Making the world a better place

Henriette Lamprecht – First and foremost, he has always been a “choir boy”. Then, amongst others, followed a stint as a cadet journalist and then, after years in the tourism industry, Rolf Hansen took on another venture, this time as CEO of the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN). Changing and bettering lives one day at a time.His journey up until today took many turns. Curious but not rugged enough to be a journalist, in 2004, Rolf’s love for communication brought him to Endemol Namibia that produces programmes for the national broadcaster - where he fell in love with the camera. “After a few months of living abroad in Australia as a singer and anthem performer for the 2003 Rugby World Cup - I had just returned when Sandy Rudd and Ernst van Biljon produced the biggest locally cast musical, the Hot Mikado at the National Theatre of Namibia. It was stage and studio and camera and action all the way!”But first and foremost, he has always been a “choir boy”, says Rolf. “I watched the movie Sister Act as a kid and it made me want to become a nun! But - for obvious reasons - this would not materialise, and Whoopi Goldberg and her Sister Act choir inspired me to join the school choir.”In high school, he joined the Namibia National Youth Choir and the rest is - as they say - (the most beautiful) history.In 2005 he joined Republikein as a cadet journalist after Endemol stopped producing NBC programmes. He fell in love with Namibia’s tourism possibilities and in September 2006, he resigned to open up his first guesthouse at the age of 22. “The guests always remarked what a lovely guesthouse my parents have, 'you are lucky to have a future paved for you’. I simply smiled and nodded.”During the ten years of running the hospitality business, it grew into a family business and Rolf and his mother worked tirelessly to build up their brand - opening up more properties, different accommodation options, and expanding their footprint outside Windhoek.Typical Rolf, he needed a new challenge after ten years. Just as he decided to take a sabbatical and tackle a new study field again, the position of chief executive for CAN was advertised. Having lost his best friend and nephew Klauss-Peter van Biljon to cancer, the disease is nothing new to his family, says Rolf. “We were 11 years old, and I was with my buddy till his very last breath. The last three weeks were the worst, and I vowed to someday make a difference because of what he went through.”He thought of becoming a doctor, but when he did his first post-mortem many years later, it shook him up so much that he also realised, “I’m also not rugged enough for this nonsense!”Rolf realised he’s a communicator, empath, and lightworker - and to tackle life from a position of benefit, hope, and inspiration was more his style. The position of CEO of a great organisation such as the Cancer Association presented opportunities to make the world a little bit of a better place, and he wanted to be part of that journey, says Rolf. “Yes, initially it was more about the repositioning and redirecting of CAN administratively and communication-wise. But I landed in a ‘hot seat’ with many challenges and opportunities that intrigued me even more. I wanted to be part of the positive change to serve my people and help my nation.”During his interview, the then-board asked him, “What will be your approach?”“My heart told me that I want to inspire hope, activate change, and impact lives as best I can."Rolf assumed the position of CEO on 15 May 2015, a month after that interview. His motto was accepted and introduced as CAN’s new "mojo": Inspire Hope. Activate Change. Impact Lives.He had to work for every little thing he has, says Rolf. The day he left Windhoek High School after his final exam and all his friends could go on holiday and prepare for university the next year, he was one of the few that had to face reality. “The days of kidding around and enjoying life in a care-free way, so to speak, was officially over. I had to register with UNISA and get a job to find my way.”He admits it was a very challenging time, and his music kept him sane. Rolf and his mom were in the catering business and sold ready-made meals daily to put food on the table. Rolf admits there are dark and sad parts of his life he’d rather seal off and bury deep because it made him a very rebellious and bitter young man. If there is one sound piece of advice he can give everyone who has been or is in this type of situation, it is to “soldier on, work hard, and never, ever give up. And let your honest deeds and name be your brand and fuel your success.”CAN humbled him, admits Rolf. It made him a better person and allowed him to heal from the trauma of life and take the bitterness away. “My faith in my God has been fuelled by the beautiful work we do. I thought I would make CAN better, but in fact, it has been CAN that healed me.”His home and his son are his anchors.“My house is a home, and people who have had the privilege to be in ‘my space’ will confirm this. I say this tongue-in-cheek because, while I seem a very sociable and outspoken person, I’m actually a very private and reclused soul. Apparently, they call my type ‘extroverted introverts’. I show the world what must be seen to do what I must do, but manage it well to not lose my soul. Once the big black gates close behind me, it’s in my home, with my décor, garden, plants, art, music, dogs, cooking, wine and mostly my son running about and us singing and dancing around the house that heals my soul.”The most difficult part of his journey at CAN is misinformed Namibians who spew bitter words against them without having an understanding about the operations, how and why things are done, and especially not taking the time to engage - rather becoming “keyboard warriors” and causing more harm than good.During his training in pre-grieving and death support, Rolf learned valuable lessons that theoretically made sense. A few years later, he had to deal with a great personal loss, and the pain was unbearable.He admits he lost himself for a while behind closed doors and people asked, “Where is the shining and shimmering Rolf of CAN?”“I realised it truly is okay not to be okay and that pain and mourning are part of our existence,” he admits.He travelled to Istanbul and “literally got myself lost in the maze of history and ages of pain and decades of life that are the foundations of old Constantinople”. “As the sun was setting, I sat on a stone block with the magnificent Hagia Sophia behind me and I wept endlessly. I wept for myself, for the patients we deal with, for life, for everything that is upside down and doesn’t make sense. I cried till there were no more tears. Then reality set in. “Because we are born, so too must we die. How we live and that we truly live is all that matters!”Being a single parent, Rolf has a great support system in his parents, close friends, and even his former partner, who is part of their lives. If there is one thing that Covid-19 has taught him, it’s that “nothing is confirmed, it all changes and so do we”.“We must learn to adapt, we must be open for growth. Then, life becomes a little more manageable.”Without hope we are lost, says Rolf. It’s like a ship setting sail on the ocean without a destination or a compass. “The endless possibilities that exist with every new day give me hope that, even when today may have failed my expectations, there is tomorrow to try again.”His hope for cancer patients and for CAN is access to equitable healthcare, quality cancer care in more regions of the country, faster turn-around time for patients to receive the best possible treatment and save lives - goals he hopes will continue even if he’s no longer at the helm of the organisation. “When working in Europe and Asia and having been exposed to the amazing systems and treatment protocols in place ‘on the other side’, it gets me excited and optimistic to carry on the good fight on this side. We have come so far, but the journey is still so very long to ensure Namibians from all walks of life have access to quality medicine and care - not only for cancer but in general. And, if CAN has a place to make a small difference for the better of our people, then this is what we aspire to!” – rolf@can.org.na; www.can.org.na

Making the world a better place

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Republikein 2025-04-30

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