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.

From Bricks to Dreams - Help Us Complete the Structure

Construction of the first satellite home on the Sanctuary has come to a halt. Funds are urgently needed to complete this family unit, which will accommodate eight children and a house mother.

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, a time of reflection, generosity and love, we are reminded of the many blessings we have received through your support. You have given our children so much: warmth, safety and care. You have helped us build a home, the Mother House, where love lives. And now, we ask you to help us take the next step.

Earlier this year, we laid the foundation for our first family unit, a nurturing space where eight vulnerable children and a devoted housemother can thrive in dignity and peace. This new unit is not just a building: it's a promise. A promise to give every child the privacy, protection, and nurturing environment they deserve. 

Today, the walls of this unit have risen above the windows. But now, construction has come to a halt as our funds have run out. The roof - the final step to shelter - is waiting, and so are the children. 

We need $2,600 CAD/U$1850 to complete the Window to Roof Phase, which includes: 2,500 bricks, Cement and roofbeams, Transport, Labour

This Christmas, will you help us reach the roof level? No matter the size, your gift will be a blessing. It will provide a warm hug, a safe bed and a quiet corner in which to dream. It will embody the true spirit of the season: love in action.

Let us give thanks together for what we have built. Let us give generously to complete what we have begun. And let us give joyfully, knowing that every brick laid is a step towards a brighter future.

From Foundation to Roof - Let’s Build Hope Together

With love and gratitude, The Board of Children's Sanctuary Namibia Society (CSNS)

CSN Community Newsletter - September 2025

Building hope, one story at a time.

Dear friends, welcome to this month’s glimpse into the heart of CSN. We are grateful for your continued support, and we’re excited to share what’s unfolding in our community.

Springtime Joy and Birthday Blossoms. The dining hall was filled with colour and laughter as our children celebrated the arrival of spring and their birthdays in true CSN style. This was all thanks to the planning and organization of Ms Belinda Tsusse. The children made all the decorations themselves, including flowers, streamers, and cheerful signs. Together, they transformed the space into a radiant garden of joy.

Dressed in colourful, floral outfits, the children sang with all their hearts, their voices echoing with excitement and pride. After the final chorus, they gathered for a delicious dinner lovingly prepared by the staff - a feast they had been looking forward to while singing with such enthusiasm. It was a moment of true togetherness. Volunteers, staff and children all joined in the festivities, sharing smiles, stories and the warmth of community. The air was filled with joy, colour, and connection.

A Gardener’s Calling: Zuma’s Quiet Devotion. “God asked me to look after the many children who have no home.” — Zuma, CSN Gardener.

Zuma’s hands tend to more than just soil. Through his work in the gardens and grounds of our sanctuary, he nurtures life, helping our facility and the children to grow. His presence is a daily reminder that care takes many forms. Whether he is planting seedlings or raking the grounds, Zuma plays a vital role in creating a safe and welcoming environment for all the children who call CSN home.

Zuma, at work, tending the garden.

Johannes, the gardening assistant, walks under the shade net, which helps to protect the vegetable garden from the blistering sun and pests.

Building Update: Our First Family Unit is Taking Shape. The Mother House is currently overcrowded, housing 20 children, two housemothers, and the manager, well beyond its safe capacity. We urgently need your support to build an additional family unit. This vital expansion will enable us to meet the 32 minimum standards set forth by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, ensuring that every child is housed in a setting that provides care, privacy, and protection.

Your support is invaluable. It will not only enable us to progress to the next phase of development, which includes expanding our building to provide sufficient space for vulnerable children in line with these standards, but also make a significant difference in the lives of these children. Due to overcrowding, our current facility does not meet these standards, so we urgently need to take action. In January, we laid the foundation for a first family unit, where a housemother and eight vulnerable children can thrive. The first picture shows where it all began. As can be seen in the second picture, construction has now reached a height above the window. However, progress has now come to a halt as our funds have run out.

In January, the foundation was laid for the first family unit.

Construction of the first family unit has come to a halt due to a lack of funds.

Donor Spotlight: A heartfelt thank you to “Hilfe für Namibia”.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to “Hilfe für Namibia”, a generous organization based in Germany that sends two containers of essential goods to charities across Namibia each year. Just last week, we received a large delivery of clothing for our children, and the joy was palpable. Smiles, laughter and gratitude filled our sanctuary as the parcels were unpacked and little hands explored their new treasures. This support means the world to us.

Looking ahead, we hope that the next container will include wheelchairs and strollers for two of our children with disabilities, tools that would significantly enhance their mobility and independence. Thank you, “Hilfe fur Namibia”, for being part of our journey. Your kindness has a far-reaching impact; it nurtures hope.

Clothing from Germany.

A donation of potatoes from Cardova Farming in Namibia was received.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Afternoon Tutoring Needed.

At CSN, education is about more than just the school day; it’s a pathway to opportunity and long-term change. That’s why we’re committed to providing afternoon tutoring to help our children catch up, build confidence, and thrive academically. However, we are currently struggling to find a dedicated tutor to lead these sessions. The need is real, and the impact would be profound.

Do you know anyone passionate about teaching? Would you like to support this initiative by donating towards a tutor’s salary or by providing teaching materials? We’d love to hear from you! Together, we can ensure that every CSN student receives the educational support they deserve.

New Soup Kitchen - Spring 2025

On behalf of everyone at Children’s Sanctuary Namibia and our sister organization, Children’s Sanctuary Namibia Society in Canada, we would like to express our deepest gratitude. Together, we are one family, bound not by borders, but by our shared commitment to the dignity, care and opportunity of every child.

A Gift of Land

We are thrilled to announce that the Children’s Sanctuary Namibia (CSN) has been allocated a new parcel of land adjacent to our current sanctuary in Drimiopsis. This land, granted for housing purposes by the local representative of the Constituency Development Committee (land allocation on resettlement farms in Namibia is typically managed by Regional Councils and Constituency Development Committees, often in coordination with the Ministry of Land Reform) will allow us to expand our mission by creating accommodation and facilities for visitors, teachers, tutors, social workers, and other supporters of our sanctuary.

First, we need to secure it. To protect this space and begin shaping it into a safe, welcoming environment, we must build a 360-meter fence. The total cost is N$11,570, which breaks down to just N$32 per meter, or CAD $2.50 or Euro 1.50 per meter.

That's where we need your help. Whether you sponsor 1 meter or 100, your contribution will leave a lasting mark. We deeply appreciate your continued generosity and look forward to welcoming you to our newly acquired land, where together, we’ll create a space of hope, healing, and opportunity.