Maltahohe Community is in a small rural town in Southern Namibia. There are limited employment opportunities in the area and ongoing draught. The quality of life in this community has been in decline for many years.
With food insecurity and malnutrition being rife in the area, Wild Impact and andBeyond is fundraising to carry out essential improvements such as kitchen renovations and a water filtration and cooling system.
Thriving Communities is dedicated to supporting improved climate change resilience, enterprise capacity, youth employment and sustainable tourism activity in the communities that are the stewards of these landscapes and seascapes. This mission directly aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 13 (Climate Action).
In this programme, we focus on creating climate-smart food gardens to combat malnutrition and its associated challenges. These gardens provide children, particularly those vulnerable to poor developmental outcomes and compromised academic performance, with balanced, nutritious meals. By cultivating specific crops such as maize, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and beets for starch, alongside nutrient-rich greens like chard, local spinach, and cabbage, the program ensures sustainable food production while supporting children’s health and well-being. Our Vision 2030 target is that 100% of out partner community schools have food garden with 80% of their learners receiving a nutritionally certified meal every day.
Wild Impact and &Beyond have worked in partnership with Namibia’s Maltahohe Community since 2018. This remote town of 6,000 people, situated in Namibia’s Hardap Region, is a two-hour drive from &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Once known for karakul sheep farming, the town now faces deep economic hardship and persistent drought conditions escalating food security.
P.A. Schmidt Primary School, one of only two schools in the community, has a current enrolment of 959 young learners; 715 of these children are considered vulnerable. For over 15 years, &Beyond and Wild Impact have collaborated with the community to support a feeding programme at the school, with other development projects including the addition of a school dining hall, kitchen, storeroom and ablution block.
Wild Impact is a Public Benefit Organisation registered in South Africa. Reg. No.: 930002115