Our Valuable Children

The HIV and AIDS pandemic are affecting Sub-Saharan Africa to the greatest extent and as a result the number of orphans is continuously growing. Namibia’s population of 1.9 million people is relatively small. However the Namibian community is not yet in a position to care for the 140 000 orphans (estimated for 2010 are 170 000 orphans, UNAIDS and UNICEF, 2006) and many more vulnerable children. Christ’s Hope International’s vision and mission clearly define the goal to reach out to and nurture orphans and vulnerable children.

The first Orphans and Vulnerable Children Consultation took place in 2007 and new directions for the organization were discussed. An analysis of the approach then pointed out that the Arks as a residential child care facility could only cater for a small number of children yet many more children are in need. A new ministry model was developed with Ministry CarePoints in the community where children come for meals and join after-school-programs as well as other activities such as Children’s clubs and camps.
However, the implementation of the program was delayed, due to the fact that the finalization of the standards and training of the staff were only done at the beginning of 2010. Since then we established four Ministry CarePoints at our Ministry Centres in Keetmanshoop, Rehoboth, Okahandja and Oshikuku which cater for a total of 127 children in different setups such as foster care, residential care in the Ark and Ministry CarePoints. Out of these 127 children, 35% are considered as vulnerable (the child is susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm or does not have access to health care or education), 35% are single orphans and 29% have lost both their parents (percentages are rounded down).

We feel called to serve the children and to give them hope for a better future with Christ and therefore we spell out ‘OVC’ in our program as Our Valuable Children. The aim of our Ministry CarePoint is to care holistically for the children entrusted to us. This is based on Luke 2:52. We therefore would like to see them grow spiritually, physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. Key to the growth and development of the Ministry CarePoint is funding. The ICAN (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13) child sponsorship program will allow us to unite the efforts of the Mobilization and Ministry Countries.

The Ministry CarePoints have the potential to cater for a far bigger number of children. Firstly, in our existing structures, and secondly to partner with churches and schools. However, funds are needed to realize this.We would like to increase our efforts in strengthening existing families, nurturing broken families and providing vision for future families.

From the Country Director’s desk - Berdian Beukes writes...

James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

What a privilege it is to serve our Lord and Saviour through an organization like Christ’s Hope International. Serving through Christ’s Hope International remains a challenge, but God is good. He is our Provider and our Sustainer. We wake up every morning with an expectation, excited to see what and how God is going to provide for the needs of our ministry. A lack of staff and finances remains the key challenges. Some of our staff took “salary” cuts beginning of this year and yet, stays faithful to God by serving Him with us. Their lives exemplify what it means to sacrifice for Christ.
The introduction and implementation of the new approach to Nurture Our Valuable Children within the vision and mission of the organization is very exciting! We can already see the positive results from our efforts and early attempts.

The past year we have phased out the children’s homes in Rehoboth and Okahandja. The children were placed either in kinship (foster) care or in the Ark Keetmanshoop. We just had a reunion in Oshikuku with the children who used to be in the Ark Okahandja and it was confirmed that we are on the right track with the children. Placing them with families or in foster care, is in their best interest. When we drove through the gate in Oshikuku and heard the excitement of the children, I said to myself: “if this is why we are meeting here this weekend, it surely is worth the effort.” The children enjoyed seeing one another; they were well-groomed and have adapted fine at their different placements.

We have implemented a well structured Ministry CarePoint in Okahandja at the Ark. This was very well received by the community and beneficial to the children registered in our program. The Ministry CarePoint in Rehoboth has been re-organized and we are looking forward to see them blossoming. We continue to care for the children at the Ark Keetmanshoop in the residential setting. However the lack of sufficient funding hinders us from expanding the program to our Ministry Centre in Oshikuku.

I would like to thank ALL our ministry partners for your faithful prayer and financial support. The resources you entrust to us; enable us to better care and support the work and ministry. May God bless you in abundance!

Okahandja Reunion

In December 2009 we phased out the Ark Okahandja as a children’s home due to various challenges. The children were placed back with their families or in foster care by the social workers and adapted well. We gave the promise that once a year we would try our best to bring them all together for an Okahandja-Reunion.
The logistic part was quite challenging because their families live all over Namibia -from Keetmanshoop, over Okahandja , Grootfontein, to Oshikuku and all the way north-east to Katima Mulilo. We combined the event with our monthly prayer & fasting meeting for staff and chose Oshikuku as the best venue because the former houseparents are working at the Ministry Centre there.

The journey started on Thursday when two staff members of the Ark Keetmanshoop and two children drove to Rehoboth to spent the night at the Ministry Centre there. Friday morning early they left Rehoboth with staff and more children. They picked up us and some more staff and children in Windhoek, from there we proceeded to Okahandja to pick up some more people. After Okahandja we stopped in Grootfontein and arrived in Oshikuku at about 19h30. Two vehicles with 24 people. All in all we got 13 of the 17 children together for the reunion.

The children enjoyed and appreciated spending time together! We had a structured program planned for the morning and fun activities for the afternoon. However we allowed some free-time for the teenagers to catch up with one another. In our devotion time we talked with the children about how to hear God’s voice and why it is worth listening to God. Please pray with us that all the children will continue to follow Jesus and learn to distinguish between his voice and worldly influences.



On Sunday we travelled to Ruacana waterfalls which are situated right at the border to Angola. The falls were dry, but it was still a magnificent view and the children loved it so much to be in the water! On our return to Windhoek on Tuesday, we drove through Etosha and saw many animals. We wanted to see a lion very badly, but unfortunately they were hiding.



















We not only had a safe trip, but the children were healthy and we all had a good time. We are so grateful to God for the work and ministry in Namibia, but more so we thank God for the children and their families.