Shifting towards community-based care and empowerment

For 47 years, SOS Children's Villages Namibia has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable children, providing care and support.

However, as the organisation looks towards the future, a significant shift is underway; a move away from traditional residential "villages" towards more integrated, community-based approaches.

This realignment, based on UN guidelines on alternative care and Namibia's Child Care Protection Act (CCPA) aims to provide children with a more normalised upbringing within local communities while strengthening families and empowering youth.

"We are not building new homes in the traditional sense," a representative of SOS Children's Villages said in a recent interview. "On the contrary, we are decreasing that type of approach to care. The focus is now on 'deinstitutionalisation', expanding community-based interventions and integrated alternative care options. This means transitioning children from residential facilities within the established villages into individual homes within diverse communities."



Best interests

The rationale behind this change is rooted in the best interests of the child.

Growing up in a community exposes children to the same experiences, opportunities and social dynamics as their peers, fostering greater autonomy and essential life skills. This contrasts with the often-structured environment of residential facilities.

Currently, SOS Children's Villages Namibia directly supports 110 children and young people across its three villages. However, through a process of "responsible integration," the organisation has already facilitated a remarkable 50% reduction in the number of children residing within these villages over the past year, successfully reintegrating them with their families of origin where possible.



Two-pronged approach

The shift towards community-based care involves a two-pronged approach. Firstly, direct family empowerment focuses on strengthening families within communities to prevent child separation in the first place. When a child is identified as being at risk of abandonment, neglect, abuse or malnutrition, SOS Children's Villages engages directly with the family, offering support to improve their economic stability, parenting skills and overall capacity to care for their children.

Secondly, the community approach aims to strengthen local child protection systems. This involves establishing community committees, building their capacity to prevent child abuse, and equipping them with the knowledge of referral pathways to manage cases effectively. All interventions are guided by the paramount principle of acting in the best interest of the child.

Beyond direct care, SOS Children's Villages Namibia recognises the importance of empowering young people within the broader community. Their youth employability programmes and empowerment projects extend beyond the children in their direct care, reaching out to youth in the community. This investment aims to prevent future family breakdowns by equipping young individuals with vocational skills, access to education, and employment opportunities.



Seed funding

The Youth Empowerment Project has already provided seed funding for 21 youth-led business startups, fostering entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities.

Addressing cross-cutting global issues is also a priority. The Eco-Champion project engages marginalised children and those in care in climate-related activities, promoting environmental awareness and community-led interventions. Furthermore, recognising the growing digital divide, SOS Children's Villages is developing an integrated curriculum to equip individuals in rural and informal settlements with essential digital skills and cybersecurity awareness.

While receiving partial government funding through a per capita grant for children in their care referred by the Ministry of Gender, SOS Children's Villages emphasises that the cost of holistic child care necessitates broader community support.

With a decline in international funding, the organisation is actively engaging local individuals and businesses through initiatives like the SOS Friends and SOS Family programmes, encouraging regular contributions. Annual fundraising galas and community-based events like walks and fun days also play a crucial role in raising awareness and securing local financial support.



Campaigning

A recent face-to-face campaign in local malls has seen dedicated recruiters engaging the public to secure long-term local donors. The organisation also actively seeks partnerships with businesses, securing monthly commitments to support individual houses or specific programmes like Empower to Educate, which provides school uniforms and stationery to children in informal settlements.

Collaborations with government ministries and other stakeholders further strengthen their reach and impact.