About CAFO

Who is behind CAFO?

CAFO stands for Namibia's Church Alliance for Orphans - Namibia's first interfaith networking organization that is dedicated to the development and sustainability of support programmes for orphans and vulnerable children in their respective communities.

CAFO was launched in October 2002 with the aim of encouraging and empowering local churches and other faith-based organizations to provide emotional, spiritual, and/or material assistance to needy orphans and other vulnerable children in their communities.

CAFO has more than 500 local congregations and faith-based organizations as members, working through 68 ecumenical committees in all 13 regions of the country. CAFO has a seat on the country’s national Permanent Task Force for OVC (PTF). In addition, CAFO chairs their Care and Support Group. CAFO’s program is strongly linked to the National Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS  and other national and international policies and protocols on OVC and related issues.

Our Vision

To see all Namibian Children fulfilling their God-given potential.

The vision of CAFO is to see all children in Namibia have the opportunity and being empowered to reach their God-given potential through continuous and meaningful community care and advocacy, in partnership with churches, FBOs, government and other stakeholders.

Our Mission

In the light of its vision, CAFO's mission is to:

• To facilitate a continuum of care to all children in Namibia through supporting and strengthening OVC related interventions by building the capacity and providing technical assistance to its membership
• To improve the emotional wellbeing and enhance dignity to the OVC and to foster positive attitude amongst stakeholders regarding childcare and family-relationships
• To support and empower members to move towards self-reliance in addressing the needs of OVC
• To advocate for the enforcement of national and international applicable policies and laws, to ensure that basic human rights, equal legal and social protection for children are met

Strategic Priorities

• To conduct national and regional training workshops, and engage in other forms of training, mentorship's, and learning exchanges for and within CAFO's membership

• To gather and disseminate relevant information on vulnerable children

• To raise funds to facilitate and promote the work of Churches and other faith-based organizations in Namibia who help vulnerable children in their communities

• To work closely with Government and other organizations to enhance the lives of children - both spiritually and physically - and to advocate for their basic human