The One Economy Foundation is looking at expanding services and programmes offered at its Katutura-based Be Free Youth Campus.
Its Executive Chairperson, Monica Geingos, says the decision is informed by the growing needs of young people across Namibia.
Geingos shared some of the plans during the One Economy Foundation's fundraising gala dinner in Windhoek.
A visibly dejected former First Lady reminisced about the impact her late husband, Dr. Hage Geingob, had for the past eight years on the Foundation's activities.
Since its establishment, the One Economy Foundation has been at the forefront of responding to the various needs of young people in a coordinated manner.
Its flagship Be Free Youth Campus is rolling out services of psychosocial help, entrepreneurial initiatives, sexual reproductive health services, and others.
Geingos says the services, such as psychosocial help, are also being used by the parents of the youth visiting the campus.
"So very soon we will form a parent's campus association because what we are building is a community, and we are building it with you. So we thought if we go to Katutura, we go to where the need is, but what we are realising now is that some of the kids are also walking long distances to our campus because Katutura extends deep into the mountains, so we are looking at building a satellite campus. We are looking at some of the youth centres of the Ministry of Youth where we can toolkit some of the work because that is the other big pressure that we have."
About 250 young people visit the Free Youth Campus daily.
Geingos shared that pregnancy tests, family planning, and testing for HIV and AIDS are some of the most sought-after services.
"So when we know that half of our population on this continent is under the age of 18, in some regions 49% of girls between the ages of 16 and 19 are falling pregnant, and often before they turn 20, there's a second child, and often their children also end up giving birth early. But you can't just stop at preventing pregnancy. Once a young person falls pregnant, you must equip them to be able parents. How does a 16-year-old socialise with another human being? It's also about education, which is why we do stem classes, gym, self-defence, and bible study."
Part of the phase two development at the youth campus is the construction of a skill-up lab, and the CEO of One Economy Foundation, Uajorokisa Akwenye, says the skill-up lab would bridge the gap between training and employment.
"Equipping our youth with practical skills that lead to meaningful careers. The project has also been honoured with the 2024 Award of Excellence and Architecture from the Namibian Institute of Architects, a remarkable achievement that stands as a testament to the power of smart partnerships and the importance of breaking silos in empowering our youth."
The One Economy Foundation raised N$4.5 million during the fundraising dinner.