When in Windhoek, Penduka is a great place to visit, either to sleep as accommodation or just to visit their facilities and learn about their important work. It is in Katutura, the township created during the apartheid by the government in the fifites. In their own words:
“PENDUKA is a non-governmental development organisation working with women in Namibia. In the Oshiwambo and Otjiherero languages the word Penduka means “Wake Up!” Through our programme we encourage and support women throughout the country to take charge of their lives.”

Penduka started in 1992 with 4 employees, and now a total of 110 people are on the payroll, which gives an idea of the strength and determination of these women. They support specially women in a poverty situation, handicapped, ill or with low education levels. The objective is to empower them through craftmanship and tourism. These women learn:

  • Crafting skills, so they can later sell what they product overseas (The Netherlands and Norway for example)
  • Tourism. They offer accommodation, have a restaurant and also a conference room.

They also fight Tuberculosis (TB). All the women suffering from this disease receive health education and drugs on top of the Crafting and Tourism education.

How can you help?

The work done in Penduka is tourism-oriented. All the money generated by its touristic activity gets to the women in need and largely helps to improve their quality of life. Any tourist coming to visit Penduka will be able to:

  • Visit the workshops. Monday to Friday through a guided visit you can see the workshops and see how the women produce the crafts and beautiful cloth that later will be sold abroad. It is also possible to purchase some of these in the shop.
  • You can also sleep in Penduka. They have newly renovated rooms (2009). It is a much quieter and authentic place to be as in the center of Windhoek. They offer also catering for breakfast, lunch and dinner in their excellent restaurant, with wonderful views to the Goreangab Dam.


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Contact: Evelyn Breuer. Contact here
Post: Hospitality Manager
Address:
P.O. Box 7635
Katutura
Windhoek
Namibia
Tel: +26461257210
Fax: +26461257210
Web: www.penduka.com