• Youth

Giving power to small voices

Mariselle Stofberg

The Petwa Foundation is a registered welfare organisation which was founded by Dr Twahafifwa Nambuwa.

Registered on 11 May, it aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, provide health services and financial assistance for disadvantaged communities as well as conduct fundraising activities to carry out these objectives.

“We are passionate about youth development and empowerment, especially to the ones from underprivileged backgrounds. We would like to help build and motivate young men and women to be the best version of themselves and to fully reach their potential, not just for personal development but for their families and their communities. I hope many children will look at our foundation as a door they can always knock on,” said Julia Nambuwa, the foundation’s secretary.

The Children Life Change Centre in Okuryangava has been a catalyst for the foundation’s formation. “Our founder has been a patron of the centre for three years now. Seeing all their struggles and not being able to help all the time led to the birth of Petwa Foundation. This inspired the formalising of a passion project of helping others and calling out for help where needed the most,” Nambuwa added.

The kitchen was started this year in partnership with Bornfree Shipping. They currently have to share three rooms among the 32 they assist for sleeping, cooking, dining and resting.

The foundation has coordinated fundraising initiatives to sponsor various costs and expenses associated with the running of their projects.

Another project on the horizon for them is the Ombuumbu Kindergarten at Ruacana, which recently came knocking on their door.

“Seeing the great need they have for a permanently built classroom with water and electricity, a school development fund as well as a school feeding programme, we embarked on a journey to lend a helping hand by raising funds for their initiative,” she said.

“Our foundation will give power to these little unheard voices and provide them with a stepping stone. It takes a village and love to raise a child and we hope by giving this love, it will always be reflected in their lives,” Nambuwa further said.

The foundation hopes to open its doors to more children’s homes like they did with Children Life Change Centre and offer mentorship, health education and financial assistance.

“One of our dreams is to be able to offer bursaries to the youth of struggling communities and give them a chance to pursue their education dreams without financial burdens,” Nambuwa said.

“The Covid pandemic has been one of the most challenging times and through this we realised and saw first-hand just how much people need each other. Empowering people through coming together and concentrating efforts in each other expresses the core value of humanity and the concept of ubuntu.”

Nambuwa said that sometimes young people don’t know the power that they have and they hope their efforts reflect the magnitude of believing in the power of one’s self.

“We hope to encourage them to live it all out now because failure or disappointment is never a sign of weakness. Whatever the struggle is, never ever give up on your dreams and remember there is truly always light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

The foundation can be reached on 081 489 3000 or info@petwafoundation.org