By Sostenus Wilherm
The Capricorn Foundation has invested an additional N$1.044 million to expand efforts to combat child malnutrition in the Omaheke Region, amid the lingering effects of drought and food insecurity in one of Namibia’s hardest-hit regions.
The funding will be channelled through Genesis Namibia to support 1,000 vulnerable children during 2026 under the Genesis Nutrition Programme. The latest contribution brings the foundation’s total investment in the initiative to N$3.244 million since the programme was launched in 2024.
The Genesis Nutrition Programme was introduced as a pilot project in response to alarming levels of child malnutrition in the Omaheke Region. Prolonged drought and economic hardship in the region left many households struggling to provide adequate nutrition.
Initially supporting 700 children, the programme has since expanded significantly and has reached approximately 3,000 children while distributing more than 340,000 nutritionally balanced meals.
The Capricorn Foundation said its continued investment reflects its broader commitment to creating sustainable social impact by addressing hunger and poverty through long-term partnerships.
National reports released in 2023 identified worsening food insecurity caused by recurring droughts, with Omaheke among the regions most severely affected by child malnutrition.
Capricorn Foundation head Veripura Muukua said meaningful and lasting change can only be achieved through collaboration.
“As Connectors of Positive Change, we believe meaningful impact is achieved through collaboration. Our partnership with
Genesis Namibia reflects our commitment to addressing immediate needs and building sustainable solutions that empower communities and strengthen resilience,” Muukua said.
She said recent visits to the region had demonstrated encouraging progress in the children’s health and development.
“We are encouraged by the positive changes we have seen during our visit to the Omaheke Region. The team visits the soup kitchens every two weeks to assess the children’s progress and conduct growth assessments, with each child’s development carefully documented. This is a key indicator of the project’s impact.”
The partnership has also shifted its focus towards long-term food security by integrating community-based agricultural initiatives. Introduced in 2025, the gardening programme includes food production projects such as the Kruger
Kamp garden, where vegetables are cultivated to support local soup kitchens.
The initiative is designed to gradually reduce reliance on external nutritional assistance by enabling communities to grow their own food while complementing the Genesis nutrition programme.
Genesis Namibia managing director Riaan van Zyl said the programme delivers scientifically formulated meals through a network of 20 community soup kitchens operating across the Omaheke Region.
He explained that every Genesis meal contains 13 vitamins, five minerals, 19 amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids and five electrolytes, providing children with essential nutrients that support healthy growth, strengthen immune systems and improve cognitive development.
Van Zyl said although children remain the programme’s primary beneficiaries, nutritional support has also been extended to selected HIV, tuberculosis and cancer patients, as well as pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers with infants younger than 12 months, whose nutritional needs are particularly critical.
He noted that the introduction of community gardens has transformed the initiative from a feeding programme into a broader community development project.
“What began as a feeding intervention has evolved into a community-led sustainability initiative.
Local volunteers now cultivate crops, support soup kitchens and share agricultural knowledge, creating a pathway towards selfsustaining communities where locally produced food complements Genesis nutrition while reducing dependence on external support,” Van Zyl said.
