Vision becomes movement
What we stand for
Since 2005, a strong movement in Namibia and Zimbabwe has grown from a courageous idea in Hamburg – driven by partnerships, a pioneering spirit and the firm determination to bring about sustainable change.
Since 2005, we have been living and shaping change – what began as a bold step by our founder in Hamburg now has an impact in Namibia and Zimbabwe. We combine an entrepreneurial pioneering spirit with complete openness and build on strong partnerships that sustain our work. Take a look behind the scenes: Learn more about our vision, our achievements and the people who turn steps for children into a movement.
Through education, entrepreneurship and strong partnerships, we empower children, young people and families in Southern Africa. We create opportunities and promote self-reliance.
We live our vision
We empower children and young adults in southern Africa to break the cycle of poverty through education and training, using their own strength. We create income opportunities that enable people to secure their livelihoods in the long term. Our vision is to become less dependent on donations over time.
We live our mission
Our work is based on entrepreneurial thinking and action. We support and strengthen awareness in local communities of a self-determined path in life. At our locations in southern Africa, we are rooted in the poorest regions. One focus is on educational and training facilities for children, young people and adults. Through our work, orphaned children and families affected by poverty gain access to education, nutrition and medical care.
As social entrepreneurs, we establish small businesses, create jobs and train our employees. The profits generated flow to our facilities and finance their activities. Our long-term goal is to become less dependent on donations.
We create a social return by improving the lives of people in the local communities. We support them in developing skills to overcome their challenges and bring about change.
Our understanding of responsibility
Namibia in a historical context
steps works in Namibia – a country whose social and economic situation is closely linked to its history. Historical developments, including the German colonial period, continue to have an impact today and shape living conditions, opportunities and social structures.
Our understanding of responsibility
steps understands its work as part of this context and organises it accordingly and responsibly. The aim is to foster cooperation based on respect, partnership and the inclusion of local perspectives. This also includes continuously reflecting on our own privileges and on the historical and present-day power relations that shape international cooperation.
Challenges of the present
Inequalities continue to manifest themselves in differing living conditions, limited access to education and structural disadvantages. Discrimination and social tensions also affect the realities of life for many people.
Our contribution to greater equal opportunity
Against this background, steps is committed to improving educational opportunities and strengthening children, adolescents and young adults holistically. The work is based on partnership-based cooperation, the inclusion of local perspectives and the strengthening of existing structures. The aim is to contribute in the long term to greater equality of opportunity, participation and respectful coexistence.
From Entrepreneur
to Education Philanthropist
Dr. Michael Hoppe's journey to steps for children
After more than 30 years as a successful entrepreneur in market research, Dr. Michael Hoppe decided to take a new path. At the age of 53, he sold his company and set out in search of a meaningful purpose. His wish: to give something back and enable disadvantaged children to have a better future.
In 2005, Hoppe travelled to Kenya, South Africa and Namibia to find suitable projects. In Okakarara, Namibia, he finally found the right place. Together with Erika von Wietersheim, a Namibian with German roots, he selected the first steps for children location, established the foundation's name and founded the Trust in Namibia with her support. Hoppe subsequently developed a concept that combines education and social support with entrepreneurial thinking. This gave rise to the idea of the “income-generating steps”: small businesses such as sewing workshops, computer schools, guesthouses and rental apartments, whose proceeds finance the social steps.
steps for children supports more than 2,000 children and young people in Namibia and Zimbabwe every day. Through educational programmes, soup kitchens and foster families, the foundation gives children a chance of a better future. At the same time, its income-generating steps promote local economic development.
Together with local partners, we create sustainable prospects in Namibia and Zimbabwe – through education, support on the ground and the creation of stable structures.
Our charitable aid organisation supports people in Namibia and Zimbabwe. In doing so, it cooperates with existing organisations. The steps for children foundation thus builds on existing infrastructure in the country and expands and develops the individual facilities with the help of friends, supporters and sponsors from Germany and Switzerland. Together with existing child aid projects, sustainable solutions are developed and future prospects are opened up for people in southern Africa.
Team Hamburg
Dr. Michael Hoppe
Foundation founder
michael.hoppe@stepsforchildren.de
Stefan Wolfschütz
Board Member
stefan.wolfschuetz@stepsforchildren.de
Andreas Roß
Board Member
andreas.ross@stepsforchildren.de
Manuela Kase
Managing Director
manuela.kase@stepsforchildren.de
Simone Damak
Administration
simone.damak@stepsforchildren.de
Johanna Krechel
Project Management
johanna.krechel@stepsforchildren.de
Marie Schnaidt
Communications
marie.schnaidt@stepsforchildren.de
Sophie Plambeck
International Communications
sophie.plambeck@stepsforchildren.de
Hanno Hafkemeyer
Member of the Board of Trustees
hanno.hafkemeyer@stepsforchildren.de
Team Namibia
Sonja Schneider-Waterberg
National Coordinator Namibia
Centre Coordinator Okakarara
Jackie Sanjath
Centre Coordinator
Gobabis
Loretta van Wyk
Centre Coordinator
Otto Xamseb Rehoboth
Invanshia van Zyl
Centre Coordinator
Bridge of Hope Rehoboth
Kaunapawa Lourencia Philemon
Centre Coordinator
Ileni Tulikwafeni Okahandja
Exceldra Hoasis
Centre Coordinator
Otavi
Lempi Shivute
Head office Namibia
Ripura Hewicke
Garden Manager
Ongombombonde
Ambassador
Prof. Dr. Cornelius Herstatt at TUHH
“I have been travelling regularly to southern Africa for over 20 years. This part of the world has given me so much time and again. For me, it is tangibly the cradle of humanity and the most beautiful part of the world. But I have also seen the other side, the many children without opportunities on the streets. These children are Africa’s future and need a great deal of help. The steps for children foundation addresses precisely this issue, and I am inspired by it. That is why I am committed to steps for children.”
Professor Herstatt currently also offers yoga classes in aid of steps for children. “I offer my class free of charge, but would be delighted to receive a donation that benefits one of my cherished and favourite steps for children projects.”
This allows you to do two good things at once: for yourself and for the children of steps. In this way, you show solidarity with the children in Namibia and Zimbabwe and their many concerns, while your donations support the good and meaningful work of our steps partners on the ground.
Sabine and Dr. Hans Christian Schröder
“In our search for a sustainable aid project in Namibia, we became aware of steps for children in 2006. We support this project for children and the improvement of their educational opportunities. For us, education is the only form of development aid that will always endure. We liked the concept of the income-generating sub-projects. The employees are not recipients of handouts, but retain their dignity. Since 2006, we have visited the pilot site in Okakarara every year and are pleased with the continuity and growth, as well as its acceptance among the local population.
Therefore, at home we can promote steps for children with a clear conscience. Since 2007, the Gymnasium an der Willms Straße has supported Okakarara with half of the proceeds from its Christmas bazaar, while the teaching staff finances the training and further education of female teachers and educators through monthly donations. Many “donation piglets” from our circle of friends, for example on milestone birthdays, go to steps. Among other things, the Rotary Club Delmenhorst sponsored the construction of a toilet and wash house, a mobile bookcase, and tables and benches.”
Andreas Roß and Sabine Bohlen-Roß
Sabine Bohlen-Roß and her husband Andreas Roß have been long-standing ambassadors for steps for children. In 2012, Sabine discovered the foundation through an article and, as a social pedagogue, applied to provide further training for our female teachers and educators in Okakarara as a Senior Expert. Since then, she travelled to the site regularly once a year together with Andreas until 2023.
Andreas Roß is also involved every year with great dedication. He has devoted himself to the Schutzengel children and tirelessly searches for sponsors. Through his regular trips to Namibia, he can closely follow the children’s progress and development and reports on it in presentations at his workplace. His work as an ambassador led to his appointment to the Board of steps for children in 2023.
Britta and Dr. Stanislaw Nawka
For 11 years, Britta and Stanislaw Nawka have been committed to steps for children – both privately and professionally. They are steps ambassadors, have visited our projects several times and provided medical training on site. They also regularly collect donations: Stani at his own practice, and Britta formerly as managing director with Mrs. Sporty Hamburg Sasel.
Their daughter also works hard to support steps – formerly through her kindergarten and still as the youngest member of the support association steps for children e.V.
Jan Christoph Wönicker
Since 2024, Jan Wönicker has been supporting steps for children as an ambassador with great enthusiasm through his favourite sport, polo. As an entrepreneur and investor in the fields of software and real estate, he brings not only his expertise in innovative projects, but also his personal commitment to social causes. He uses his passion for polo to raise awareness of and support the work of steps for children – a sign of entrepreneurial responsibility and social commitment.
The Board of Trustees
Andreas Thümmler has been a supporter and fundraiser for steps for children since 2006. From the outset, he supported Dr. Hoppe’s efforts to build the foundation. He brought the project in Okakarara to the attention of numerous internet entrepreneurs and won significant donors for the project. Andreas has an extensive network in German-speaking countries. His former company, Corporate Finance Partners, sponsored office space in Hamburg for steps for children for many years, and as Managing Director of ACXIT Capital Partners, he continues to support the foundation’s initiatives in Namibia both financially and through his personal commitment.
Hanno Hafkemeyer has been a member of the Board of Trustees at steps for children since 2024. Through a variety of projects, he supports the foundation’s work and actively takes care of collaborations and other aspects of the foundation’s work in Germany.
Former Board of Trustees member Philipp Hartmann continues to support steps for children with a generous personal regular donation.
The Steps for Children e. V. support organisation.
The Förderverein Steps for Children e. V. was founded in 2006 with the aim of providing financial and non-financial support for the charitable purposes of the steps for children foundation. The contributions of the support association are distributed to the steps for children foundation and earmarked by it for use in the steps for children education centres in Namibia.
At the annual members’ meeting, supporters receive up-to-date information about the development and future direction of the project work. In addition to the annual report, board members and volunteers, among others, provide information about their assignments in Namibia and their work in Germany.
Support the work of the steps for children foundation by becoming a member of the support association. By becoming a member, you support the goals of steps for children through your annual contribution (minimum contribution: 60 €):
- give children a better future through early childhood development and education
- strengthen children’s health through balanced nutrition and hygiene measures
- finance training and further education opportunities for young people
- sustainably improve people’s living conditions
- offer help for self-help
- secure the projects in the long term
You can find the articles of association of the Steps for Children Support Association e. V. here!
If you would like to actively support our work, you can get involved, for example, in marketing, communications and fundraising. Your ideas and expertise are just as welcome here as your skills as a networker and multiplier.
For further information, please feel free to contact us by email at info@stepsforchildren.de or by telephone: 040 – 389 027 88. We look forward to your call.
You can claim the support contribution in full against your income tax. You will automatically receive a donation receipt at the beginning of the following year.
Board: Andreas Roß
Deputy Chair: Dr. Michael Hoppe
Treasurer: Mechtild Wigger
Registered in the Register of Associations under no. VR 18920 at Hamburg District Court on 06.03.2006
steps for children Trust Fund Namibia
Board of Trustees (Board) in Namibia
- Festus Tjikuuja – Chairman of the board
- Michael Hoppe
- Henk Olwage
- Stefan Wolfschütz
Festus Tjikuua, born in Okakarara, nephew of one of the Traditional Chiefs, Chief Tjikuua in Okakarara (who unfortunately passed away in April 2008), and official representative of the other Chief, Kambazembi from Okakarara. He studied engineering in Hamburg and works in a senior position in the IT department of a ministry in Namibia.
Henk Olwage, pastor, is the founder and director of our cooperation partner Light for the Children in Gobabis and an advisory board member on the Board of Trustees of steps for children. Michael Hoppe, in turn, is a member of the Board of Light for the Children.
Dr. Michael Hoppe, initiator of the steps for children foundation, lives in Hamburg, worked as a self-employed entrepreneur for 30 years and initiated, supported and successfully guided many projects and company start-ups. This entrepreneurial experience also flows into the projects of steps for children. As initiator and financier of the project and founder of the steps for children Trust Fund, he had a seat and vote on the Board of Trustees from the very beginning.
Stefan Wolfschütz lives in Rendsburg and is also a member of the Board of the steps for children foundation.
Alongside Michael Hoppe, Erika von Wietersheim, the first chairwoman of the Trust, and Lucy Steinitz shaped the founding phase. Later, Gertrud and Jürgen Schmotz († 18/01/2011) expanded the board.
Stiftung steps for children Switzerland
Founded: November 2010
Registered office: Canton of Schwyz
Foundation Council:
- Ute Pichorner: Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees
- Dr. Michael Hoppe: Board of Trustees
- Guy Lorétan: Board of Trustees
- Christoph Möller: Board of Trustees and Finance
Impact: The steps for children Switzerland foundation supports the steps for children foundation with donations for project work in Namibia. Over the past 9 years, the steps for children Switzerland foundation has developed into a very important supporter. 3 projects have received particularly strong support from the steps for children Switzerland foundation in recent years: the partner project in Gobabis (Light fort he Children), the steps for children Johanniter PrePrimary School in Otavi and the Bridge of Hope educational institution in Rehoboth.
With the support of the steps for children Switzerland Foundation, the children are given the chance to pursue a paid profession and to provide for themselves and others independently. Later, they are meant to be able to make a sustainable contribution to the development of their country themselves. We offer the children balanced nutrition, loving care and educational support to improve school success.
„The daily meals, the caring support and the better educational opportunities – initiated by steps for children – form the basis. That is why I am very happy to be involved. But the encounters with the children themselves are truly emotional. Their joy and enthusiasm for us strangers. Their smiles, their shy touches and their interest in the unfamiliar.“
Ute Pichorner, Chairwoman of the Foundation Board
View the website and donation options here: Children's charity in Namibia | Steps for children Switzerland
Outstanding commitment – our successes and awards confirm the impact of our work and motivate us to continue taking responsibility.
Our partners and supporters
Our work depends on the people and organisations who support us.
Whether companies, foundations or individuals – together we create future prospects for children and young people in Namibia. Thank you for your help!
