‘I built my house from selling kapana and vetkoek’
A recipe for homeownership
An Oshivelo-based informal sector food vendor saved for more than a decade to build her dream home.
Through more than a decade of diligent saving from selling kapana and vetkoek – paired with her commitment to a low-cost housing community savings programme – a 50-year-old entrepreneur from Oshivelo and mother of four recently moved into her two-bedroom dream home with her family.
Akkla Abraham is one of 17 beneficiaries who became homeowners in Oshivelo’s Extension 1 last week, a housing project developed through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).
Born and raised in Oshivelo, Abraham could not contain her joy as former urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni wished her well and handed her the keys on 17 March to the brand-new house she now calls home.
Speaking to Namibian Sun, Abraham said she has lived in Oshivelo her entire life.
Having never been formally employed in either the government or private sector, she has made a living as a vendor in Oshivelo for over a decade.
With her eldest child now 32 and her youngest 12, Abraham said she had always dreamed of owning a home in which to raise her family.
“I always wanted a house. Living in the location for many years was just too challenging. Today I am very happy to be able to be a proud owner of the house,” she said.
Persevering despite the odds
Abraham joined the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) in 2014, where members contribute weekly based on their income.
In 2022, the SDFN was granted erven on which to build their homes.
Abraham explained that part of the savings accumulated over the years was used to service the land by installing sewer and water infrastructure.
While saving through the SDFN, she also opened a separate personal savings account, aiming to build not just a standard house but the home of her dreams.
“The federation only gave me about N$36 000, but this house you see here is valued at around N$170 000. I had to use my other savings to construct this house,” she said.
“I did not take a loan from anywhere else; this is just money which I saved for years and I was focused on building a house for me and my family.”
Grassroots community
Abraham urged fellow residents – and Namibians in general – who fall into the low-income category to join low-cost housing schemes like SDFN to achieve homeownership.
“It is not easy to save, but the reward is great. You need to be disciplined and be focused on the dream,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Uutoni praised low-cost housing initiatives, pointing out they offer a sustainable solution to the country’s housing crisis.
“I believe that low-cost housing initiatives such as this are a sustainable solution to addressing the housing crisis. The Shack Dwellers Federation has proven time and again that an inclusive, community-driven approach is one of the most effective ways to provide affordable housing for those who need it most,” he said.
“As a ministry, we are proud to associate, and we will continue to work with key stakeholders, including local authorities, the private sector, and community-based organisations, to support similar projects across the country.”
“We want to ensure that this is just the beginning for Oshivelo and that many more families will benefit from similar housing initiatives going forward.”
Ohorongo Cement, Pupkewitz Foundation and First National Bank funded 12 houses, while five houses were funded by the urban and rural development ministry.
Currently eight more houses are under construction at Oshivelo Extension 1.
[email protected]
Akkla Abraham is one of 17 beneficiaries who became homeowners in Oshivelo’s Extension 1 last week, a housing project developed through the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN).
Born and raised in Oshivelo, Abraham could not contain her joy as former urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni wished her well and handed her the keys on 17 March to the brand-new house she now calls home.
Speaking to Namibian Sun, Abraham said she has lived in Oshivelo her entire life.
Having never been formally employed in either the government or private sector, she has made a living as a vendor in Oshivelo for over a decade.
With her eldest child now 32 and her youngest 12, Abraham said she had always dreamed of owning a home in which to raise her family.
“I always wanted a house. Living in the location for many years was just too challenging. Today I am very happy to be able to be a proud owner of the house,” she said.
Persevering despite the odds
Abraham joined the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) in 2014, where members contribute weekly based on their income.
In 2022, the SDFN was granted erven on which to build their homes.
Abraham explained that part of the savings accumulated over the years was used to service the land by installing sewer and water infrastructure.
While saving through the SDFN, she also opened a separate personal savings account, aiming to build not just a standard house but the home of her dreams.
“The federation only gave me about N$36 000, but this house you see here is valued at around N$170 000. I had to use my other savings to construct this house,” she said.
“I did not take a loan from anywhere else; this is just money which I saved for years and I was focused on building a house for me and my family.”
Grassroots community
Abraham urged fellow residents – and Namibians in general – who fall into the low-income category to join low-cost housing schemes like SDFN to achieve homeownership.
“It is not easy to save, but the reward is great. You need to be disciplined and be focused on the dream,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Uutoni praised low-cost housing initiatives, pointing out they offer a sustainable solution to the country’s housing crisis.
“I believe that low-cost housing initiatives such as this are a sustainable solution to addressing the housing crisis. The Shack Dwellers Federation has proven time and again that an inclusive, community-driven approach is one of the most effective ways to provide affordable housing for those who need it most,” he said.
“As a ministry, we are proud to associate, and we will continue to work with key stakeholders, including local authorities, the private sector, and community-based organisations, to support similar projects across the country.”
“We want to ensure that this is just the beginning for Oshivelo and that many more families will benefit from similar housing initiatives going forward.”
Ohorongo Cement, Pupkewitz Foundation and First National Bank funded 12 houses, while five houses were funded by the urban and rural development ministry.
Currently eight more houses are under construction at Oshivelo Extension 1.
[email protected]
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