Safe Havens: We endeavor to establish safe shelters and environments where women and children can escape violence and find peace.

Providing Comprehensive Support: Delivering psychological, legal, and financial assistance to help women and children rebuild their lives.

ABOUT US

Promoting Skills Development: Offering vocational training to enhance women's self-sufficiency and economic independence.

Advocating for Rights and Justice: Championing the rights of women and advocating for stronger legal protections against gender-based violence.

Fostering Community Awareness: Raising awareness and educating the community on the impacts of GBV and the importance of gender equality.

The Beginning

During the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020, Mrs. Martha McNab, an avid road runner, observed vulnerable children on her running route.

The children appeared to have no supervision and ‘under dressed’ with tattered shoes with most of the children with no shoes in the cold weather.

Vulnerable children who are wandering the streets and some even begging food.

Step Up Ark was birthed during the challenging period of the coronavirus, to give hope to impoverished families who lack basic needs for food, clothing, shelter and education in the rural areas of the Hardap Region.

Her dream is driven by a deeply felt purpose to address and combat gender-based violence.

Her mission is to provide a platform for women who have been silenced by their circumstances, ensuring they have a voice and the support they need to reclaim their lives.

By giving a voice to the voiceless, the Step Up Ark Community Organisation aspires to create a safer, more equitable society where every woman can live with dignity and freedom.

Step Up Ark is a registered non- profit organisation and adopts the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) approved by the Cabinet of the Republic of Namibia in 1998, recognizing that women are potentially the greatest agents of change. Our vision is to create a society in the Hardap Region of Namibia where women, particularly victims of gender-based violence (GBV), are empowered, respected, and free from fear. We aspire to be a beacon of hope and support, transforming lives through comprehensive programs that promote healing,
resilience, and independence. Our mission is to empower women in the Hardap Region by providing holistic support and resources to victims of gender-based violence. We are committed to:

Our organisation is grounded in the following core values: empathy and compassion I respect and dignity I resilience I empowerment I collaboration

By embodying these values and pursuing our mission with unwavering dedication, we aim to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of women in the Hardap Region, breaking the cycle of violence and fostering a culture of empowerment and equality.