 14-year-old grade eight learner at Opawa Secondary School, said she has been under the centre's care since she was four years old. She said they are being taught to be responsible citizens.“From school we eat, rest, do our homework and then we do household chores, including cooking. As much as the centre is taking care of us, we are also learning how to do household chores and to work for our money,” Kambanda said.“For anything that we need, we ask; then we can be given tasks to do such as cleaning.”Vannessia Gaeses, a 17-year-old grade 10 learner at Redimere Academy, said she is one of the fortunate children at the centre, as she attends a private school. “Private schools are expensive, but the centre manages to send me there. Life at the centre is good, as we get guidance in life and they are also taking care of our needs – even if we have to work for them,” Gaeses said.Lebbius Polikap, a 15-year-old grade six learner at Ondundu Primary School, said every day before he goes to school, he comes to the centre to have breakfast, and has lunch there after school.“I stay with my mother at Kuvukiland location. She sells her products in town and at home I will not find anything to eat, that is why I have to come to the centre,” Polikap said.Amadhila said these are some of the reasons why they have to do whatever it takes to support these children and educate them.ILENI NANDJATO

Poultry farm benefits vulnerable kids

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Poultry farm benefits vulnerable kids

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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