The University of Namibia’s Occupational Therapy department and the City of Windhoek’s (COW) Community Services department, partnered up to help the homeless population of the city.
The project, now known as (MONTI), which stands for ‘Meeting our needs Together’, was launched last month at the COW’s office in Katutura. The project, which is spearheaded by the 3rd year Occupational Therapy students, is part of the students’ credit bearing community development block project.
The initiative will target the homeless population that are currently housed in the City’s shelters for the homeless, through the application of occupational therapy skills and targeted activities involving poultry farming, gardening and jewellery making.
The project, which will run for the next 5 years, is envisaged to be carried forward by each third year level student in subsequent years.
Ms Maruta, the COW Head of Community Services and Youth Development, welcomed the initiative, and emphasized that it crystalized at the right time. She further availed the COW’s Okukuna farm, located a few kilometers on the outskirts of Windhoek, to be utilized for the gardening project.
Ms Burger, Head of the Occupational Therapy department at UNAM, expressed appreciation to the COW, for availing the students such an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a real world context.
The City of Windhoek became a strategic partner of the University of Namibia, after the respective principles of the two institutions, Prof K Matengu (UNAM Vice- Chancellor) and Mr Robert Kahimise ( COW CEO), formally signed a cooperation of understanding earlier this year.
