Havana Soup Kitchen uplifts low-income community

In one of Windhoek’s most under-resourced communities, the Havana Soup Kitchen has spent the past 16 years feeding children, supporting the elderly and helping learners reach their full potential.

The organisation provides free pre-primary education, food support for vulnerable communities and academic assistance for schoolchildren, aiming to uplift one of the city’s most underserved communities.

Founded in 2010 by Frieda Geises, the organisation is overseen by a volunteer board of seven members.

“We started the Havana Soup Kitchen to serve neglected communities and to support people through education, food and opportunities,” Geises said.

“Our vision is to serve neglected communities, educate and empower people, and help them develop skills to improve their living standards,” Geises said.

Key support

One of the organisation’s key programmes is early childhood development. Around 50 children, aged three to six, are enrolled in the pre-primary programme, where they receive free education along with daily breakfast and lunch.

Children in the pre-primary programme also receive clothing donations when available.

Another key initiative supports elderly residents in the Havana community. Each month, more than 200 people aged 60 and above receive food parcels containing essential groceries.

Geises, who holds a certificate in early childhood development from Action Child Mobilisation (ACM), completed four years of training and two years mentoring others in the same field. She is also a member of the Child Care Protection Forum (CCPF) in the Moses ǁGaroëb Constituency, where she helps refer abused children to social workers.

Mbaningira Kemuiko, Geises’ daughter and the homework project supervisor, assists with the organisation’s activities and said the support plays a vital role in the lives of many living in the low-income community.