Youth Who Feel a Humanitarian Responsibility

Frustrations at seeing others in need, is what drove Jasmine-Rose Goagoses to start a project that would provide assistance to of the most vulnerable in Namibia. When friends, Nonelwa Gqwede, Taitum Coetzee and Jasmine Garises, joined her cause, Namkids was born. All the founders of Namkids are under the age of 27 years. Today, Namkids is a charity where volunteers run collections and distribution of food, blankets and more, to those living in poverty. 99FM’s MYD Heart spoke to Jasmine-Rose to find out more about this charity organisation and why these young Namibians feel is is their responsibility to help those in need.

“We are thankful for our privileges, but there is an imbalance if one side of life is in torment and the other in paradise. We thought, we have to give back, we have to help and we can, we really can.”

“Namkids started as ‘Make a Difference, I used to run it alone but in 2015 my friends and I came together to work on it.” This Jasmine-Rose explains was how the project started. “We are thankful for our privileges, but there is an imbalance if one side of life is in torment and the other in paradise. We thought, we have to give back, we have to help and we can, we really can.”

“In March 2015 I organised a clean-up event in Khomasdal 27. My neighbourhood, gathered children between the ages of 8-19. We cleaned up everything that was not rock, sand or flora.” Then we moved on to Feed the Streets in Okahandja Park in May 2015 where we fed 300 people. In June 2015 we did Feed the Streets 2000-Winter Drive in Kilimanjaro where we fed and clothed 3000 people.”

Jasmine-Rose and her team moved on to many more projects that involve feeding and clothing Namibian children, with more in the pipeline for this year. One, Jasmine-Rose explains, aims to provide sanctuary for children through a community centre. “We are planning to build a community development centre that not only gives people a chance to be self-sustainable but will also mentally enlighten them, building up their confidence, making them realise that they can accomplish anything.” This community centre will be a central point to continue their food and clothing distribution drive explains Jasmine-Rose.

“We know life is hard but it is a humanitarian responsibility for everyone who breathes, to help those that need it, I f they are in the position to do so.”

In addition to the community centre, Namkids are planning a fund raising event in September this year where Namibian artists will partake in beautifying the capital city while addressing social ills through art. When asked why Namibians should support Namkids, Jasmine-Rose says, “Because it is for their people. We are all aware that there are poor people, and we know life is hard but it is a humanitarian responsibility for everyone who breathes, to help those that need it, I f they are in the position to do so.”

“I remember one girl walking home with a handbag and a few clothes. She walked out as if she went on a shopping spree. She had a great smile, and appreciated it while walking out with no shoes on her feet.”

Passionate about the support Namkids provides, Jasmine-Rose notes “These events are really humbling. It is heart melting to see the children excited about the clothes they receive. I remember one girl walking home with a handbag and a few clothes. She walked out as if she went on a shopping spree. She had a great smile, and appreciated it while walking out with no shoes on her feet.”

“We had a feeling of accomplishment, and we realised that whatever you put your mind to can be in your grasp.”

Talking her great moments so far, Jasmine-Rose reflects on a few such as, “when Mrs Monica Geingos sponsored all the food, up to N$ 30 000.00 worth, for the Feed the Streets 2000 initiative. She also came to the venue and gave a small speech and it was televised. We had a feeling of accomplishment, and we realised that whatever you put your mind to can be in your grasp. Growth as a team and individual inspiration is what is most memorable for us from all our past events. It still keeps us going.”

If you want to get involved and support Namkids in the work they do, find them on Facebook by clicking here

Or send Jasmine-Rose an email at jasminerosegoagoses@gmail.com