Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO)

Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) is a Namibian Welfare Organisation (WO 199) established in December 2002, and officially launched in March 2003. It registered as a trust with the High Court of Namibia in 2009.

The organisation aims at using the arts - both visual and performing – to create awareness and mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other social problems such as domestic violence, rape, and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs amongst the youth of Namibia.

OYO’s vision is to develop a society in which there is broad access to information and the arts. By developing their creative skills, young people empower themselves to make informed choices, and thus become more prosperous, increase their life expectancy, and improve the quality of their lives.

The organisation’s values are:

• To be a listening and responsive organisation;
• To lead by example, striving for the highest standards;
• To be inclusive, regardless of race, gender, religion, ability, HIV status or sexual orientation;
• To retain our freedom to give accurate and relevant information, and to do so to the best of our ability;
• To behave in an ethical manner and to fight corruption and dishonesty;
• To support and encourage all people to assert their right to a voice;
• To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn;
• To promote creativity and innovation;
• To promote human rights for all;
• To promote excellence and pride in success; and
• To be apolitical, secular and non-judgmental.

OYO’s application of a highly participatory … and learner-centred pedagogy represents a model of excellence and best practice.
Hon. Nangola Mbumba, Minister of Education, September 2009