Living in darkness and fear: A blind mother pleads for help

Deep in the Ekunde 6 informal settlement in Okahandja, behind makeshift walls of plastic, lives 42-year-old Elsie Garises – a blind mother of two daughters who has endured far more than most just to survive.Since losing her sight in 2022, Garises’ world has been one of darkness – not only physically, but also emotionally and economically. Her fragile home, precariously held together with plastic and tape, offers no real shelter, especially against the growing threats and dangers that now face her and her children.“I cannot see who’s standing at my door, and people have threatened to burn us alive. They say I am useless because I can&#039;t see,” Garises said, her voice trembling. “My sister stays up most nights just to make sure nothing happens.”Her sister, Magrietha Hamases (47), gave up everything to look after Garises and the children. “I have lost every job I had. I cannot leave my sister at home alone with the kids. I do not even have a boyfriend anymore because I know I will never leave her for a man,” she said, forcing a laugh to hide the pain.Garises pointed to the inside of their home, noting: “I barely have a mattress to sleep on. As you saw, I slept on that hardboard with two blankets on it. Life is really not easy."The next generation at riskGarises&#039; daughters have felt the weight of the family’s circumstances – deeply.The girls, aged 13 and 8, are not attending school, despite their desperate desire to receive an education.“We really want to go to school to help our mother,” they said.Schools in Okahandja have reportedly turned them away due to a lack of documentation, and repeated attempts to get help from authorities have allegedly led nowhere.The older girl, who has reportedly already fallen into risky behaviour, is a source of deep concern for both her mother and aunt."I am afraid of what she will become one day. She was raped once; we reported it, but nothing was done,” claimed Hamases, barely holding back tears.‘No hope, no change’With no toilet, no running water and no proper shelter, the family’s N$1 600 monthly government grant barely covers food, clothing, and other basic needs.“They expect me to use that money to build a proper shack, but it’s just not enough,” Garises said.The family uses an area near a sewage riverbed as a toilet — a spot that is not only unhygienic but also unsafe, especially for young girls.Garises pleaded for assistance, saying all she wants is help to build a proper shack where she, her sister and daughters can feel safe. “I just want to sleep in peace, without fearing for our lives,” she said.Her sister added: “We have tried everything. We have gone to every office. But still, nothing. No hope. No change.”

Living in darkness and fear: A blind mother pleads for help

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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Living in darkness and fear: A blind mother pleads for help

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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