Teacher sacrifices salary to feed poor kids

A 38-year-old teacher from Grootfontein spends more than 50% of her monthly income to run an NGO that provides afterschool meals to about 100 vulnerable children in the community.

Elizabeth Petrus, the founder and CEO of the Victory Children Community Development Centre, said she started with her project because of her willingness to assist government to eradicate poverty.

Petrus, who was orphaned at an early age, said she started the afterschool feeding programme in September 2018 and operated from under a tree at Omulunga Primary School, where she teaches. At the time she could only cater for 15 children from Grootfontein's Blikkiesdorp informal settlement, but this number has now grown to 100.

The learners are served meals and also take part in various activities from Mondays to Fridays.

Petrus said her desire to start the NGO was ignited after observing how children came to school with empty stomachs. “I observed how many children would come to school looking as if they did not have something to eat. They were only relying on the school feeding programme, which I believe is not enough for them,” Petrus said. “Being an orphan myself, I could relate to those children, especially the vulnerable ones from Blikkiesdorp. You also had a feeling that they do not have a meal after school, as their parents are either at work or at the cuca shops. That is why I decided to act and do something for these children.”

Petrus said prior to establishing her NGO, she was already involved in taking care of vulnerable learners, by providing them with school uniforms and other basic necessities.





She now rents a house in Malalani, which she has converted into a centre that provides additional afterschool support for the learners.

When asked how she manages to fund her NGO, Petrus said spends her own money.

“Thank God I have a good, paying job; therefore I am able to use part of my money to ensure that the centre is running. Of course now and then donors will give something, but most of the centre's affairs depend on my income,” she said.

She added that Pick n Pay in Grootfontein and others do occasionally assist her with food.

“Like I said, I started this project on my own. I had to make reasonable, personal sacrifices to keep this project running. As for the donors that came on board, they just jumped on a moving bus. I appreciate those who now believe in me,” Petrus said.

“As an orphan myself, I know you sometimes just feel like walking away from where you are living, especially when you don't feel loved and welcome. It is for that reason I am running this centre, in order for the children to feel loved and appreciated,” Petrus said.

She said some of the children refuse to go back home when they are dismissed from the centre, after all the activities for the day are done.

Petrus said people in the community accused her of wanting to poison the children, while others said what she was doing was not sustainable.



She said she chose to ignore them and continued with her work.



“One thing I learnt growing up is that people will always talk, whether you are doing something good or bad, and that's why I did not let their criticism affect me. I kept on doing what I love, which is taking care of the Namibian child,” she said.



When asked about her challenges, Petrus said that she needs a bigger space, as the house she is currently renting is too small.



She has approached the Grootfontein municipality for a piece of land, and once her application is successful, she will hopefully start with the construction of her envisioned centre.



“I do not want to continue renting because I can use that money to accommodate more vulnerable children. That's why I am hopeful that after my presentation to municipality last year, they will give me a plot,” she said.



Petrus is a mother of a 12-year-old daughter who also assists at the centre.



Volunteers do the cooking and serve the meals.

KENYA KAMBOWE