Windhoek's crumbling roads have become an unexpected economic lifeline for teenage entrepreneurs. Sixteen-year-old Ines van Wyk and his friends have turned roadway decay into a daily money-making venture. Armed with battered municipal bins and buckets, they scavenge gravel from roadsides to patch up street craters.
Their makeshift repair business nets them about twenty Namibian dollars daily. Grateful drivers toss them tips ranging from single coins to small bills. Since launching their pothole-filling operation last week, the young workers have collectively earned around five hundred dollars. Each team member splits the proceeds equally, helping them purchase necessities like bread.
Van Wyk explains that his motivation stems from financial hardship. After leaving school because his mother couldn't support him financially, he now lives with his grandmother. Teammate Rowan Tjihunga reports that their most successful day brought two hundred dollars, which meant twenty dollars per person. Community members like Jeffrey Aribeb have started supporting these young workers with supplies.
City officials express concern about children performing road maintenance. The Windhoek municipality acknowledges road damage from heavy rainfall but emphasizes that repairs require technical expertise. Municipal spokesperson Lydia Amutenya encourages residents to report road conditions through official channels. Until permanent repairs become possible, street children continue their temporary pothole-filling business, knowing future rainstorms will wash away their hard work.
Their makeshift repair business nets them about twenty Namibian dollars daily. Grateful drivers toss them tips ranging from single coins to small bills. Since launching their pothole-filling operation last week, the young workers have collectively earned around five hundred dollars. Each team member splits the proceeds equally, helping them purchase necessities like bread.
Van Wyk explains that his motivation stems from financial hardship. After leaving school because his mother couldn't support him financially, he now lives with his grandmother. Teammate Rowan Tjihunga reports that their most successful day brought two hundred dollars, which meant twenty dollars per person. Community members like Jeffrey Aribeb have started supporting these young workers with supplies.
City officials express concern about children performing road maintenance. The Windhoek municipality acknowledges road damage from heavy rainfall but emphasizes that repairs require technical expertise. Municipal spokesperson Lydia Amutenya encourages residents to report road conditions through official channels. Until permanent repairs become possible, street children continue their temporary pothole-filling business, knowing future rainstorms will wash away their hard work.
