THE Mammadu Trust, which celebrated its first year in Otjomuise informal settlement, has helped many underprivileged children in the shantytowns.

In Otjomuise, the centre plans to change the lives of orphans and vulnerable children by providing them with clothes, food and an education.

Sixteen children are currently attending pre-primary classes while a group of Grade 3 children at the Otjomuise Project School attend after-school classes where they are helped with their homework in subjects such as English, mathematics and science.

According to Junias Kahiriri, teaching aid coordinator at the Mammadu Trust, “The centre plans to give hope to orphans and vulnerable children by giving them a reason to believe in life.

“We at Mammadu want to provide a platform for the OVCs, remove hindrances in their lives to succeed like any other children.”

Of the 16 pre-primary children at Mammadu, eight have been enrolled for Grade One next year, with the Mammadu Centre paying their school fees and buying their uniforms.

The Mammadu centre, which celebrated its first anniversary last Saturday, plans to expand due to the growing demand from the community but cannot do so now because of a lack of money.

Some Grade 10 and 12 pupils who live in the informal settlement have used the centre to prepare for their year-end examinations.

The centre provides breakfast and lunch and snacks in between to the pre-primary pupils. Kahiriri said the centre is mainly sponsored by overseas donors, and to a lesser extent Namibians.

The centre has a playground for the children and a garden where carrots, cabbages and other vegetables are grown.