Jonah Home gives Namibia's abandoned children a family

For the past 15 years, Jonah Home in Walvis Bay has provided a safe and nurturing environment for vulnerable children who have nowhere else to go. Established in 2011 by a group of volunteers, the home was initially created to care for abandoned babies and toddlers and was later officially registered with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare the same year.

Today, the home cares for about 14 children, although it has the capacity to accommodate up to 20. The number of children in care can change at any time, depending on the needs of the community.

Director Siphokazi Kangowa offered a glimpse into daily life at the home.

"Breakfast must be prepared. Babies need bottles. School uniforms must be ironed. Toddlers need comforting. Homework must be checked. Doctors' appointments must be arranged. And somewhere in between all of that, another phone call may come from a government social worker. 'Can you take one more child?'"

She said saying "no" has never been easy, because behind every child arriving at Jonah Home is a story no child should ever have to live through.

"Some arrive hungry. Some arrive after suffering abuse. Others come from homes destroyed by alcohol and drug addiction. Some babies have been left alone for days before being rescued. Some children have never even had a birth certificate. They arrive without an identity, without security, and sometimes without anyone in the world who is waiting for them," she said.

But, once they arrive, things become better, she added. "At Jonah Home, they receive something many have never known before. They receive a family."

Kangowa spoke about one little boy in particular, affectionately nicknamed 'Sweet Potato".

"When the little boy arrived at Jonah Home, he was only two days old. His mother had made the heartbreaking decision that she could not raise him, and with nowhere else to turn, she entrusted her newborn to the care of strangers. Those strangers became family. The caregivers jokingly nicknamed him 'Sweet Potato'.

"Today, Sweet Potato is one year and three months old. He laughs and walks through the corridors of Jonah Home. He reaches out to be carried by the same caregivers who have become his mothers, fathers, comforters and biggest cheerleaders. To anyone visiting the home today, he looks like any other happy little boy, and few would ever guess that his life began with uncertainty."

Every child matters

Kangowa said Sweet Potato is just one of many children whose stories reflect the realities faced by the home.

"Another baby arrived after being abandoned for days, weak, malnourished and fighting tuberculosis. His tiny body carried far more than any infant should ever endure. Today, he smiles, he plays, he is healthy, and he has a future."

She stressed that these are not isolated stories.

“They are the daily reality for Jonah Home."

The registered children's home serves children from across Namibia.

"While many people believe the home only supports children from the Erongo region, the truth is very different. Children arrive from Erongo, Oshikoto, Kavango, the //Karas Region and beyond, referred through government social workers who have nowhere else to place them,” Kangowa said.

She explained that every child who arrives, whether it is Sweet Potato, the baby who fought tuberculosis, or the next child on the other end of tomorrow's phone call, arrives with the same immediate needs: food, clothing, medical care, school placement, love, patience and a birth certificate.

The cost of caring

Despite carrying this responsibility, Jonah Home continues to face significant financial pressure. The home currently experiences a monthly funding shortfall of more than N$43 000, while urgent infrastructure projects, including security improvements, plumbing, bedding, renovations and the expansion of safe facilities, remain outstanding.

"Fortunately, Jonah Home has never walked this journey alone. Local businesses, churches, schools and generous individuals continue to stand beside the home,” Kangowa said.

"As the number of vulnerable children grows, so does the need. The reality is simple. A child cannot wait until next month to eat. A baby cannot postpone needing nappies. A frightened child cannot delay feeling safe. Every donation, whether money, food, clothing, blankets, stationery or professional services, creates another opportunity for a child like Sweet Potato to dream again."

She believes that caring for vulnerable children should never rest on one organisation alone.

"It is a responsibility we all share as a nation."

The home is inviting businesses, organisations, churches and ordinary Namibians to become part of a story that is changing lives every single day.

"One donation restores dignity. It creates opportunity. It tells a child who has known rejection, 'You matter.'"

For those wishing to support Jonah Home, donations of food, clothing, bedding, nappies, toys, financial contributions or professional services are welcomed.

The organisation receives ongoing support from a combination of businesses, organisations and individual donors. Its principal sponsor is Walvis Bay businessman JL Bastos, who covers essential operational costs, including water, electricity, fuel and caregivers' salaries.

Regular support includes food donations from OK Grocer, Corridor Logistics, Baptist Church Lagoon, Hangana, Neptune Risk Managers Swakopmund and Industrial Laboratory Services, while Acunam Technology Group provides IT services. Medical assistance is provided by Welwitschia Hospital.

Several organisations contribute through annual or one-off donations, including Salt Waters, Macs Group, FirstRand, Namport, Namdock, The Gondwana Foundation, Woolworths, The Foschini Group, Terra Nova Insurance and Logistic Services. Boeta Mouton assists with learner transport, while Narraville Primary School provides an inclusive educational environment for the children.

The organisation also benefits from the monthly generosity of individual donors, including Ms Jowina, KD Smith and Ms Marina.

"We also run a monthly N$100 donation drive where members of the public are encouraged to support the home. Donations can be made via any mobile wallet using 081 816 1910 or directly into the Healing Ministries Bank Windhoek account."

Kangowa encouraged the community to continue supporting the home.

"We cannot do this on our own. You have proven that the saying is true – it really does take a village to raise a child."