Lighthouse Community Hope Centre offers a beacon of hope and growth
The Lighthouse Community Hope Centre, based in Katutura, has provided well-rounded support to disadvantaged children since 2021, offering a safe haven for personal and academic growth.
The organisation not only ensures that children from less advantaged backgrounds receive nutritious meals each day but also offers educational support, helps build discipline and character and develops practical life skills through a wide variety of programmes.
Programme director Chipo Kaisi told My Zone: “We currently support between 40 and 50 children on a daily basis", highlighting the centre’s growing reach within the community.
The centre was founded under the non-profit Foundation for Africa Christian Education, which has operated since 2005.
The Windhoek initiative was created in response to the growing need in the community, where many children lack consistent access to academic support, mentorship and meals.
“Our mission is to empower youth from disadvantaged backgrounds by fostering them to become moral and disciplined individuals with a purpose," Kaisi said, reinforcing the organisation’s focus on both personal and academic development.
Unique bled of programmes
The centre offers a large range of programmes and activities to support the children's overall growth, happiness and development.
“Academic support, daily meals and mentorship are at the core of what we offer to help children grow and succeed,” Kaisi noted.
Life skills mentorship and practical activities such as arts and crafts, gardening and carpentry are also included.
“Our programmes are designed to develop not only academic ability but also life skills such as teamwork, time management, leadership and critical thinking,” Kaisi explained.
These activities give children foundational skills valued in the workplace, helping prepare them for future employment and professional opportunities.
The centre has also created national champions.
Thirty children are currently part of the archery programme, and the team has been national schools' champions for the past five years, with the senior team winning gold and the junior team winning silver, Kaisi said.
“We measure our impact through improvements in school attendance, academic performance and participation in life skills and sports programmes,” Kaisi explained, noting that this helps track personal growth and development among learners.
She added that “our work extends beyond the children to positively impact families across the surrounding communities".
The centre is funded through a combination of grants, donations and corporate partnerships.
She highlighted key supporters, including Namclear, which sponsors the homework and study programme; Pupkewitz Foundation, supporting the archery initiative; and Gondwana Care Trust, which funds the feeding programme. “These partnerships are essential in sustaining our programmes and expanding opportunities for the children we serve,” Kaisi emphasised.
