In a world often dominated by flashy budgets and headline-grabbing political gestures, change sometimes comes quietly, in deliberate, small steps. This is the model that Toucy U. Tjijombo, Chairlady of the Windhoek Residents Mayoral Relief Trust Fund, has been building since 2015. Through a conversation with her, it became clear that her leadership is rooted in philanthropy, commitment, resourcefulness, and an intimate understanding of the community’s needs.
Tjijombo explained that housing is, in her view, the most critical issue at hand. She emphasized that a home is not simply walls and a roof, but the foundation of dignity, security, and opportunity. She envisions a nation where every family can access a plot to build their own home, informal settlements are formalized, and innovative, cost-effective housing solutions, such as clay or prefabricated structures, become practical options. She pointed out that bureaucracy often turns housing into a privilege rather than a right, and she advocates for partnerships between communities, the city/towns, and corporate sponsors to care for the land collectively.
ToucyT’s Dream for her Community
 

Her vision extends far beyond housing. Tjijombo spoke passionately about neighborhoods where children can play safely, where families grow their own food, and where fruit trees are planted in every household for shade. Food security, she explained, is not just about nourishment—it is empowerment. Small-scale farming enterprises for women with the potatoes in a sack initiative and urban micronutrient programs with the assistance of HeadStart Kids Namibia Foundation to strengthen both bodies and minds.
She also described her aspirations for the nation’s economy and culture. Clemens Kapuuo Street (for example) she said, could become a thriving corridor of local artisans, shops, and heritage tourism honoring national heroes such as Kakurukaze Mungunda, Prof. Mburumba Kerina, and Hendrik Witbooi to highlight but a few. Micro-grants and training programs for small businesses, alongside local manufacturing hubs, could create jobs while preserving the community’s spirit and character. Develop a database of mentors and mentees to exchange ideas on how to transform our city and towns into tech-driven economical hubs.
 

Unity and patriotism are central to her vision. She hopes to see every home flying the national flag, streets renamed after heroines, and mentorship and national service initiatives that help young people and vulnerable citizens feel included and valued. As part of manufacturing to have garments and memorabilia designed in our national flag colors that should be worn at our national events. Safety is personal for Tjijombo. The loss of her nephew, Brave Tjijombo-Nangura, to crime in Otjiwarongo motivates her approach. She supports aggressive community policing, well-equipped neighborhood watch programs, and mentorship networks to restore hope and belonging. We need to prioritize pensioners and people with disabilities by hosting inclusive sports tournaments for them as well as giving the visually impaired their privacy by giving them mobile phones that they can utilize.
 

Health and wellness, she explained, should be embedded into our lives. Community Parks should become alive with activity, cycling lanes linking neighborhoods, and community sports tournaments bring residents together, young and old. Wellness, she stressed, is not an afterthought—it is central to building a thriving, dignified nation.
 

Reflecting on her work, Tjijombo reminded that meaningful change does not require vast sums of money. “We do not need millions to start change,” she said. “We just need people willing to commit, step by step. Big visions are built on small bricks.”
Through her words, it became clear that her community’s transformation is not about glamour or headlines. It is about deliberate, consistent action by individuals who dare to envision a nation where dignity, unity, and opportunity are not ideals, but lived realities. Toucy Tjijombo’s leadership demonstrates that real change grows quietly, yet powerfully, from small, committed steps.