All income-generating steps are closed

Since 27 March, a travel ban has also been in place within Namibia, gatherings and street markets are prohibited, and informal places such as pubs or tobacco shops are also closed. People are being asked to stay at home and, as in Germany, may only leave their homes to go shopping or to the doctor. 

A friend from Namibia is observing the current situation with great concern:“I bought a few street vendors a lion, a hippo and a few ostriches as egg cups, because from tomorrow they will no longer be allowed to set up their stalls and will have no income. Many people here are in the same situation now. My children also have no income at all for now. But we do have better reserves than the poorest of the poor. I feel very sorry for them, because they have always tried to keep themselves and their families afloat. Now that is no longer possible either.“

The steps for children foundation has decided that all employees of steps for children, whether they are able to work or not, will continue to receive their salary. They are often the only ones in their family with an income and thus support up to ten other people. We will continue this full wage payment even if there should be fewer donations in Germany for our projects.