Abba project transforms lives in Gobabis
Uplifting the youth
In Gobabis, the Abba Project is changing lives, one child at a time.
The initiative, coordinated by Derick Geiseb, has turned into a ray of hope for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Founded as a sponsorship program in 2011 and renamed the Abba Project in 2020, the name embodies the project’s mission: to carry the young on its back, supporting and guiding them through the challenges they face.
The Abba Project currently sponsors 90 children, offering them more than just financial aid. After school, each child receives a warm meal and dedicated homework support from mentors, Monday through Thursday, between 14:00 and 17:00.
“I was also sponsored by the Abba Project from 2011 until 2019,” Geiseb shares with a smile. “I went to study nursing in Okahandja at an institute that was not accredited, so the certificate is of no use. That’s why I came back to give back.”
The Abba Project has a holistic approach to the children’s well-being. Project leaders visit the children's homes regularly, providing parents with updates on school performance and offering support. Recognising that many of the children's parents struggle with alcohol, Geiseb and his team speak to them as well, encouraging a stable home environment for the children. “Many of the children we sponsor have parents who drink a lot,” Geiseb explains. “That’s why we always make time to also talk to the elderly.”
The community-centric approach extends to Sundays, when the project hosts Bible studies and informal family discussions, creating a nurturing environment where the children can discuss life’s challenges.
“We know life is not easy, so we make time to talk to them about life itself,” Geiseb says.
Sharing the same centre is the Light of the Children Private School, which provides education for children in pre-primary and grade 1, largely funded by a sponsorship from the Netherlands. This school focuses on children from backgrounds affected by poverty, single-parent households, or substance abuse. “We still assist them if they go from grade 1 to another school until they become someone successful in life. The aim is to see them succeed,” Geiseb says.
Through the Abba Project, Geiseb and his team are fostering a brighter future for these young Namibians, showing them that despite their circumstances, they can aim high and achieve their dreams
The initiative, coordinated by Derick Geiseb, has turned into a ray of hope for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Founded as a sponsorship program in 2011 and renamed the Abba Project in 2020, the name embodies the project’s mission: to carry the young on its back, supporting and guiding them through the challenges they face.
The Abba Project currently sponsors 90 children, offering them more than just financial aid. After school, each child receives a warm meal and dedicated homework support from mentors, Monday through Thursday, between 14:00 and 17:00.
“I was also sponsored by the Abba Project from 2011 until 2019,” Geiseb shares with a smile. “I went to study nursing in Okahandja at an institute that was not accredited, so the certificate is of no use. That’s why I came back to give back.”
The Abba Project has a holistic approach to the children’s well-being. Project leaders visit the children's homes regularly, providing parents with updates on school performance and offering support. Recognising that many of the children's parents struggle with alcohol, Geiseb and his team speak to them as well, encouraging a stable home environment for the children. “Many of the children we sponsor have parents who drink a lot,” Geiseb explains. “That’s why we always make time to also talk to the elderly.”
The community-centric approach extends to Sundays, when the project hosts Bible studies and informal family discussions, creating a nurturing environment where the children can discuss life’s challenges.
“We know life is not easy, so we make time to talk to them about life itself,” Geiseb says.
Sharing the same centre is the Light of the Children Private School, which provides education for children in pre-primary and grade 1, largely funded by a sponsorship from the Netherlands. This school focuses on children from backgrounds affected by poverty, single-parent households, or substance abuse. “We still assist them if they go from grade 1 to another school until they become someone successful in life. The aim is to see them succeed,” Geiseb says.
Through the Abba Project, Geiseb and his team are fostering a brighter future for these young Namibians, showing them that despite their circumstances, they can aim high and achieve their dreams
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