Have a Heart

Bridging care, education and communities across Namibia

By Madeleen Duvenhage

At sunrise in Walvis Bay’s industrial areas, volunteers refill feeding stations for feral cats. Hundreds of kilometres away, a mobile veterinary clinic prepares to serve a rural community. In Swakopmund, dedicated designers create a vibrant children’s magazine about animal welfare. These are all strands of the same vision, interweaving and overlapping at strategic points.

Have a Heart was founded in 2012 by Lindie Prinsloo, driven by a simple yet powerful mission: saving lives through sterilisation. Today, it is the first and only registered non-profit organisation in Namibia dedicated to mass sterilisation of pets in townships, and it is also registered in Germany. After the passing of Lindie Prinsloo, Geesche Neuburg stepped in to take the reins of Have a Heart. Originally based in Namibia, she is currently advocating for the organisation from Germany, continuing to champion its mission. Through her dedication and leadership, she has become a powerful driving force behind Have a Heart’s ongoing work. Supported by a committed team and passionate volunteers, the organisation continues to grow and thrive.

Entirely dependent on donations, Have a Heart has grown from a small initiative into a nationwide movement. As more people joined the cause, Have a Heart expanded into further towns and communities. Today, the organisation operates in 12 of Namibia’s 13 regions, supported by seven board members and volunteers across the country. In 2025 alone, nearly 4,000 dogs and cats were spayed, neutered, vaccinated or treated against parasites through partnerships with veterinary professionals.

From the outset, one thing was clear: the demand for accessible veterinary care among responsible dog and cat owners in Namibia was enormous. And it continues to grow.

Trap, neuter, release

Since its inception, Have a Heart developed a three-pronged strategy: trap, neuter and release. This approach has proven particularly effective in Walvis Bay, where factory areas were once overrun by stray cats. With the support of the Walvis Bay harbour, volunteers established dedicated feeding stations while systematically sterilising the cats to stabilise and manage the population – a practical and sustainable solution.

In addition to sterilisation campaigns, Have a Heart operates a mobile veterinary unit, reaching low- and no-income families in townships, informal settlements and rural communities. These are areas where veterinary care is often unaffordable or unavailable, and where stray populations can spiral quickly. During outreach visits, teams do more than provide veterinary care. They answer questions, explain the benefits of sterilisation and vaccination and also administer rabies vaccination and tick treatments, approaching every interaction with compassion and patience.

Pako Kids Magazine

While sterilisation addresses the immediate crisis, education and awareness remains just as important.

Have a Heart aims to significantly expand its public education initiatives, with a strong focus on children. Through a partnership with Namibia’s Pako Kids Magazine, the organisation developed an engaging educational programme for school visits. The programme teaches responsible pet ownership, animal welfare and rabies prevention in an age-appropriate and fun way.

Pako Kids Magazine was established 15 years ago by Petra Scheuermann. When she unexpectedly passed away in April 2025, the publication was transferred to Have a Heart, ensuring that her legacy of education and storytelling would continue.

Today, Hélene van Rooijen and Andrea Leech serve as the graphic designers behind the magazine, bringing Pako to life through its stories, illustrations, layouts, games and quizzes. The demand for school outreach is high, but Hélene stresses that funding constraints limit the organisation’s ability to roll out the programme at scale. The most recent edition was made possible by the generous financial backing of the Vanishing Kings Foundation. The strength of an organisation like Have a Heart lies in the many different skills people are willing to share. Everyone has something valuable to offer; whether it is design, communication, public speaking, accounting, or countless other talents. Each contribution, no matter the field, plays an important role and has a place in helping the organisation operate effectively.

Beyond Namibia, the concept has expanded regionally. In collaboration with Pako in Namibia, Kalata Magazines are produced specifically for Zambian children through the Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust, with content cleverly contextualised to suit Zambia’s landscape and wildlife.

Lodges with Heart

As Have a Heart continues to grow, a new initiative is taking form: Lodges with Heart.

The campaign partners with lodges to address the growing challenge of feral cats on hospitality properties – an issue that affects both the wildlife and guest experience. Through structured sterilisation and management programmes, the project aims to offer sustainable solutions.

There is also the possibility of deploying the mobile veterinary unit to service more remote lodges and communities, though additional funding is urgently needed to cover operational costs such as fuel.

The ongoing success of Have a Heart is the result of a collective effort from many individuals and organisations: committed veterinarians, volunteers, supportive businesses, and members of the public who contribute through donations and other forms of assistance. Through their generosity and dedication, whether in time, resources, or financial support, Have a Heart is able to continue its work and expand its impact.

Share:

More Posts

We’re for Namibians: Simson Uri-Khob

Simson Uri-Khob leads community-driven rhino conservation through Save the Rhino Trust, protecting Namibia’s desert-adapted black rhinos and empowering local communities.

Sign up for our newsletter