The Dina Namubes Community Upliftment and Youth Empowerment Programme Foundation handed over two fire extinguishers to two community soup kitchens in the DRC informal settlement at Swakopmund.

Shacks in the DRC settlement at Swakopmund are prone to fires, which often result in families losing their belongings or, in some cases, their lives.

Little Lady's Haven and Soup Kitchen owner Caroline Kasenda highlighted that, "Especially when it's very windy, people use fire for cooking or candles for light, since there's no electricity. Many can't afford gas, so fires are very common, especially now that the wind is picking up and the weather is changing."

Depending on how quickly residents alert the fire brigade, it usually takes between four and 10 minutes for the team to respond.

Many residents are left helpless during that waiting period because they have no means to extinguish the fire before it spreads.

Established by the former Swakopmund mayor, the Dina Namubes Community Upliftment and Youth Empowerment Programme Foundation decided to assist by donating fire extinguishers and offering fire safety training to soup kitchens.

"We will be training young boys to help fight fires and assist during emergencies. This is about inclusion, responsibility, and empowerment. The boy child must also be part of community care and safety. When they are equipped with knowledge, they become protectors and not bystanders. We know that when a fire breaks out, it often takes the fire brigade about 10 minutes or more to arrive. In that time, families can help themselves if they have the right tools and training."

Ann's Angels Soup Kitchen and Little Lady's Haven and Soup Kitchen are the two beneficiaries of the donation. Together, they feed more than 600 children daily.

"We experience many shack fires in the DRC. Whenever these fires happen, we often don't know how to react – and by the time we realise it, the fire has already destroyed the whole house."

"It will help a lot because, while the fire brigade is still on its way, we can act quickly. We might be able to put out the fire before they arrive," added Caroline Kasenda.

There are 13 registered soup kitchens in Swakopmund, 10 of which are located in the DRC settlement.