ESS reshapes social care on Namibia's coast

For more than six decades, Erongo Social Services (ESS) has been a cornerstone of social welfare in Namibia's coastal region.

While the organisation is a veteran in the field, its impact today is arguably greater than ever, driven by a deliberate shift from traditional welfare provision to modern, therapeutic practice.

Central to that shift has been a fundamental change in how the public perceives social workers and the services they provide.

Margo Pfeil, the organisation's practice manager, said: "One of our biggest achievements is that we changed the stigma around social workers. The social worker is no longer that lady who comes to take away your child; he/she is qualified to render counselling/therapeutic services that can assist individuals."

The evolution is evident in the story of Reon Cloete, a young man raised by a single mother who received counselling from ESS.

Cloete has since gone on to study at Harvard University and remains an advocate for the services that supported his family.

The need for that holistic support is only growing.

The organisation has seen a marked increase in enquiries relating to neurodivergence, grief counselling and family dynamics.

Pfeil attributes this in part to a maturing awareness within the community, particularly around issues such as substance abuse.

"People are more open about addiction now and realise that it is not just a problem of the addict, but of the whole system around him/her," she explained.

However, challenges remain, especially regarding cultural taboos that prevent people, especially men, from seeking help.

ESS works tirelessly to break these cycles of isolation.

"Due to taboos and stigma around mental health, people are afraid to reach out," Pfeil said.

"We see a lot of children that are not allowed to have a voice. We try to empower children and parents and individuals and to stabilise families."

As a registered welfare organisation, ESS relies on the community to sustain its mission.

Whether through corporate social responsibility programmes or simple word of mouth, public support ensures that overall wellness remains a right, not a privilege, for people in the Erongo region.