Draft:Kevin Wessels
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Kevin Calvin Wessels (born 22 February 1996) is a Namibian social entrepreneur, human rights activist, youth advocate and politician. He has been involved in youth development, LGBTQI+ rights advocacy, public policy and social justice work in Namibia. In 2024, he became one of the first openly queer candidates to stand for election to the National Assembly of Namibia.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Wessels was born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia. According to a 2019 profile in Namibian Sun, his parents died when he was young and he was raised by his grandmother, Elizabeth Wessels.[2]
Wessels attended Jan Möhr Secondary School. In 2014, while in Grade 11, he was awarded a silver medal at the Khomas Regional Science Fair for a project titled Easein plastic, which explored making plastic from milk.[3]
Namibian Sun reported in 2019 that Wessels held a higher certificate in paralegal studies from Southern Business School Namibia and a diploma in business management, and was pursuing honours studies in political science and law at the University of Namibia.[2]
Youth leadership and community work
[edit]Wessels served as a junior councillor at the City of Windhoek and was involved in youth-focused organisations and community initiatives.[2] He was also involved with Upliftment Projects Namibia, an initiative focused on early childhood education in informal settlements.[2]
Wessels was involved in Welwitschia, an education initiative aimed at supporting basic education in Namibia. In 2015, Welwitschia e.V. announced that Wessels had been elected deputy chairperson of its Namibian board.[4] In 2016, AllAfrica reported that Wessels was vice-chairman and director of public relations for Welwitschia – Education Initiative for Namibia.[5]
Activism
[edit]Wessels has advocated on issues including youth empowerment, poverty reduction, LGBTQI+ rights and social justice. In 2021, he spoke at a Basic Income Grant Coalition media conference in Otjomuise, calling for broader implementation of a basic income grant and arguing that poverty and unemployment required government accountability.[6]
In 2023 and 2024, CIVICUS interviewed Wessels on LGBTQI+ rights in Namibia, including legal and political developments affecting same-sex relationships and LGBTQI+ communities.[7][8]
In 2025, Wessels was listed as a panellist at CIVICUS International Civil Society Week on a session concerning marginalised communities, economic inequality, discrimination and movement-building.[9]
Political career
[edit]Wessels is a member of the Republican Party of Namibia. During the 2024 Namibian general election, he was included among the party’s parliamentary candidates. OutRight International reported that he was one of the youngest candidates on the Republican Party list and one of its top ten parliamentary candidates.[10]
In 2024, Wessels and Williams Minnie were reported as the first openly queer individuals to run for Parliament in Namibia.[11] Media coverage described Wessels as an openly queer candidate standing for the Republican Party during the election period.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Queering Democracy: The Global Elections in 2024 and How LGBTIQ People Fared (PDF) (Report). OutRight International. 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Shipena, Justicia (12 March 2019). "A people's person". Namibian Sun.
- ↑ "Private schools top Khomas Regional Science Fair awards". New Era. 16 July 2014.
- ↑ "Neuer Vorstand in Namibia". Welwitschia e.V. 15 March 2015.
- ↑ "Namibia: Helping Students Help Themselves". AllAfrica. 15 July 2016.
- ↑ "8ste Laan youth demand BIG". The Namibian. 18 November 2021.
- ↑ "Namibia: 'We have seen some progress on LGBTQI+ rights, but there is a lot of work still to be done'". CIVICUS. 12 September 2023.
- ↑ "Namibia: 'Our victory can inspire and encourage LGBTQI+ activists in other countries'". CIVICUS. 4 July 2024.
- ↑ "Programme". International Civil Society Week. CIVICUS. 2025.
- ↑ Queering Democracy: The Global Elections in 2024 and How LGBTIQ People Fared (PDF) (Report). OutRight International. 2025.
- ↑ Queering Democracy: The Global Elections in 2024 and How LGBTIQ People Fared (PDF) (Report). OutRight International. 2025.
- ↑ "Namibia's first openly queer candidates vie for parliamentary seats". Thred. 6 December 2024.
Category:Living people Category:1996 births Category:People from Windhoek Category:Namibian activists Category:Namibian human rights activists Category:Namibian politicians Category:LGBTQ rights activists Category:LGBTQ politicians
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