A Special Gift for "S"

Brigadier General Natanael Endjala, Lieutenant Colonel Apollos Nghaamwa, and the members of the 126th Motorized Infantry Battalion gave our beloved S, a girl with disabilities, a special gift. We are very grateful for the wheelchair she received, which will significantly improve her mobility and quality of life.

The handover ceremony took place at the sanctuary and was attended by the Governor of Omaheke, Hon. Pijo Nganate; the Councillor of the Kalahari Constituency, Hon. Zedekia Katjiuano; and community leaders. Battalion

A Season of Growth Ahead

Construction of the first family unit, a future home for eight waiting children and their housemother, is well underway. Above, plastering is now complete, both inside and out.

Dear friends and Supporters of the CSNS Family,
We are filled with great joy and deep gratitude as we send our love and thanks to everyone who has supported us thus far in 2026.   The generosity we saw in the first half of the year was unlike anything our organization has experienced before. Your belief in our mission has given us renewed strength and affirmed our vision.

Reflection on our purpose and shared future  
 At the heart of CSN lies a clear and compassionate vision: to nurture and protect orphaned and vulnerable children, strengthen families and communities, and build long-term resilience in Drimiopsis. Four key goals guide our work.

1. Strengthening Child Welfare and Protection: We are working towards improved residential facilities, moving gently towards family‑unit style accommodation and expanding our long‑term capacity to care for children who need safety and stability. Your ongoing support helps us build a safer environment where children can thrive.

Thanks to your support, we have made significant progress on our most urgent need: expanding our building infrastructure. As the number of children who need our help keeps growing, our current priority is to create safe, dignified and nurturing spaces. We are proud to be nearing the completion of the first family unit, which will provide greater protection, stability, and a sense of belonging for eight waiting children and a housemother.

When completed, the family unit will have two bedrooms (one for boys, one for girls), a small bedroom for the housemother, a kitchen/dining/meeting area, a girls’ bathroom, and a boys’ bathroom. Your donations are crucial to help us move forward and complete this vital project.

When completed, the above family unit will provide a loving home for eight waiting children and their housemother.

Visiting CSNS board members, Yvonne de Troye and Louise Ndungula serve a soup kitchen meal to over 100 children.

 2. Building Food Security: By expanding our gardens and orchard, improving water access and solar infrastructure, and increasing the availability of nutritious meals, we aim to reduce hunger and support healthy development.
 3. Improving Educational Outcomes: Through structured tutoring, strengthened Early Childhood Development programmes, and access to learning materials, we support children in building strong foundations for the future.

Chief Ita, Johannes (assistant gardener) and Zuma (groundskeeper) celebrate a bountiful crop.

4. Investing in our Team: We believe that children are best cared for by well-supported caregivers. Ongoing training in child health care, trauma-informed care, early childhood development, disability support, and administration strengthens our entire team.

We realize these goals every day through hands-on activities, including soup kitchen operations, tutoring, residential care, garden expansion, caregiver training, and essential monitoring and evaluation. These efforts lead to meaningful outcomes, such as increased protection for vulnerable children, improved school readiness, reduced malnutrition, stronger households and greater community stability, all while ensuring compliance with government standards.
 At the same time, we remain deeply committed to sustainability and longevity. 
Our gardens reduce food costs, solar power lowers electricity needs, our well (borehole) provides water at no cost, training improves staff retention, and family‑based care models strengthen family bonds. Strong community partnerships ensure this work is locally rooted and carried forward collectively.   

Our soup kitchen volunteers lovingly serve meals to over 100 hungry children in the community 2-3 times each week.

CSN’s soup kitchen volunteers prefer traditional cooking methods. Above, a volunteer prepares a delicious meal of rice and lentils over an open fire.

Unfolding Dream in Drimiopsis (Debra Taylor)

CSNS board members Louise Ndungula (far left), Judy Dunbar (left back row), Yvonne de Troye and Debra Taylor (centre row) with CSN founding directors, Theresa Matengu and Ita Kambases, with CSN’s Zuma (groundskeeper/front centre), Lydia (housemother for the girls, far right), and back row Johannes (gardening assistant) and friend.

In late May 2026, four members of the Children's Sanctuary Namibia Society travelled from Vancouver Canada, to Namibia. We met up with Helge Merker, our Namibian agent and co-founder of the Sanctuary. We then spent several days travelling from Gobabis, the nearest town that could accommodate us, to Drimiopisis, some 45 km northeast.

Judy Dunbar was the only one of the Canadians who had previously visited the grounds, in 2019, and was awestruck by what our financial support has helped create over the years.

Upon arrival, all the children and adults who live and work at the Sanctuary were gathered in the courtyard and performed a welcoming song and dance that lifted our spirits. What struck me immediately and deeply was the pure joy, love, and sense of family, of belonging that radiated from each child. My immense gratitude flows to San Chief Ita and Helge Mercker, and Theresa Matengu who transformed a simple soup kitchen into a remarkable, permanent (to age 18) home for 20 orphaned and/or abandoned children. Theresa, who started the community soup kitchen in her home many years ago, still volunteers at our new site.

At the same time, the Sanctuary continues to offer twice-weekly soup kitchen service to the children and elders of the greater community. Despite a sad lack of funding to make manifest the hopes and dreams for the Sanctuary, the children in residence are well cared for. Even the two most handicapped greeted us daily with love, joy, and brilliant smiles. It is likely they would not be alive today if not for the care and attention given them at our Sanctuary.

Part of CSN’s vegetable garden, tended by Zuma and Johannes, his assistant.

The amazing Zuma has worked tirelessly with a few other men to create and maintain a large veggie garden. It stands out like an oasis in an otherwise mostly sandy land. Several fruit trees have been planted, and it is easy to imagine a future of food security and sustainability.

Preparing a special dish for the barbecue. From left to right: Louise (Canadian board member), with housemothers Veronica and Viktoria. In rear, Belinda (CSN manager).

Having brought several large suitcases filled with donations of clothing, shoes, toiletries, books and gardening tools, we felt like St Nick when the gifts were revealed. What a joy it was to witness both the children and their caregivers receiving these gifts. In addition, a couple of generous donors sent cash for purchasing special foods with which we created two very extravagant meals. Meat is rarely available, so we had a barbecue one day and spaghetti bolognese on another. I could hardly believe the quantities of food these little people ingested. Not a crumb was left on anyone's plate. Our newest board member, Louise, a native Namibian now living in Canada, put her culinary skills to work helping prepare the meals. On our last day, the soup kitchen served a hearty lentil and vegetable soup and a gigantic pot of rice to more than 100 local community children and a few of the elder women who care for them. 

Louise and Viktoria at the barbecue.

Busy preparing food in the kitchen of the Mother House.

Nearing completion is a second family home that will accommodate eight more children. The available funding is not sufficient to bring the construction into livable form. Also in need of funding is a safe playground. Children need the exercise and joy that a playground offers and what currently exists is falling apart, rusty, and inadequate. Helge has been studying other playgrounds and is formulating a plan for an overhaul and expansion when funding arrives.

While at the Sanctuary, we were delighted to be included in a meeting of the Namibian CSN Board of Directors. After conducting their business of the day, we each had an opportunity to share our impressions of the current state of things and what we wanted to see happen going forward. It was a beautifully co-ordinated and co-operative meeting that gave us all a better understanding of how we can continue working together in support of the children and their caregivers. 

Our overall impression is that we are indeed doing something wonderful for these abandoned and orphaned children. Gratitude flows to everyone who has supported and is supporting the raising of the Children's Sanctuary Namibia

A Visit from the Vice President of Namibia

Ita and the Vice President are sharing a heartfelt moment.

This week brought extraordinary joy and encouragement to Children’s Sanctuary Namibia (CSN) as we had the honour of welcoming the Vice President of the Republic of Namibia, Hon. Lucia Witbooi, to our Sanctuary. Known for her long-standing dedication to education, community development, and the empowerment of marginalized groups, Hon. Witbooi showed genuine warmth and interest in the work we do and the children we serve.

During her visit, our manager, Belinda Tsuses, and respected community leader, Chief Ita, walked her through our grounds, shared our journey, and discussed the needs that remain essential for us to continue growing sustainably.

With the support of our donors, CSN has come a long way, but to fully serve the San community and reach our future goals, we hope for strengthened partnership and commitment from Government structures as well.

We highlighted the following critical infrastructure needs, which can be realized with modest investment due to existing nearby services:

• Water connection
• Power supply
• Sewage connection
• Support for constructing family units

These are basic necessities for creating a safe, dignified, and nurturing environment for the orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in our care. With these connections in place, CSN will be able to move into its next phase of development, expanding our facilities to accommodate up to 50 children, in line with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare’s standards.

Hon. Witbooi’s visit left us inspired and deeply grateful. Please enjoy the photos included, capturing moments of heartfelt interaction and meaningful engagement.

The Vice-President with Belinda (CSN manager) and Ita.

Hon. Witbooi speaking with Susanne, a software developer and educator from the international Bebros initiative.

Notice of AGM & Raising the Roof Together in 2026

Notice of Annual General Meeting - Join us on Sunday, February 22, 2026, 10:30 am at the home of Terry Adler in North Vancouver. We warmly welcome all, whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to our cause. Contact Judy at (604) 842 -5583 to attend or explore volunteer opportunities. Enjoy refreshments and a heartfelt community following the meeting.

Dear friends,

As we welcome this new year, our hearts overflow with gratitude for the love and generosity you shared with us during the festive season. Thanks to you, the children enjoyed a joyful Christmas filled with delicious meals, laughter, and thoughtful gifts, moments that reminded them they are cherished and never forgotten.

Christmas 2025 - celebrating in the garden.

Blessings and Challenges. The rains have been kind, and our vegetable gardens are thriving, providing nourishing food for the children. In the greenhouse, Ita Zuma, and Johannes continue to work tirelessly to ensure abundance. Yet nature also tested us: Johannes’ home was severely damaged during a heavy downpour. Thankfully, we were able to repair it swiftly.

The working hands of Ita, Johannes, and Zuma.

Johannes’ home was damaged by heavy rains.

Building a Sanctuary: We sincerely thank you for your generosity, which has helped the walls of our first family unit stand tall. Your support has brought us closer to creating a safe haven for eight vulnerable children and their devoted housemother. Together, we have reached the roof level, and now is the time to raise it high.

With your ongoing support, we will complete this sanctuary, giving our children a place to thrive in peace. The next steps—raising the roof, installing sewage tanks, and more-are possible because of your commitment. Your help makes this dream a reality for eight precious children.

Bricks have reached the roof level, and now it’s time to raise the roof!

Staff Corner: Chief Ita Kambases - Our dear Ita is a founding member of the CSN board and the heart and soul of CSN. She has overseen the dedicated volunteers of the CSN soup kitchen for many years and is a loving grandmother to hundreds of children. She was featured on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). The following description accompanied a video that aired on Namibian TV:

An 80-year-old woman from Drimopsis in the Omaheke Region, Ida Kambase, has taken it upon herself to bring change to her community. Her mission began years ago when the resettlement farm lacked a clinic, leaving residents struggling for medical help. That was when Ida sought training from Catholic AIDS Action.

After completing her training, she walked from house to house, ensuring people took their medication and had food to eat. She did this daily, covering long distances because she cared deeply about her community.

Today, Drimopsis has a clinic, but residents say no nurse is permanently stationed there; nurses visit only on rotation. Even so, people still remember how Ida looks after them. To many in the village, she brought care closer to home.

Written by Urizirira Mureti (NBC)

Ouma Ita sharing garden cucumbers with with CSNS agent, Helge Mercker, on her recent visit to the Sanctury.