Our guardian angel program
Good, sustainable education costs money. With the help of our Guardian Angels, we support children and young people in Namibia during their school career and beyond. Guardian Angels make their contribution in the form of a monthly or annual donation based on the respective needs of the pupils or students. This program is very successful: the first Guardian Angel children have already completed their bachelor's degree - without steps for children this would never be possible.
Become a sponsor and provide long-term support for our guardian angel children in Namibia. This will ensure that children and young people from the poorest backgrounds are supported through education, training or even studies.
Let's go
1st to 7th grade
31 € monthly
Help for 1 child
Regular meals
Hygiene articles & medical care
caring support
Afternoon classes
School materials
School fee
School uniform
Graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year
Let's continue
8th grade until graduation
61 € monthly
High demand
Help for 1 young person
School fees
School uniform
School materials
Travel allowance
Private clothing
Nutrition
Hygiene articles & medical care
Afternoon classes
Accommodation in a dormitory for pupils
Graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year
Let's go higher!
steps students
91 € monthly
Registration costs for university / college
Payment of tuition fees
Notebook for online courses & writing term papers
WiFi and cell phone costs
Rent for a room
Deposit and furnishing of an apartment if several students form a shared flat
Living expenses in Windhoek (electricity, water, transportation)
Food
Hygiene articles & medical care
On-site support
Travel costs to your home town during the semester break
Guardian Angel Program FAQ
How long has the Guardian Angel program been around?
The guardian angel program of the steps for children foundation was launched in 2008. It began at our first location in Okakarara with ten guardian angel children. Today there are more than 150.
Why did steps introduce the guardian angel program?
In Namibia's state schools, very few children from the informal residential areas manage to attend school up to grade 9 or 10 or even finish matric (comparable to the Abitur). There is a high drop-out rate among pupils, as some of them do not receive any support from their parents. For example, they have to stay at home to look after their younger siblings or earn money for their families. Parents may also simply not have the money to pay for their children's school fees, school clothes and materials. Often, even if parents do not have an educational background, they are unable to appreciate the value of education and do not see the need to support their children in school matters. Girls are particularly at risk of dropping out of school early due to early pregnancy. By offering crèche services, for example, steps for children makes it possible for these girls to continue going to school.
In our Guardian Angel program, we not only cover all costs, but also provide comprehensive support and care for the Guardian Angel children and young people. We look after them, help them with all their challenges and support them throughout their education and in their personal development. From elementary school to high school graduation - even up to a vocational training/university degree. We also talk to family members and show them what education can do for their children. The more the family supports the program, the easier it is for the girls and boys to cope with everyday school life. The drop-out rate of guardian angel children is significantly lower than that of children who do not receive support from steps.
Do I support a particular child?
No. As a guardian angel, you sponsor one of our guardian angel children, but not a "personal" sponsored child. This ensures that the children's privacy is protected and all children are treated equally.
How are the children selected for the Guardian Angel program?
Every year at the end of a school year, children who successfully complete steps pre-school and are highly motivated and talented are selected for the following school year. These are children from poor backgrounds, mostly living in the informal residential areas adjacent to the projects.
Both the preschool teachers, who have often known the children for over four years, and the management of the facility are involved in this selection process. Social workers who know the families of the Guardian Angel children are also involved in the selection process. In addition, discussions are held with the children's legal guardians. In this way, we try to ensure that it is understood that the Guardian Angel program is a very long-term program and only makes sense if the children stay with it for the long term.
Where does my contribution go?
The donation made goes into a funding pool for all our Guardian Angel children. This prevents funding shortfalls for other guardian angels so that every guardian angel child continues to receive support.
All costs incurred are paid from the funding pool. Many guardian angels make it possible for us to support over 150 talented children and young people from the poorest backgrounds on their educational path.
Why do school fees have to be paid by parents or guardians?
Just a few years ago, school attendance and teaching materials were free of charge. Due to the over-indebtedness of the state and the associated financial difficulties, the costs were increasingly passed on to the parents or guardians, provided they were able to pay.
There are no "official" fees. A voluntary parental contribution is requested or demanded because the Ministry has not compensated for the funding gap caused by the abolition of school fees. However, the schools need the money. If a child does not pay, they will not be admitted to the school in question. In reality, there are various solutions to this problem, as school attendance is compulsory in Namibia. However, if the school knows that parents can pay school fees or know that an organization such as steps for children is behind it, 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 items were provided by the school; pupils only had to purchase their personal school supplies. Since the start of school in 2022, parents/guardians have had to buy multiple copies of pencils, exercise books, erasers, glue sticks, etc., as well as school books, photocopying paper, toilet paper, blackboard chalk and other items for the general public.
The school materials purchased by steps at the beginning of the school year and given to our guardian angel children are collected by the class teacher and distributed equally to all pupils in the class, as many children and young people in schools are unable to bring any materials with them due to a lack of financial resources. In this way, our guardian angels 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 amount stated makes a significant contribution to the funding pool for grades 1 to 7.
Guardian angel youths grade 8 - Abitur
On average, the costs per year 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 the 8th grade up to the Abitur.
steps students
The average cost per year for training or studies lasting between two and four years is around €5,000. This is significantly higher than the stated annual amount of €1,092 (€91 per month). And yet this donation makes a significant contribution to the steps students' funding pool.
Why has the financial outlay for guardian angel sponsorships increased so significantly?
The costs for the Guardian Angel children have risen repeatedly since the beginning of the Guardian Angel program and especially in recent years. The main reasons for this are as follows:
- Officially, there are no school fees. However, the Namibian state has no money to make up for this shortfall. The schools therefore turn to the parents and guardians to finance the necessary expenses.
- The same applies to school materials. The parents/guardians or steps for children must provide all school materials such as exercise books, pens and sheets of paper as well as some toilet paper themselves and hand them over to the school.
- The guardian angel children receive a hot meal at lunchtime if they come to steps for their afternoon lessons. The price of basic foodstuffs rose by over % in 2022 alone. The price increase was similarly disproportionate in previous years.
- For a long time, volunteers provided a lot of support in the afternoon supervision of schoolchildren. Nowadays, the children and young people are mostly taught by paid teachers. Their salaries have risen more each year than before due to inflation compensation and the introduction of the minimum wage in recent years.
- 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 to strive together to achieve the many positive results that have been achieved through your guardian angel sponsorships, among other things. Without your support, this will not be possible through steps for children alone.
My question is not included
Please send us your question to info@stepsforchildren.de