By Hilja Shikongo
In Windhoek’s Havana informal settlement, Martha Festus, founder of Ebenezer Soup Kitchen, has created more than a feeding scheme, but a sanctuary of hope.
“I grew up on the outskirts of Windhoek, in the dusty streets of Havana. I was fortunate enough to have had an amazing upbringing. My mom made sure I had all necessities a roof over my head and food on my table,” said Festus. “Unfortunately, not everyone was fortunate like me. I grew up looking at my peers going through so much due to mere poverty. I would then take bread from home to take to them and the idea just grew on me,” added Festus.
That idea eventually became Ebenezer Soup Kitchen, which she founded in 2019. “The name Ebenezer is no accident. It means Stone of Help, and that is the whole focus of the soup kitchen to be a beacon of help.” Festus’ initiative now feeds over 600 children every Saturday, a far cry from the modest group of 10 they started with.
“The number keeps increasing. We provide meals every Saturday and the numbers differ.”
Running a kitchen of this scale is not without challenges and she explains that: “One of the biggest obstacles from day one until to date, is the lack of food and sponsorships. It is painful to send kids home because we are unable to provide a meal.”
“With the little I make from my businesses, my family and friends, plus the donations that come now and then with that little village of mine, I am able to run the kitchen efficiently.”
Community involvement has also been critical in her work and she maintains that they help with keeping the kids safe to helping with washing dishes and cooking. “Youth participation brings added joy. It is always beautiful when the youth reaches out to be part of such initiatives. By cooking, playing with the kids and spending time with them you hear different stories from different backgrounds, and see how grateful they are for whatever they have.”
One of the kitchen’s most heartwarming initiatives was a recent Charity Fun Day, designed to break the routine. “We decided to break the circle of just them coming to eat and going back home with the same menu and style. These kids too deserve more than that. They deserve a seven-colored plate, artists performing and their role models in flesh. We wanted them to know that they are loved and considered. The whole event indeed was a full highlight.”
