Board of Trustees of the steps for children Trust in Namibia

The Board of Trustees are today:

• Festus U. Tjikuua is chairman and responsible for PR.
• Dr. Michael Hoppe is responsible for administration, finances and human resources.
• Gertrud Schmotz is co-opted member with vote for Okakarara.
• Henk Olwage is adviser.

The founding members of the steps for children Trust initiated by Dr. Michael Hoppe at the beginning of 2006 were Erika von Wietersheim, Dr. Lucy Steinitz and Festus U. Tjikuua (all living in Windhoek). Later on Jürgen and Gertrud Schmotz became part and since the beginning of the second project Henk Olwage joined the Trust.

Erika von Wietersheim was born in Namibia and lived in Germany for some time. Together with her husband she ran a farm in Namibia and on this farm she also independently built up a farm school for the children of the black workers.

In addition she is author of the “Window of Hope” project funded by UNICEF and the Namibian Ministry of Education. This life-skills programme is obligatory in Namibian schools in order to create early awareness of problems around HIV/Aids and to strengthen the children’s self-esteem. She is a journalist and publisher and has excellent contacts.

Dr. Lucy Steinitz, an American of German decent, has lived in Namibia for more than 10 years. She is Senior Technical Officer for Faith Based Programs, co-founder and first chairperson of CAFO, an organisation of all Namibian churches in order to support (Aids) orphans. She knows almost all important aid organisations, is member of many boards and consultant for UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Festus U. Tjikuua, born in Okakarara, nephew of one traditional chief, late Chief Tjikuua (died in April 2008) and is official representative of the other Chief, Chief  Kambazembi of Okakarara. He studied engineering in Hamburg and works in a leading position in the IT department of one ministry in Namibia.

The initiator of the project, Dr. Michael Hoppe, lives in Hamburg/Germany and worked as a self-employed businessman. He initiated and coached many projects and foundings of businesses and made them a success. This entrepreneurial experience goes into the projects of steps for children. As initiator and main sponsor of the project he had a seat and a vote in the Board of Trustees of the Trust/NGO in Namibia.

Later Jürgen and Gertrud Schmotz also joined the board. Jürgen Schmotz died after a long sickness on 18.01.2011 at the age of 67. Until his death he was responsible for education at the board. Jürgen and his wife Gertrud were the initators of the sewing step. They lived in Namibia for half a year and in Augsburg/Germany for the other half of the year. Before his retirement Jürgen Schmotz was pedagogical and financial manager of social institutions in Augsburg. He counselled and coached disadvantaged children and children with behavioural disorders as well as their parents and families. As a second job he worked as marriage counsellor and mediator.

Since the beginning of the second project in Gobabis, the founder and leader of our partner Light for the Children, pastor Henk Olwage, is adviser in the Namibian Trust steps for shildren. Michael Hoppe beacme a member of the board of Light for the Children.