458 | Supporting children in need in Namibia

Conservation & Tourism

Family of Hope Care Center in Katutura

On Friday the 9th of December 2016 BirdsConTour delivered Christmas gifts to orphaned and vulnerable children and their caretakers to Family of Hope Services in Katutura, Namibia.

Such gifts go a long way in the world of children living in Katutura

The organization supports more than 450 children between the ages of 6 and 15. Often these children are orphaned or vulnerable as a result of their guardians having HIV or dying from AIDS.

In Namibia AIDS was first recorded in 1986 when four citizens were diagnosed HIV positive. HIV/AIDS in Namibia is a very serious public health issue and the prevalence of HIV in Namibia is among the highest in the world with over 21% of the adult population. Consequently, life expectancy has declined since 1991 from 61 years to 49 years in 2001, mainly spread through heterosexual sex. Although Namibia has made remarkable progress in organizing services to those in need, the number of people who need treatment continues to increase from 99 700 in 2010/11 to 158 000 by 2015/16. These figures include 12 600 children under the age of 15 who are in need of treatment.

Of greatest concern are the +- 45 000 AIDS orphans and vulnerable children aged 0 to 17.

Mrs. Foibe Silvanus (Program manager) and her class

FHS also helps school dropouts between the ages of 7 and 15 to equip them so that they get back into the government school system and complete their education and the organization offers after-school tutoring if they are struggling.

With the help of guests from all over the world, BirdsConTour supports children and their caretakers from the non-governmental organization Family of Hope Services.

All-in-one Bird Feeding Station

With this All-in-one Bird Feeding Station, generously sponsored by Mrs. Anja Sackczewski from Jebo Travel in Germany and built and filled up by BirdsConTour, wild birds will now be attracted to the garden of FHS. 

Mrs. Anja Sackczewski 

The children can now watch and learn the fascinating and colorful birds that live around them. Audio experts found that birdsong relaxes people because over thousands of years they have learnt when the birds sing they are safe, it's when birds stop singing that people need to worry.

With this All-in-one Bird Feeding Station Anja and BirdsConTour gave the children a lifetime ticket to the theater of nature.