Government strengthens support for vulnerable children
Kantema made these remarks during a visit to the National Youth Service (NYS) training centre in Henties Bay, where more than 80 children living and working on the streets are currently undergoing a five-week rehabilitation and reintegration programme. During her address, the Minister underscored the importance of prioritising children’s wellbeing, noting that government continues to implement initiatives that support education, improve access to healthcare, enhance nutrition, and provide psychosocial services.
“I want to reassure you that the Government believes in the young people of Namibia. It gives us great pleasure to see young people being given opportunities to become productive citizens,” she said.
The Ministry, in partnership with the NYS, recently launched a tailor-made five-week pilot training programme designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate children living and working on the streets. The initiative is the first of its kind in Namibia.
The programme is jointly implemented by the Ministry’s social workers and NYS instructors, combining practical training with psychosocial support. It currently accommodates over 80 children between the ages of 12 and 18, drawn from the Hardap, Khomas, Erongo, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions.
Participants in the programme receive training focused on discipline, patriotism, voluntarism, and basic agricultural skills, alongside psychotherapeutic services aimed at addressing the emotional and psychological challenges they face.
Kantema emphasised that the initiative forms part of broader government efforts to ensure that every child particularly those from vulnerable communities has access to opportunities that support their physical, emotional, and intellectual development. She further noted that such programmes are essential in restoring dignity, building life skills, and enabling children to reintegrate successfully into society.
The Government has reiterated its commitment to expanding similar initiatives nationwide, as part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of all children in Namibia.
