Written by: Afrika Tikkun
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Words to live by: Tikkun as envisioned by its Patron-in-Chief in Memoriam, Nelson Mandela
“Afrika Tikkun played a big role, if not the biggest, in making sure my family and I have food to eat,” says 14-year-old Zenande Mndini of Mfuleni, Western Cape. “They did not only help me and my family but families in the community as well. I am happy they could help because many families lost jobs during the lockdown.”
In fact, since March, Afrika Tikkun has provided over 74,000 food parcels to families in vulnerable communities. Now that the country has emerged from a hard lockdown, Afrika Tikkun has resumed activities in its five communities centres in Alexandra, Braamfontein, Diepsloot, Orange When former President, Nelson Mandela, visited an Afrika Tikkun project in 1999, his words left an indelible mark. “Afrika Tikkun projects demonstrate in a practical and sustainable manner, what can be done with limited resources, great commitment and passion,” said Madiba. “[It] has proven that it has the ability to reach sections of our disadvantaged population at grassroots level. It therefore provides both physical help, as well as giving hope and dignity to the recipients.”
Afrika Tikkun has lived by these words ever since, increasing its commitment year on year to reach as many children and young people as possible and plant them firmly on a path towards economic empowerment. The organisation’s award-winning Cradle to Career model is premised on the importance of taking young South Africans on a journey of support from early childhood nutrition and development through education and into workplace readiness. Such a holistic approach is necessary in order to respond to the multi-faceted and dynamic nature of township life.
Currently, Afrika Tikkun works in the Gauteng communities of Alexandra, Braamfontein, Diepsloot and Orange Farm, as well as in Mfuleni in the Western Cape.
In order to achieve a vision of thriving and safe communities, three core programmes are implemented – Early Childhood Development, Child and Youth Development and Career Development and Placement.
These are all supported by the 360° Social Support Services Programmes which recognises that social challenges exert a significant bearing on the ability of children and young people to reach their educational milestones. This programme provides meals, family support services and basic healthcare, among others, to beneficiaries found to be in need.
When the former statesman recognised that Afrika Tikkun has the ability to reach those most marginalised by society, he could not possibly
have predicted that COVID-19 would plunge many communities into further socio-economic strife. However, his words were strangely prophetic. In March 2020, Afrika Tikkun repurposed its community centres to act as distribution centres and information hubs for the unfolding pandemic and associated lockdown. Since then, the Afrika Tikkun has partnered with an array of organisations – corporate, public and community-based – to reach the most vulnerable with food parcels, hygiene products and information.
Specifically, Afrika Tikkun has provided over 74,000 food parcels since March and distributed over 14, 000 hot meals to homeless shelters.
As it became clear that face masks were going to a legal requirement during lockdown, we launched #FaceUpToCovid, a mask campaign to support the manufacture and distribution of cloth masks.
We partnered with several local companies which stimulated employment and assisted factories to be recommissioned. By the end of August, Afrika Tikkunhad produced over 305, 000 face masks, 23, 200 of which were produced with the programme Youth at Work, and 20,000 which was produced as part of our partnership with Air BnB.
As the country emerged from a hard lockdown and the economy, schools and way of life returned to a new normal, Afrika Tikkun began to prepare itself for the return of the 8, 860 children and young people registered onto its programme in 2020.
New sanitary measures and COVID-19 compliant policies are being implemented in the organisation’s five community centres. Afrika Tikkun is even more committed to, as Nelson Mandela remarked, bring hope and dignity to communities in South Africa.
Contact Afrika Tikkun to find out more about their programmes and how you can partner/support.
www.afrikatikkun.org
Tel: +27 11 325-5914
Email: info@afrikatikkun.org
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Date published: 27/11/2020
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