We’re for Namibians: Growing hope, one garden at a time

In the heart of Windhoek, a small group of determined young Namibians is proving that meaningful change doesn’t always begin with funding, equipment, or resources. Sometimes, it begins with a simple idea, a willingness to serve, and the courage to keep going when nobody believes in you.

For Juvenile Tycoon Investment CC, that journey started with two young men and a vision.

Founded by Mr Katamba Salom and driven by a team of passionate young people, Juvenile Tycoon Investment CC began as a grassroots initiative focused on community development. Before they were teaching people how to grow vegetables, they were conducting awareness sessions on HIV/AIDS, offering computer literacy classes, and introducing sign language training to communities.

As they engaged with people across Namibia, one challenge became increasingly clear: food security.
“We realised that many people wanted to grow their own food but didn’t know where to start,” explains Project Manager Ambambi Thomas. “That’s when we began focusing on backyard gardening and practical agricultural skills.”

What followed was a movement rooted in self-reliance.

Despite their passion and commitment, the road was not easy. As young people, they often faced skepticism. Potential partners and stakeholders frequently overlooked them because of their age. Transport was another challenge. Team members often walked long distances between communities, visiting homes and helping establish gardens without vehicles, funding, or formal support.

Yet they refused to give up.

Their motivation came from the people they served.
Every training session that attracted new participants, every family that harvested vegetables from their own yard, and every young person inspired to start something of their own reminded them why their work mattered.

One story stands out.

The team met a woman who had an unused section of her yard occupied by an old, damaged vehicle. Working together, they cleared the space and transformed it into a productive vegetable garden. Today, she no longer depends on buying many of her vegetables. Instead, she harvests fresh produce from her own backyard, reducing household costs and becoming more self-sufficient.

It is stories like these that continue to fuel the team’s passion.

Today, Juvenile Tycoon Investment CC has grown into a youth-led agricultural development initiative making a measurable impact across communities.

Since September 2025, the organisation has:

• Trained 2,050 people in backyard gardening theory
• Trained 1,723 people in practical backyard gardening techniques
• Trained 948 people in compost production
• Trained 145 people in vermicomposting
• Established 715 backyard gardens
• Distributed 246 backyard garden starter packs
• Provided 145 bags of vermicompost to community members
• Trained 92 people in poultry management, vaccination, and egg handling

Their work extends beyond gardening.
The organisation also trains communities in composting, vermicomposting, poultry production, and entrepreneurship. Their philosophy is simple: empower people with practical skills that create opportunities for income generation and food security.

For many participants, backyard gardens are more than just a source of vegetables. They are a pathway to independence.

A family that grows its own spinach, kale, onions, and other vegetables spends less on food. Surplus produce can be sold, creating additional income. In communities where employment opportunities are limited, these small gardens can make a meaningful difference.

The team believes agriculture can play a powerful role in addressing both poverty and unemployment.
Their message to young Namibians is equally powerful.
Believe in yourself.

The members of Juvenile Tycoon Investment CC understand what it feels like to be underestimated. They know what it means to start with very little. Yet they are living proof that age does not define potential.

They encourage young people to stop waiting for perfect conditions and instead begin with what they have, where they are.

“If others have achieved something, it is because they believed in themselves,” says Thomas. “People will always talk, but don’t let that stop you. Everyone has value and everyone can contribute.”

Their success has also been strengthened through partnerships with schools, community organisations, government institutions, agricultural stakeholders, and development partners. Collaborations with organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the City of Windhoek, educational institutions, and youth-focused organisations have enabled them to reach more people and create greater impact.

As their work continues to expand, so does their influence. What began as a small initiative driven by a handful of young people has grown into a movement that is helping Namibians rethink food security, entrepreneurship, and community development.

For Juvenile Tycoon Investment CC, success is measured not only by the number of gardens established or people trained, but by the confidence they help cultivate in others. Every training session, every harvest, and every new gardener represents someone taking a step toward greater self-reliance.

Their work demonstrates that solutions to some of Namibia’s most pressing challenges can often be found within communities themselves. By sharing knowledge, working together, and investing in practical skills, ordinary people can create extraordinary change.

For Thomas, Esther, Mr Katamba Salom, and the rest of the team, the mission remains simple: empower people with the skills to grow their own food, create opportunities for themselves, and build stronger communities.

Because every garden tells a story.
A story of determination.
A story of growth.
A story of Namibians helping Namibians.
And that is exactly what the “We’re For Namibians” spirit is all about.