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Heroes Day is celebrated annually on 26 August and commemorates the Namibian War of Independence, which began on 26 August 1966. For steps for children, Ueriuka Festus Tjikuua is a hero, as he is an important partner for the local work in his role as Chairperson of the Trust steps for children in Namibia.
Festus Tjikuua was born in Okakarara (district), studied engineering in Hamburg and works in a senior position in the IT department of a ministry in Namibia.
As nephew of the Traditional Chief Tjikuua in Okakarara and official representative of Chief Kambazembi from Okakarara, he is an important Herero personality.
Due to his extensive connections and knowledge of the needs and conditions on the ground, he was also an important contact when steps for children was founded in 2006 and has been part of the team in Namibia ever since.
On the occasion of Heroes Day, Kerstin Jueterbock (KJ) conducted an interview with Ueriuka Festus Tjikuua (UFT), in which he tells her more about his work as trustee and his cooperation with steps for children.
KJ: How did the cooperation with steps for children begin?
UFT: The commemorative ceremony on 11 August 2004 marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Ohamakari, at which the then Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, apologised on behalf of the German government for the genocide of the Herero and Nama by the imperial troops under the supreme command of General Lothar von Trotha, as well as the views expressed there by German and Namibian participants, strengthened not only my awareness but also that of many others to demand compensation for the effects of the genocide, which brought great suffering upon us as descendants of the victims. For us, this was another opportunity for belated justice and reconciliation with the Germans.
In this context, the contact that we were able to establish as members of the National Preparatory Committee for the Commemoration 1904 (NPCC04) with a German group from Hanover was very helpful. The group was led by Klaus Windolph and Michael Hoppe, whom Erika von Wiethersheim introduced to me.
The seriousness with which Michael Hoppe presented the idea of setting up a non-governmental organisation to support the community of Okakarara, from which later steps for children developed, was the beginning of my cooperation.
And I helped to establish links with our government, the local authorities and the community of Okakarara in order to obtain support for this new initiative.
KJ: What is your motivation for your commitment to steps for children?
UFT: The aim of steps, to help children in need on a voluntary basis and with the wish to enable them to earn their own income, was one of the motives for me to steps to get involved, because I would like to share my knowledge and experience with rural communities without asking for a fee.
Another motive was the individual contribution and the funding of various steps by Michael Hoppe as well as Mrs Gertrud Schmotz and her late husband Jürgen Schmotz of the German NGO Freundeskreis Namibiahilfe (Augsburg). Mr Schmotz was also a member of the first Board of Trustees of steps for children.
Despite the loss of her husband, Mrs Schmotz continues the help for steps, but also for other projects, for example for the House of Prayers and the planned preschool project in the village of Ombujomumbonde in the district of Okakarara.
All these activities have motivated me to continue engaging not only for steps, but also for Mrs Schmotz.
KJ: What are you responsible for at steps?
UFT: First of all, as a founding member of steps I am responsible for ensuring that the ideas and objectives for which steps was founded are put into practice.
Secondly, as chair of the Board of Trustees I have the task of overseeing the NGO's activities and making available all services possible to me. My area of responsibility also includes ensuring good cooperation between steps for children, the government institutions, the NGOs of both countries, as well as peaceful contacts with the rural communities through the local authorities.
KJ: What is, in retrospect, the most important thing about the ten-year anniversary of steps for children and their work in Namibia?
UFT: steps for children plays a significant role in Namibia in early childhood development, especially for the most disadvantaged and needy children in our society.
Early childhood development is a prerequisite for all subsequent phases of education, from pre-school to university entrance qualification.
steps also supports income-generating projects and volunteer programmes, which in my opinion will help promote reconciliation between Namibia and Germany after the long years of genocide from 1904 to 1908 and decades of colonial oppression.
KJ: What would you like with regard to future cooperation with steps?
UFT: The experience I have gained through my involvement in steps shows that the scope of the development programmes that steps for children the community can offer is limited both in terms of content and finances. That is why I would like the scope of step’s development programmes to be expanded to areas such as vocational training, electricity supply, water, housing, etc. The involvement of NGOs in Namibia's development at civil society level is strongly encouraged and supported in order to preserve our system of democracy and community participation. Therefore, the future work of steps for children is highly recommended.
Thank you very much for the interview!
Translated from the English by Martina Sylvia Khamphasith
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The Heroes Day is celebrated annually on 26 August and is reminiscent of the Namibian War of Independence, which started on 26 August 1966th For steps for children Ueriuka Festus Tjikuua is a hero, because he is the Chairman of the Trust steps for children in Namibia is an important partner for the work on site.
Born Festus Tjikuua in Okakarara (district), studied in Hamburg Engineering and works in a management position in the IT department of a ministry in Namibia.
As nephew of Traditional Chief Tjikuua in Okakarara and official representatives of Chief Kambazembi from Okakarara, it is a significant Herero personality.
Due to his extensive connections and knowledge of the needs and realities on the ground, he was also an important partner in the creation of steps for children in 2006 and since then part of the team in Namibia.
On the occasion of the Heroes Day led Kerstin Jueterbock (KJ) an interview with Festus Ueriuka Tjikuua (UFT), in which he told her more about his work as a trustee and cooperation with steps for children.
KJ: How did the collaboration with steps for children started?
UFT : The memorial service on 11 August 2004 for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Ohamakari on which the former German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, on behalf of the federal government for the genocide of the Herero and Nama by the imperial troops under the command of General Lothar apologized von Trotha, and the views of German and Namibian participants expressed there have not only my consciousness, but also the many other strengthened for demanding compensation for the consequences of the genocide, who have brought great suffering on us as descendants of the victims. That was in our eyes a fresh chance for a belated justice and reconciliation with the Germans.
In this connection was the contact we as members of the National Preparatory Committee for the Commemoration 1904 were able to establish (NPCC04) to a German group from Hannover, very helpful. Head of the group were Klaus Windolph and Michael Hoppe, the imagined Erika von Wiethersheim.
The seriousness with which Michael Hoppe recited the idea to support the community of Okakarara to call an NGO launched, resulting in later steps for children developed, was the beginning of my cooperation.
And I helped to establish links with our government, the domestic authorities and the community of Okakarara to obtain support for this new initiative.
KJ: What is your motivation for your commitment to steps for children ?
UFT : The goal of steps to help children in need, and on a voluntary basis and with the desire to give them their own income, was one of the motives, looking for steps to engage, as I like to share my knowledge and experience with rural communities want to share without having to demand fees.
Another motivation was the individual contribution and the financing of various steps by Michael Hoppe and Gertrud Schmotz and her late husband Jürgen Schmotz by the German NGO Friends Namibia Help (Augsburg). Mr. Schmotz was also a member of the first Board of Trustees of steps for children .
Despite the loss of her husband Schmotz constitutes aid for steps away, as well as for other projects, such as the House of Prayers and angedachte preschool project in the village in the district Ombujomumbonde Okakarara.
All these activities have motivated me to continue not only to steps engaging, but also for women Schmotz.
KJ: What are you responsible for steps ?
UFT: First of all, as a founding member of bin steps responsible for ensuring that the ideas and goals for the stepswas founded are put into practice.
Secondly, as chairman of the Board of Trustees , I have the task of monitoring the NGO's activities and making all my possible services available. My duties also include promoting good cooperation between steps for children the government institutions, NGOs in both countries, as well as peaceful contacts with rural communities through the local authorities.
KJ: What do you think is most important when looking back on the tenth anniversary of steps for children and their work in Namibia?
UFT: steps for children plays an important role in early childhood development, especially for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children in our society in Namibia.
Early childhood development is a prerequisite for all subsequent phases of education, from pre-school to university.
steps also supports income-generating projects and volunteer programmes, which, in my opinion, will help promote reconciliation between Namibia and Germany after the long years of genocide from 1904 to 1908 and decades of colonial oppression.
KJ: What are your wishes regarding future cooperation with steps ?
UFT: The experience I gained through my involvement in steps did shows that the scope of the development programmes the steps for children can provide the Community is both substantial and limited financially. I therefore hope that the scope of step's development programmes in areas such as vocational training, power, water, etc. Flats expand. The involvement of NGOs in the development of Namibia at the level of civil society is very encouraged and supported to get our system of democracy and community participation. Therefore, the future work of is steps for children so highly recommended.
Thank you very much for the conversation.
From the English translated by Martina Sylvia Khamphasith
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