Business Beyond Profit Sai’s Kitchen transforms Havana with tradition and empowerment
I
n the heart of Havana, an informal settlement in Windhoek, Saima Mukwiilongo is rewriting the narrative, turning a place often associated with challenges into a vibrant hub of culture and opportunity. Born and raised in this community, she decided to breathe life into Havana through Sai’s Kitchen, a traditional food restaurant that looks beyond its function as a business, focusing on community upliftment.
At this four-way stop everyone has something to sell, ranging from vegetables, fruits, second-hand clothing, Kapana, and more. Most sellers will either be standing in the sun or the lucky ones under the shade of old rainbow-coloured umbrellas.
To get to Sai’s Kitchen, you have to follow a dusty gravel road beginning at the famous open markets called Havana Fourway.
On the walls are some beautiful drawings in pink and blue chalk, with some hanging plants for decoration.
Arriving at Sai’s Kitchen, you will see a double-story zinc shack painted in maroon. Inside, yellow-painted cardboard divisions give the space a vibrant look.
It’s not hard to give back to your community. It does not have to be money, but there’s something about giving back to a place that raised you.
58
