Support from kindergarten through college or vocational training

In total, we look after over 2,000 children through our projects

Our locations

Our local project work aims to bring about long-term change - with education, support and social entrepreneurial thinking.

steps for children countries

Our system of action

Shaping the future together - education, safety and prospects for disadvantaged children in Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Enabling better educational opportunities - that is what we have set out to do with the social measures at steps for children. In steps' own educational facilities and with local educational institutions, more than 2,000 needy children and young people in poor areas in Namibia and Zimbabwe are supported five days a week. steps ensures that basic human needs are met: Safety, nutrition, stability.

In Namibia, steps for children is represented at six locations with a total of eight projects. Whether with local partner organizations or in our own center in Okakarara - our projects are always supported by local people. This creates trust, uses existing structures and enables a deeper understanding of cultural characteristics. In this way, our initiatives have a sustainable impact at eye level. However, steps not only supports the projects financially, but also with entrepreneurial expertise and advisory activities. In addition, steps regularly initiates teacher and staff meetings and training courses, which sets a high standard of quality.

Social steps

Prospects for the future.

In Namibia, the charitable foundation stands for both social steps and income-generating steps. Our so-called social steps are facilities that care for, promote and support children and young people from the poorest backgrounds. The foundation helps through your donations where it is most needed and thus gives every steps child a warm meal and a feeling of security - a second home.

Soup kitchen

One hot meal a day

Every child who is looked after in one of our social projects receives a hot meal every day in one of our soup kitchens. This is because many children do not have breakfast or lunch at home. Regular meals form an essential basis for healthy development. In this way, we prevent malnutrition and concentration problems.

Crèches

Care from 0-3 years

In the toddler group, babies and toddlers aged 0 - 3 years are looked after by well-trained educators. Early development through healthy nutrition, loving care and age-appropriate stimulation as well as hygiene education are an integral part of the curriculum.

Kindergartens

Promotion from 3-5 years

steps Kindergartens support children aged 3 - 5 years through healthy nutrition, loving care, hygiene education and age-appropriate learning and play stimulation. This promotes healthy physical and cognitive-spiritual development, positive social interaction and emotional stability.

Preschool

Preparation for state elementary school

In pre-school, the children are comprehensively prepared for elementary school - all of them are given a place in Year 1. For the guardian angel program, the team suggests particularly needy and talented children, who are then tested by steps. This ensures that the selection process remains transparent and fair.

Afternoon care

Support after school

In the afternoon, both children from our Guardian Angel program and regular school children are supervised with their schoolwork, receive tutoring and have plenty of opportunities to play. In addition to carrying out small art and craft projects, the steps children also learn how to use the computer.

step homes

Accommodation for orphans

In Namibia, most children whose parents have died of AIDS or other diseases are at risk of malnutrition and illness. They are denied social participation outside the family circle. For these children, we have won steps homes families who take in orphans and care for them as their own.

Guardian Angel program

Financial support for the school career

In Africa, and particularly in Namibia, the education system is severely underdeveloped. Without support, children from poor families have little chance of finishing school with prospects. The steps for children Guardian Angel program accompanies them from elementary school through to higher education and pays for school fees, uniforms and materials.

steps students

Financial support for studies

Support our students in Windhoek: young people from the poorest backgrounds are given the chance of higher education for the first time. In 2021, the first Guardian Angel children from Okakarara were able to study at university thanks to continuous support.

"I find it particularly positive that the project
is well on the way to independence and not only
trusted that the donations would be enough."

Maximilian Muhle
Volunteer in Okakarara

„Hier in Eppendorf wächst man in so einer Wohlfühloase auf. Man hört von den Problemen, aber man kann es sich eigentlich nicht vorstellen. Und obwohl, naja wie soll man das jetzt sagen… obwohl sie ein ganz anderes Leben führen als wir und zu den ärmsten Menschen der Welt gehören, sind sie trotzdem glücklich und fröhlich."

Paul Zeller
Former school spokesman, Gymnasium Eppendorf

Income-generating steps

Becoming independent of donations in the long term

Income-generating steps are measures with which the steps for children foundation partially finances social steps - i.e. its own social facilities such as crèches, pre-schools and soup kitchens. Once the small business's running costs have been covered, 100% of the surplus revenue goes to social projects in Namibia without any deductions.

Our long-term goal is to become less dependent on donations. We create a social return on investment by improving the lives of local people. We support them in developing skills to overcome their challenges and bring about change. Through the small businesses established in Namibia, steps for children creates training and jobs and helps local people to generate their own income. The jobs in their own country thus support the economic cycle and counteract the causes of flight (primarily in Zimbabwe) so that our organization sustainably helps the local population and offers opportunities for an independent future.

The salary of one of our employees feeds
im Schnitt fünf weitere Familienangehörige ernährt.

Vegetable cultivation

in Okakarara/Ongombombonde

A 1,000 m² open-air garden has been cultivated since 2014. There is also a small shade house for growing seedlings. Trees of various species provide shade for the open-air garden, including the olive trees in our sytropical agroforestry system. Harvest sales secure salaries and finance the soup kitchen. Surpluses flow into reserves for vegetables and garden supplies.

Sewing workshop

in Okakarara

Since 2006, single mothers have been working on the production of bags, aprons and cases, as well as steps shirts as school clothes for the kindergarten and pre-school children. Sales in Namibia and Germany support social services such as soup kitchens and kindergartens - all proceeds go to the facilities.

Rental apartments

in Rehoboth

The Otto Xamseb and Bridge of Hope cooperation projects finance six permanently rented apartments through rental surpluses.

Guest houses

in Okakarara and Gobabis

Income from guest accommodation for volunteers, tourists, companies and authorities flows entirely into the social steps - support without deductions.

Chicken breeding

in Okahandja

In Okahandja, a solar-powered hatchery supports the rearing of chickens. The hatchery and chicken coop have now been handed over to the project and are generating income.

Fish ponds

in Mutasa

steps for children supports the construction of two fish ponds in Mutasa, Zimbabwe. Together with the Help with Plan Foundation and Plan International, we have been active here with income-generating steps since 2017.

Trainee Home

in Gobabis

Our newly built apartments provide accommodation for students in five double rooms with ten workstations in Gobabis. Rental contributions contribute to the financial independence of the projects and promote the academic education of young people.

Support from kindergarten through college or vocational training

In total, we look after over 2,000 children through our projects

Our locations

Becoming independent of donations!

Becoming independent of donations!

Becoming independent of donations!

Otavi

Social steps

Okakarara

Social steps

Income-generating steps

Okahandja

Social steps

Income-generating steps

Windhoek

Social steps

Gobabis

Social steps

Income-generating steps

Rehoboth

Social steps

Income-generating steps

Mutare

Social steps

Income-generating steps

Mutasa

Social steps

Our system of action

Social steps

Soup kitchen

Crèches

Kindergartens

Preschool

Afternoon care

step homes

Guardian Angel program

steps students

"I find it particularly positive that the projectis well on the way to independence and not onlytrusted that the donations would be enough."

Income-generating steps

Vegetable cultivation

Sewing workshop

Rental apartments

Guest houses

Chicken breeding

Fish ponds

Trainee Home

Donation account

Service

"I find it particularly positive that the project
is well on the way to independence and not only
trusted that the donations would be enough."