Youth powering Namibia’s future: The rise of YOSPiN

Young leaders step up
Francouis Pretorius
  • 1 Day Ago
Namibia stands on the threshold of a new era, driven by the growth of its oil and gas sector.

While the industry promises economic expansion and employment, it also poses risks to coastal ecosystems, communities and livelihoods. To address these challenges, a group of young Namibians has established the Youth Oil Spill Preparedness Initiative Namibia (YOSPiN), a pioneering youth-led movement dedicated to strengthening national resilience against oil spills.

The organisation\'s official launch is scheduled for early 2026.

YOSPiN was created after its founders recognised how devastating a lack of preparedness has been in other countries affected by oil spills. Namibia’s own history of incidents in Lüderitz (2009) and Walvis Bay (2018) underscored the urgency. Though not catastrophic, these events revealed gaps in public awareness and national preparedness. For example, many citizens remain unaware of the health risks linked to consuming contaminated seafood or how to properly report oil sightings.

At the forefront of this initiative is chairperson Ndinelago Landi Moses, a public health manager with international maritime experience. Together with a team of experts in environmental science, maritime operations and communications, Moses and her colleagues envisioned a structured network where Namibian youth can play a central role.



Uniquely capable

Their conviction is simple yet powerful: young people are energetic, adaptive, and digitally fluent, making them uniquely capable of rapid communication, community engagement and early detection of environmental threats.

Beyond training, YOSPiN is also building momentum through awareness campaigns on social media and preparing for community outreach events. The initiative is actively seeking collaboration with government agencies, industry players and international oil spill response organisations. Early responses from stakeholders have been positive, offering hope for long-term partnerships.

Looking ahead, YOSPiN envisions a future where trained youth responders are present in every region of Namibia. Regionally, the group aims to establish a Southern African Youth Oil Spill Preparedness Network, fostering cross-border cooperation and knowledge-sharing.

Ultimately, YOSPiN hopes to instil a culture of preparedness, one where every Namibian understands the risks of oil spills and knows how to respond. In the words of its leaders, the initiative is not just about reacting to disasters but about protecting ecosystems, livelihoods and public health for generations to come.

YOSPiN’s flagship programme, the YOSPiN Corps, is scheduled to launch in early 2026. Volunteers will be trained both virtually and in person, equipping them with reporting procedures and basic response techniques. Regional coordinators will oversee local groups, ensuring that hotspots such as Lüderitz, Rundu and Walvis Bay are covered. The Corps will not replace official authorities but will serve as an essential bridge between communities and the national response system, complementing Namibia’s National Marine Pollution Contingency Plan.