Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia

“We are poor, homeless, and landless, but we are not hopeless … we may be poor in our pockets, but we are not poor in our minds, so do not plan for us, plan with us.”   These words were spoken a few years ago at a High-Level Roundtable facilitated by the Office of the First Lady, Slum Dwellers International, and Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia on Informal Settlement Upgrading in Namibia. These are words that haunt and inspire me. They haunt me as they eloquently remind the powerful that the poor are not a problem that needs solving - they are partners; a shack is not an eyesore that needs to be hidden - it is a home for families that must be upgraded to meet their basic needs. Our people – ALL our people, are our wealth. Our children, ALL our children, are our treasures. Therefore, everyone deserves to live in a decent shelter where our collective hope, wealth, and treasures are safeguarded.   One of the guiding values of the Federation and Namibia Housing Action ...

Rosalinde Hendriks and Elizabeth Amakali represent the Namibian Federation (SDFN) at the annual Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI) Council Meeting. Elizabeth and Rosaline have the chance to discuss with other Shack Dwellers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America and learn from each other’s experiences/challenges. Today’s topics were Digital Inequality, Forced Evictions, and Climate Action Failures. Such networking and exchange events are significant for the Shack Dwellers .

  Community awareness meetings in Kanaan A, B, and C informal settlements in Gobabis for community contributions toward land survey. Land surveyor Paul from PSOS Surveying Consultants showed the community the machines they will use and explained how it all works. The community has committed to contribute at least 70% but the end of February 2023 for the work to start. 

  Today's visit to Ituyeni Saving Group in Havana Informel Settlement, Windhoek: Mrs. Eva Dick, MISEREOR Urban Development Desk officer in the Africa Department visited houses built by members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN). The pink house in the picture shows it clearly: federation houses can be extended to double size since the foundation is already repaired for this. Several houses in Ituyeni have small but beautiful backyard gardens. Spinach, passionfruit, cucumber and other vegetables are growing in these gardens, which follow permaculture principles. NHAG/SDFN house construction and backyard gardens are one of the many activities that are supported by MISEREOR .

  The Members of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) started last week with the construction of 14 houses in Choto, Katima Mulilo. As with all SDFN houses, these houses will be 32 sqm big and consist of a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, connected to water and sewage. These houses can later be extended to double size. The duration of construction per house will be a maximum of 3 months, including 1 month for the brick-making. Have a close look at these great bricks: they are done by the SDFN members of the building team and they follow given standards by the authorities.

The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia is currently busy in Walvis Bay constructing further houses. But first water and sewage lines have to be in place and inspected by the municipality. The federation members formed building teams and were trained to do this heavy work. Today was the day the municipality of Walvis Bay inspected the services at Narraville. The Consulting Engineers and Municipality Engineers did the checks. We are delighted - once again we passed the process. The biggest problem now is to build roads on this sandy ground .  watch the video here👇