Our guardian angel programme
Good, sustainable education costs money. With the help of our Guardian Angels, we support children and young people in Namibia throughout their school years and beyond. Guardian Angels make their contribution in the form of a monthly or annual donation, which is based on the respective needs of the pupils or students. This programme is very successful: the first Guardian Angel children have already completed their bachelor’s degrees – without steps for children, this would never have been possible.
Take on a sponsorship and provide lasting support for our Guardian Angel children in Namibia. This ensures that children and young people from the poorest backgrounds receive support through education, vocational training or even university studies.
Let's go
1st to 7th grade
31 € per month
Help for 1 child
Regular meals
Hygiene products & medical care
caring support
Afternoon lessons
School materials
School fee
School uniform
Graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year
Let's continue
8th grade until graduation
61 € per month
High demand
Help for 1 young person
School fees
School uniform
School materials
Travel allowance
Private clothing
Nutrition
Hygiene products & medical care
Afternoon lessons
Accommodation in a dormitory for pupils
Graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year
You can go higher!
steps students
91 € per month
Registration costs for university / college
Payment of tuition fees
Laptop for online courses & writing term papers
WiFi and mobile phone costs
Rent for a room
Deposit and furnishing of a flat if several students form a shared flat
Living expenses in Windhoek (electricity, water, transport)
Food
Hygiene products & medical care
On-site support
Travel costs to your home town during the semester break
Guardian Angel Programme FAQ
How long has the Guardian Angel programme been in existence?
The Guardian Angel Programme of the steps for children Foundation was launched in 2008. It began at our first location, Okakarara, with ten Guardian Angel children. Today, there are more than 150.
Why did steps introduce the Guardian Angel programme?
In Namibia’s state schools, very few children from informal settlements manage to attend school through the 9th or 10th grade, or even complete their education with the Matrik (comparable to the German Abitur). There is a high dropout rate among pupils, as some of them receive no support from their families. For example, they may have to stay at home to look after younger siblings or earn money for their families. It may also be that the legal guardians simply do not have enough money to pay for their children’s school fees, school uniforms and materials. Often, when parents themselves have no educational background, they are unable to appreciate the value of education and do not see the need to support their children with school-related matters. Girls are particularly at risk of dropping out of school early due to teenage pregnancy. Through childcare services, for example, steps for children enables these girls to continue attending school.
Through our Guardian Angel Programme, we not only cover all costs, but also provide comprehensive support and care for the children and young people in the programme. We look after them, help them with all their challenges and support them throughout their educational journey and in their personal development. From primary school to a high school diploma – and even through to a vocational training or university degree. We also talk to family members and show them what education can make possible for their children. The more the family supports the programme, the easier it is for the girls and boys to manage everyday school life. The dropout rate among children in the Guardian Angel Programme is significantly lower than among children who receive no support from steps.
Do I support a particular child?
No. As a Guardian Angel, you support one of the children in our Guardian Angel Programme, but not a “personal” sponsored child. This protects the children’s privacy and ensures that all children are treated equally.
How are the children selected for the Guardian Angel programme?
At the end of each school year, children are selected for the following school year who successfully complete the steps preschool and demonstrate a high level of motivation and aptitude for learning. They are children from poor backgrounds, most of whom live in the informal settlements adjacent to the projects.
Both the preschool teachers, who have often known the children for more than four years, and the management of the facility are involved in this selection process. Social workers who know the families of the children in the Guardian Angel Programme are also involved in the selection process. In addition, discussions are held with the children’s legal guardians. This is intended to ensure that they understand that the Guardian Angel Programme is a very long-term programme and only makes sense if the children remain involved for the long term.
Where does my contribution go?
The donation made goes into a funding pool for all our children in the Guardian Angel Programme. This prevents funding shortfalls caused by other Guardian Angels, ensuring that every child in the Guardian Angel Programme continues to receive support.
All costs incurred are paid from the funding pool. Many Guardian Angels make it possible for us to support more than 150 talented children and young people from the poorest backgrounds on their educational journey.
Why do school fees have to be paid by parents or guardians?
Just a few years ago, attending school and obtaining teaching materials were free of charge. Due to the state’s over-indebtedness and the resulting financial hardship, the costs have increasingly been shifted to the parents or legal guardians, provided they are able to pay.
Although there are no “official” fees, a voluntary parental contribution is requested or demanded because the Ministry has not offset the funding gap created by the abolition of school fees. However, the schools need the money. If the contribution is not paid, a child will not be admitted to the respective school. In reality, there are various approaches to solving this problem, as school attendance is compulsory in Namibia. However, if the school knows that parents can afford to pay school fees or knows that an organisation such as steps for children is behind them, they insist on payment.
Why do parents/guardians have to pay for school materials?
Until the end of 2021, books, paper, toilet paper and other general supplies were provided by the school; students only had to purchase their personal school supplies. Since the start of the 2022 school year, guardians have had to buy pens, exercise books, erasers, glue sticks, etc. in multiple quantities, as well as textbooks, copier paper, toilet paper, blackboard chalk and other items for general use.
The school supplies purchased by steps at the beginning of the school year and provided to our sponsored children are collected by the class teacher and distributed equally among all students in the class, as many children and young people in schools are unable to bring any supplies due to a lack of financial resources. In this way, our sponsored children also indirectly support many other children in need.
Average costs per year
Guardian Angel children Grades 1-7
The average annual costs are significantly higher than 372 € (31€ / month) and change every year. However, the stated amount makes a significant contribution to the funding pool for Grades 1 to 7.
Guardian Angel adolescents Grade 8 – A-levels
On average, the annual costs are significantly higher than 732 € (61€ / month) and are subject to annual changes. As a Guardian Angel, however, this donation makes a significant contribution to the funding pool for Grade 8 through A-levels.
steps students
The average annual costs for training or a degree course lasting between two and four years are approximately 5.000 €. This is significantly higher than the stated annual amount of 1.092 € (91€ / month). Nevertheless, this donation makes a significant contribution to the funding pool for steps students.
Why has the financial outlay for guardian angel sponsorships increased so significantly?
The costs for the Guardian Angel children have risen repeatedly since the Guardian Angel programme began, particularly in recent years. This is mainly due to the following reasons:
- Officially, there are no school fees. However, the Namibian government has no funds available to financially make up for this gap. Therefore, schools turn to the legal guardians to finance the necessary expenses.
- The same applies to school supplies. The legal guardians or steps for children must procure all school supplies, such as exercise books, pens and sheets of paper, as well as, in some cases, toilet paper, themselves and hand them over to the school.
- The Guardian Angel children receive a hot lunch when they come to steps for afternoon lessons. The prices of staple foods alone rose by more than 30 % in 2022. The price increase was similarly disproportionate in previous years.
- For a long time, volunteers provided a great deal of support with the after-school care of the pupils. By now, the children and adolescents are mostly taught by paid teachers. Their salaries have been increasing annually, due to inflation adjustments and the introduction of the minimum wage in recent years, more than before.
- General inflation in Namibia is rising rapidly, as are the operating expenses of our facilities, which form the basis of all activities.
Why are the increases/adjustments to sponsorship contributions important and right?
We should definitely continue striving together to achieve the many positive results that, among other things, have been made possible by your Guardian Angel sponsorships. Without your support, this would not be possible through steps for children alone.
My question is not included
Please send us your question at info@stepsforchildren.de