Cradle of Hope Foundation at Swakopmund was honoured with the presence and assistance of Miss Face of Hope Namibia 2026, Kirstie Strydom recently during a Soup Kitchen Day, orchestrated by the charity organisation.

Cradle of Hope Foundation is still going strong in their quest to assist the vulnerable and needy in Swakopmund by having bi-weekly soup kitchen days. According to Kirstie she noticed an announcement of the planned soup kitchen on the Foundation’s social media page and decided to ask them for permission to join in on the soup day, as she is also all about ploughing back and spreading hope.

The soup kitchen served around 200 vulnerable children with a hot meal and according to the Foundation’s founder, Francis Godenschweig they have conducted more than 20 soup kitchens in Swakopmund’s poverty struck DRC suburb already, since their first soup run on 9 August 2025. The organisation recently hosted two Soup Days, 20 June and 6 July respectively, where approximately 170 children and adults per soup run were served with nourishing soup. “We were honoured to have four employees from one of our valued sponsors, KNeumayer, who volunteered during our soup day, as well as sponsoring the ingredients for the soup, as well as packets of chips for the little ones. We extend our deepest gratitude to KNeumayer for their continued support, this event would not have been possible without them,” Godenschweig remarked.

She also noted that a Swakopmund resident, Hanlie Spangenberg, after observing a social media post prior to the soup days, also contributed to the success of the 6 July soup kitchen day. According to Francis, the Cradle of Hope Foundation was established with a bold vision to establish the first shelter in the area for abused and homeless pregnant girls and women, alongside a soup kitchen and elderly care programme. Another one of the shelter’s core aims is to reduce baby abandonment and illegal abortions which is a growing crisis in the Erongo Region and across Namibia.

By Marshallino Beukes