• By Patience Makwele

Driven by the passion to help, especially young children and the less privileged, one woman turned her desire to serve others into a powerful force of hope, healing and humanity Well-known mental health motivational speaker and Elegant Vintage Chief Executive Owner, Immagine Shikomba, transformed her dream to put smiles on the faces of many into a reality by founding the Keemunda Foundation, which has become home to many children across the country. 

Shikomba explained that the name ‘Keemunda’ was given to her me by her late grandmother.  “It comes from Psalm 121, which speaks of looking to the hills for help. She often told me that I had a helping hand, and that sentiment stayed with me throughout my life,” Shikomba said. Today, that helping hand stretches across regions, communities, and age groups, offering everything from food to mentorship and from mental health awareness to skills development. 

For Shikomba, founding Keemunda was not an overnight decision but a long overdue calling. 
“[Founding Keemunda] became the formal expression of something that had always been part of who I am. The drive to serve, uplift, and advocate for those in need,” added Shikomba.

Grounded in three pillars, Keemunda Foundation’s dedication lies in, supporting vulnerable communities, empowering young people, and raising mental health awareness.  With its food schemes becoming its most visible work and touching the lives of countless Namibians, the foundation remains a beacon of hope for many, especially street kids and the less privileged children in orphanages.

“The main goals of the Keemunda Foundation are [achieved] through regular soup kitchens and donation drives as well as and empowering young people through mentorship and skills development.” 
She emphasized that at the heart of the foundation is a commitment to help others heal, give them hope and assist people to live fuller as well as healthier lives. 

“We also host regular soup kitchens to serve warm meals and create a safe, supportive space for community members to gather. 
“These efforts are rooted in compassion and driven by the belief that no one should have to go to bed hungry. We go into rural areas to assess where the need is greatest. Sometimes people reach out to us directly and when they do, we do our best to step in and offer support wherever we can.”

The philanthropist mentioned that behind every meal served and every care package delivered is a constant uphill battle of funding.  She said while the passion and vision are there, the financial capacity to match it, is sometimes limited, especially since much of what the foundation is personally funded. 

As a woman at the helm of a national initiative, Shikomba embodies quiet strength and firm purpose and she believes that: “Confidence is about being rooted in your purpose and unapologetically owning your space.”  “It is about knowing that what you bring to the table is valuable, even if no one claps at first. I do not wait for validation. I move with intention, grace, and the quiet fire that says, I know why I started, and I know where I am going,” she noted. Shikomba is convinced while some would define success in numbers, she finds her rewards in the smallest of moments.  These including seeing someone smile, even if it is just for two seconds, which describes as “a brief of joy which bring about a sense of joy”. 

Her journey since the foundation’s establishment is one which serves as a reminder that leadership does not always wear suits or speak from podiums but sometimes cooks warm meals, while listening with intent and moving quietly through communities healing, empowering and lifting others along the way.

When asked about the legacy she wants to leave, her answer remained grounded as the work she does.  “I want to be remembered as the woman who broke barriers, who showed up when it was not easy, who turned compassion into action. I want young girls to look at my journey and know that it is possible to rise, to lead with heart, and to change lives.”

As the foundation continues to plant seeds of dignity and love in places where it is needed the most, with each soup kitchen, every mentorship session, and every hand held in hope, her hope is to leave behind an impactful legacy not just within Namibia but across borders. 

“My greatest hope is that long after I am gone, the seeds I have planted in kindness and service will continue to grow in communities everywhere,” she said.