OYO empowers youth through creativity

For more than two decades, the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) has been using creativity to help young Namibians engage with social issues affecting their lives and futures.

Founded by Dr Philippe Talavera, OYO began as a project in 2001, was registered in December 2002 and officially launched as an NGO in March 2003, in Windhoek.

Today, the organisation reaches more than 10 000 young people annually through initiatives including the OYO Dance Troupe, OYO Magazine, OYO Films and national youth school tours. “Our core umbrella is the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation Trust,” Talavera says, with the organisation using “arts to create social awareness.”

Through dance, theatre, films, comic books and photographic exhibitions, OYO addresses issues including HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, child marriage, bullying, alcohol and drug abuse. “We work all year long,” Talavera says, adding that different projects have different timeframes and are supported by different partners.

“We don’t really work on career opportunities, as this is not our strength. Instead, OYO focuses on issues that can affect young people’s education, including bullying, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy," he says.

The programmes provide skills that can benefit participants beyond the organisation. “Working on drama and dances helps develop useful skills such as punctuality and teamwork," he says, adding that participants can also receive certificates to include on their CVs.

In Gobabis, one youth group worked on dramas and songs while establishing a small garden. “In the last week of August, the group did its first harvest of spinach,” Talavera says, with the produce distributed among participating members.

For some young people, OYO has also become a pathway into professional careers.

Talavera points to the OYO Dance Troupe, where young people who joined as unemployed youth with a passion for the arts developed into “salaried, full-time professional artists” who now choreograph, perform and lead educational campaigns.

“We are proud to have won best choreographer, best dancer in a lead role (Desmond Kamerika), best dancer in a supporting role (Sydney Farao) and best newcomer dancer (Willem Garoeb) at the Namibian Film and Theatre Awards 2026. This is proof of the quality of the work we do.”

Talavera says the organisation also prioritises self-esteem. “Sometimes, when you are out-of-school, you can feel or be made to feel like a failure,” he says. When youth groups eventually perform in schools, “they become role models".

Despite the impact, funding remains a challenge, with OYO relying largely on grants to cover programmes, salaries, transport and other operational costs.

Current partners include, among others, the embassies of Germany, Finland and France, Horizon Trust, Interteam, Goethe-Institut South Africa and Valentine Trust. Looking ahead, OYO hopes to expand access to the arts and public information while contributing to conversations around GBV, HIV, school dropouts, child marriage and inclusive education.

“If you have an idea, just do it,” Talavera advises young Namibians. “Social impact doesn’t happen overnight, but small gains can eventually make a difference."