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.

*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.

*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.

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.