The issue of youth unemployment

May 14, 2019, 4:27 am

≫ Next: Alumni News Letter May 2019

The issue of youth unemployment and economic empowerment

Throughout the world it has been revealed that young people are capable of contributing to the economy by working, starting businesses and leading organisations, yet far too many do not have access to the opportunities they need to reach their full potential. In our country this is demonstrated by the number of young people “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET).

The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Global Employment Trends for Youth 2015 report[1] says “73,3 million of the 200 million globally unemployed are young people (aged 15 – 24). Compared to 2012, the youth unemployment rate has decreased by half a percentage point or less in… Sub-Saharan Africa”. The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey by StatsSA[2] confirms this. South Africa’s unemployment rate decreased by 0,4 of a percentage point between Q4: 2018 and Q4: 2017. They also report that “the unemployment rate for those aged 25 – 34 is double that of the 45 – 54-year-old age group. Approximately 3,2 million (31,1%) out of 10,3 million young people aged 15 – 24 years were NEET’s. The overall NEET rate increased by 1,4 percentage points in Q4: 2018 compared to Q4: 2017”.

In addition, the World Bank Report’s ‘Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in South Africa’ assessment of March 2018[1] states that “despite progress in reducing poverty since 1994, poverty rates remain high for an upper middle-income country… By any measure, South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world… Good jobs are the key to future reductions in poverty and inequality”. This was further illustrated by the recent publication by Time Magazine.

According to The Heritage Foundation’s ‘2019 Index of Economic Freedom’[2], South Africa’s “economy is the 102nd freest out of 186 countries. South Africa was able to retain its investment-grade credit rating because of significant policy improvements after President Cyril Ramaphosa took office in February 2018”.

Since his appointment, President Ramaphosa has pledged to reignite growth, rebuild investor confidence and tackle unemployment. He committed to creating at least one million jobs within five years and scaling up the youth-employment program to provide one million paid internships to unemployed people within three years. He also committed to improving the quality of schooling, especially in townships and rural areas, as well as take steps to provide free tertiary education to the poor.

The question is

Is it all up to government to fix this issue, particularly when it has become a crisis that none of us can ignore?

The answer is, no. We believe that it is up to all of us to stand together, and combined, we can achieve a lot more in a shorter space of time – thereby supporting youth to prosper. The realisation of a shared economy has been critical for some time, and yet we are still battling along. It is time for real improvements, fast.

The solution is

Education and work readiness training

Skills like analytical, critical thinking, and emotional quotient (EQ) are future-proof. Even an entry-level employee needs critical thinking, teamwork, conflict management and problem-solving skills. Raising the bar through strengthening the nature and quality of our education system is certainly one of the most voiced ways of solving this problem.

Subsidies, bursaries and internships

Although this is fairly developed in our country, a lot more can be done to provide access for youth to vital tertiary education and work experience opportunities. If all small, medium to large enterprises in our country committed to take one or more young people into their business to gain work experience or support one young person through tertiary education, we would see a significant decrease in the percentage of NEET’s in the country. This will in turn lead to less of the population living below the poverty line. Since 2017, Afrika Tikkun has been engaging Small and medium enterprises (SME’s) on this model and we know it can work.

Financial literacy training and access to financial support

Once employed it’s critical that young people know how to take care of and grow their hard-earned wealth. Furthermore, for entrepreneurs or those starting small concerns, access to financial support is key. There are many programs available that not many youth are aware of. They need to be educated on the options available to them.

The economic empowerment of women

The full inclusion and empowerment of women in South Africa is a prerequisite for breaking the history of our patriarchal society and reducing poverty in the country. According to a recent publication by UN Women[1]: “Women’s economic empowerment includes women’s ability to participate equally in existing markets; their access to and control over productive resources, access to decent work, control over their own time, lives and bodies; and increased voice, agency and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels from the household to international institutions”. When more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes.

Supporting the disabled

There are over 600,000 children with disabilities in South Africa who have never been to school, and they are one of the most vulnerable and marginalised group of people in our society. That is an incredible number of potentially productive citizens who do not have access to education; who rely on an already strained system for support. Yet there are policies encouraging and rewarding creation of employment for people with disability. Due to the relatively low numbers of children emerging

[1] http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures

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Alumni News Letter May 2019

May 23, 2019, 3:02 am

≫ Next: Ubuntu for the future of Africa

≪ Previous: The issue of youth unemployment

KK Sibongakonke Fumba Shares his story and tips on success, ‘Umuntu, Umuntu Ngabanye Abantu’- One succeeds through others

KK Sibongakonke is a Director at Thomson Reuters’ Financial and Risk Africa business (now known as Refinitiv Africa) where he is responsible for the Africa business’ Strategic Accounts. Also, he is our Afrika Tikkun Ambassador for 2019, and is now on a roadshow across the centres.

On his first roadshow at Wings of Life Diepsloot, he engaged and interacted with over 70 young people interested to follow in his foots steps. His story began when he was just five years old. He sold sweets at school to survive, now he continues to inspire more young people to become entrepreneurs and to believe in themselves.

His tips on success for young people:

1. Think the 4th Industrial Revolution and how your career can partake in this great opportunity to change your life.
2. Inspire to be the change you want to be in your centre, community and country – it only determines how far you want to reach in life as a responsible citizen.

3. Always associate yourself with people that are looking forward to support your potential and promote you to opportunities that can change your life.

4. Lastly, keep on networking and you will find your gate way.

‘KK Fumba’ resonates with many other global leaders that are game changers, and worthwhile to listen to.

KK Fumba’s next stop is our Alumni Day on the 15th June 2019 at the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg.

What to do after graduation- Tips to connect with a perfect opportunity for academic or employment ventures you dream off.

Recently, our Career Development Programme CDP first class held their graduations across all Centres. It has been an intense three months of hard work and preparations. Thank you to all our CDP facilitators that ensured that the class learns as much as it can and that it gained so much ground breaking experience. Now, all our new graduates are geared to enter the world of work through assistance in placement opportunities at the upcoming Alumni Day Career Expo, and they can access business and job opportunities.

According to many reliable sources around the world there are many ways you can use in order to move to the next step after graduation:

1. Be Career Adventurous – Seek to attend many career and business expos as much as you can and provide your curriculum vitae on site as you network with exciting presenters at a seminar, expo or conference.

2. Meet up with your Peer Group and brainstorm ideas that can use your newly acquired skills and knowledge. Meet up with your network contacts and set up presentation and proposal meetings to win your opportunities – this works for those that would like to start up community projects and small businesses.

3. Find a mentor in your field- Straight away notify your mentor that you are available for job shadowing and reach out to connections and place yourself for a golden opportunity in Learnerships. Remember to ensure that you become an asset for a potential job in the company or institution while on a learnership.

4. Review your Curriculum vitae for excellence – Now that you have acquired CV preparation skills, review your CV and send it to someone you trust to re-review it for excellence.

5. Lastly, prepare your portfolio of evidence on all the content that you learned at the Career Development Programme. Set it up for an excellent interview session.

Good luck for your new venture. Please ensure to connect with your Alumni Leaders and Career Development Managers at your respective centres to register for the Alumni Programme in order to attend the Alumni Day Career Expo on the 15th June 2019, at Civic Centre in Johannesburg.

Musa Kalenga ‘A dynamic Speaker and Game Changer in our life time’ to speak at the Annual Alumni Day and Career Expo on the 13 June 2019.

Musa Kalenga is an author, marketer and entrepreneur. He is a lauded speaker and strategist who was recognized as one of the Top 200 young South Africans by the Mail & Guardian. Kalenga is an enthusiastic entrepreneur who is passionate about using technology to empower the digitally invisible.

He is coming to grace our Annual Alumni Day on the 15 June, at the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg. Do not miss this opportunity to hear about his success story and his thoughts on the 4th Industrial Revolution. It is your time to tap into the golden opportunity in the new information and technology era trending around the world.

For more information on Musa Kalenga go to http://www.kalenga.me/about/

Remember there will be more than 30 exhibiting institutions and companies and panel speakers waiting to engage and interact with you. Connect with your CDP Manager at your Centre and register to attend.

Volunteering & Job opportunities to empower your personal skills and upgrade your CV

947 Cycle Challenge Recruitment Drive

We are looking for outspoken Alumni members that are interested to gain experience in sales and recruitment. They will assist in recruiting potential riders at Johannesburg Cycle Stores for 1-2 hours sessions in the upcoming month of May. If you are interested please connect with your Career Development Programme Manager at your Centre with your name and contact details. First come first serve. Positions limited.

Annual Afrika Tikkun Talent Day

We are looking for passionate Alumni members that are interested to gain experience in events security and marshalling skills on talent day, on the 20^th of July 2019, 9am – 5pm. If you are interested please connect with your Career Development Programme Manager at your Centre, and supply your name and contact details. First come first serve. Positions limited.

Potential Job Opportunity in Alexandra

We will be looking to recruit 30 -40 young people from Alexandra to start on a very exciting project on the 1^st of June. If you are interested in being part of an innovative project that involves washing cars in business parks using artificial intelligence, please contact the Alex Career Development Manager. First come first serve. Positions limited.

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Ubuntu for the future of Africa

May 24, 2019, 2:22 am

≫ Next: Children are our future

≪ Previous: Alumni News Letter May 2019

#AfricaMonth: Ubuntu for the future of Africa

Africa’s youth are the future of the continent and the philosophical principle of ubuntu can ensure a brighter tomorrow.

For many South Africans the word ubuntu is steeped in history, believed to have originated around the mid-nineteenth century by the Zulu community. Since the country’s transition to democracy in 1994, the term has become more widely recognised.

In truth it is used around Africa with the same philosophical ideal – to unite pan-African cultures. For example, in Zimbabwe the term is “unhu” and in Malawi “uMunthu”. Even in global popular culture the term has been used in politics, sound and stage.

March was Human Rights Month with the 21st a recognised public holiday commemorating the sacrifices made by South Africans in the struggle for democracy. Not only acknowledged in SA, people around the world are constantly talking about human rights and there is a day specifically earmarked by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate just this – International Human Rights Day is on December 10th every year.

Ubuntu is the spirit of Africa. The question is whether South Africa is practising ubuntu, particularly when it comes to the youth of the country.The concept of ubuntu ties in nicely with Africa Day – celebrated annually on May 25th with the intention of acknowledging the ongoing transformation of the African continent and its people, the largest population of which is youth aged 0-24 years.

The direct translation of the term is “humanity”, but there is more to it than that. It is essentially the essence of humanity, encapsulating numerous sets of values that are integrated with one another; those of compassion, kindness, sharing and community. It is the connectedness that exists or should exist between people. It is not merely an idea but an action. Ubuntu is the spirit of Africa. The question is whether South Africa is practising ubuntu, particularly when it comes to the youth of the country.The concept of ubuntu ties in nicely with Africa Day – celebrated annually on May 25th with the intention of acknowledging the ongoing transformation of the African continent and its people, the largest population of which is youth aged 0-24 years.

In 2018 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation released its annual Goalkeepers report stating that by 2050 the continent will have the largest number of young people. According to the report, Africa is the only continent in the world where the youth population is still growing. As our young people are set to represent a larger and immensely important share of the continent’s population, there is huge potential for growth, but it is essential for skills, finance and human capital investment by business.

Nurturing and empowering youth

According to StatsSA, there are over 120,000 registered non-profit organisations (NPOs) in South Africa with many focused on nurturing and empowering youth. These are NPOs that embody this spirit of Africa and work to make a real impact for the betterment of African society and its future. Similarly, many large organisations and institutions have corporate social responsibility and investment programmes that further support these objectives.

Afrika Tikkun created the Cradle to Career 360º model within which we have provided education, skills, empowerment, nutrition, health and safety services to children from early childhood development to school leaving age for the past 25 years. Our benefactors such as ABSA, Total SA, KFC, Belron, Synthesis Technologies and many others are great examples of South African businesses rolling up their sleeves to realise positive change.

Ubuntu needs to be a movement committed to by all who live, work and play here; by all who benefit from the country’s economy; by all who want to participate in the country’s future.

Like many other internationally earmarked celebration days, each year the official theme of Africa Day changes – this in order to throw a spotlight on the different aspects of the issue at hand. Yet underlying each theme year on year are the same core aspirations.

The African Union’s very first aspiration in their blueprint for African transformation, Agenda 2063, is “a prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development”. A nod to the fact that Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth in the coming decades depends greatly on investment.

Not provided with the opportunities needed to improve their lives, our youth will get stuck in the cycle of poverty with no way out.

“I am because we are”… so are you.

Think local, think African, act in support of Africa’s future.

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Children are our future

May 30, 2019, 9:23 am

≫ Next: Let’s strive to make child protection a year-long effort

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Children are our future: Why do we rape, abuse and kill them?

Child Protection Week is marked in South Africa from 2 to 9 June 2019. And yet, in the past three years, 99% of children in South Africa experienced or witnessed violence, 2,600 children were murdered – 5% of the total murders – and 41% of all reported rape cases have been of children.

Each year, government and organisations around the country gear up to mark National Child Protection Week with a multitude of campaigns and programmes designed to raise awareness about children’s rights, their safety and security. It is a week aimed at mobilising all sectors of South African society to care for and protect children as the most vulnerable – and valuable – members of our society. But with abuse statistics on the rise, child protection should be an ongoing year-round effort.

The SA Child Gauge 2017 survey compiled by the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute reported some shocking statistics: “One in three children under the age of 18 is a victim of sexual violence and physical abuse. Twelve percent of children live below the international ultra-poverty line, which equates to less than R17.50 a day. Violence against children cost the country an estimated R239-billion – or 6% of the GDP – in 2015”.

And in 2018, Parliament heard from the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, that “in the past three financial years: 99% of children in South Africa experienced or witnessed violence; 2,600 children were murdered, which is 5% of the total murder numbers across the country; (and) 41% of all reported rape cases have been of children and the number of child rapes has continually increased year on year”.

Child Protection Week is a great start as we move into June. Celebrated annually as Youth Month, in June we take the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of the youth of the past and take stock of the struggles, challenges and achievements of young people of today. Further validating the importance of the world’s young people, the United Nations deems the world’s youngest – and largest – population to be of the utmost importance, citing youth as “agents of positive change and their inclusion in society more broadly a precondition for sustaining peace”. Non-profit organisations often play a key role in representing minority views, as well as policy innovation and advocacy. To this end, a great investment is being made to bring about institutional transformation and change public perception towards greater protection for children. In an administrative context that may include developing Child Protection Policies based on national and global best practice, and in-depth staff security checks and child protection training. With respect to child protection, this means giving our youth a platform to speak, seeking their counsel and valuing their leadership. A number of NPOs working with South Africa’s young people, including Afrika Tikkun, believe that it is of critical importance that the voices of the most vulnerable are empowered to break the silence around child abuse. Young people need to understand that they can and should hold their guardians accountable for safeguarding their rights, but to do so they need to have faith that adults will listen to them, believe them, and pursue justice for them in a way that protects their dignity and best interests. As adults, we need to acknowledge that we all have a responsibility to protect children from harm and that we should be encouraging them to speak out. On the youth movement front, we need strong, ongoing year-long campaigns that engage directly with young people and their families in order to activate South Africa’s youth. For NPOs like ours, young people are at the core of everything we do. Developmental work is essentially geared towards enhancing the wellbeing, empowerment and protection of the youth of today. Our central belief is that it is possible to end child poverty and its ultimate outcome, youth unemployment. Of course, child protection plays a crucial role within these parameters. Our ongoing efforts are intended to strengthen the capacity of children to speak out against abuse and empower families and communities to care for and protect their children. Youth empowerment is a prevailing tool in combating poverty, crime, violence and poor governance. Empowerment guides youth toward developing a wholesome outlook on life and encourages the personal development of the individual. Through empowerment programmes, we can provide an enabling environment for all these positives to be a possibility and we can help mould children into young adults who can contribute to the successful building of our nation. As NPOs, we are very fortunate to have amazing staff, parents and partners that are all involved in the good work that we are able to achieve daily. As a society and as a family, let us challenge the culture of tolerance for violence and silence when it is perpetrated against young people. We must all work together 24/7/365 – government, NGOs, business and the public alike – to overcome this crisis and positively shape the leaders of tomorrow. Failure to do so could cripple our country’s economic growth, intensify unemployment, and thus poverty and crime.

Memeza Bazokuzwa! Speak out, they will hear you. DM Onyi Nwaneri is group executive for strategy, partnerships and communications at Afrika Tikkun.

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Let’s strive to make child protection a year-long effort

May 30, 2019, 9:44 am

≫ Next: From Mfuleni to the City!

≪ Previous: Children are our future

One in three children under the age of 18 is a victim of sexual violence and physical abuse, a survey has found.

Each year, government and organisations around the country gear up to mark National Child Protection Week with campaigns and programmes designed to raise awareness about children’s rights, their safety and security.

It is a week aimed at mobilising all sectors of South African society to care for and protect children. But with abuse statistics on the rise, child protection should be an ongoing effort.

The SA Child Gauge 2017 survey by the University of Cape Town children’s institute reported some shocking statistics: one in three children under the age of 18 is a victim of sexual violence and physical abuse.

Twelve percent of children live below the international ultra-poverty line, which equates to less than R17,50 a day. Violence against children cost SA an estimated R239bn – or 6% of gross domestic product – in 2015.

And last year, parliament heard from police minister Bheki Cele that in the past three financial years 99% of children in SA experienced or witnessed violence.

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From Mfuleni to the City!

June 5, 2019, 12:58 pm

≫ Next: Controlling the spread of infections

≪ Previous: Let’s strive to make child protection a year-long effort

The Youth Parliament is an inequality awareness program that aims in enabling the young people to express themselves when they feel that their rights are not being taken into consideration. The program does this by giving them a weekly platform at the center to raise their concerns such as human rights, service delivery and other socio-economic issues to the people in power within our communities. The youth parliament program is also a movement that will aid in building advocacy and a rights awareness mindset amongst the youth – specifically women.

ABOUT THE TOUR

V&A Waterfront was the starting point of the tour- one of Cape Town’s most beautiful tourist attractions. Students were exposed to big corporate buildings, nature reserves, sports car dealerships and very classy restaurants on their way to the second stop- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

In a short interview that was conducted with, Sihle Makili (18) who is now part of the Alumni Program, said that “youth living in townships are not exposed to the different parts of Cape Town because we are not outgoing and do not explore Cape Town enough, we are unaware of how well people live on this side as compared to Mfuleni.”

Sihle’s statement is evidence that the purpose of the tour (which was for them to experience the differences in the standard of living in Cape Town) has manifested. He was able to clearly identify that the standard of living for those in townships and those in suburbs such as Kirstenbosch are totally dissimilar.

Nontsikelelo Booi (20) expressed that the apartheid era caused a lot of economic inequality not only in Cape Town but in South Africa as a whole. She added, “The Youth Parliament will empower me to help bring a change in our communities, it will enable us as the youth to voice out our concerns of service delivery in our township as compared to the suburbs.”

Indiphile Sitomela (21) said that “what stood out for me, was experiencing a different type of ‘fun’ apart from what many would associate with drinking and partying. I had fun while learning about the history of Cape Town and seeing the segregation still existing in some areas, I got educated.”

The Youth Parliament tour aided in the young people recognizing their human rights as South African citizens and thus enabled them to speak up and practice self-advocacy. It also has the potential to lure in many young people and have them express their political views in a controlled manner. The Youth Parliament will enable the young people to become active citizens and work together in trying to add value into our communities.

Having successful and educational excursions such as the bus tour helps youth stay away from crime related issues such as drug abuse, robbery and alcohol abuse. As much as the tour was an educational one, the students had a lot of fun!

With that being said, the day ended on a lighter note when they saw, touched and took ‘selfies’ with a seal that swam to the shore of the waters at Hout Bay Beach.

When driving by Imizamo Yethu (Our Efforts), an informal settlement on the outskirts of Houtbay, opinions were expressed about how it differed from Houtbay itself. The youth questioned the manner in which Imizamo Yethu was separated from the suburbs by merely a road.

The students met the Kaapse Klopse at Hout Bay Harbor and had an opportunity to dance, sing and laugh with the colorful group. It was an amazing and successful excursion that the youth would love to be a part of in the near future again.

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Controlling the spread of infections

June 5, 2019, 1:14 pm

≫ Next: Alumni Day Newsletter

≪ Previous: From Mfuleni to the City!

Proper hand hygiene protects children from tummy bugs and Diarrhea.

On the 8^th of May, Sister Pamela (Mfuleni’s health wellness nurse) held a three day hand hygiene awareness session with the ECD learners. The aim of this session was to educate the young ones on how to wash their hands thoroughly, get rid of germs and ultimately avoid getting Diarrhea.

According to Bettercare- South Africa’s leading self-managed learning program, Diarrhea is the most common disease in childhood all over the world. “Why is Diarrhea most common specifically amongst children?” you may ask. One of the simplest answers to this question, is that many children practice poor hand hygiene. Not taking proper handwashing precautions may put children at risk of being infected with Diarrhea or a viral tummy bug.

With the engagement of Physical Health Care staff members and teachers, the willing to learn children actively took part in the process of washing their hands. The ECD learners were presented with steps on how to properly cleanse their hands:

Figure 2: ECD learner washing his hands with wellness nurse

Step 1- Apply soap to your hands- using liquid hand wash as a detergent is a better option than a bar of soap.

Step 2- Ensure that the soap is spread well on both hands and in-between all fingers.

Step 3- Wash your hands thoroughly with clean water.

Step 4- Rinse the soap off until there is none left and the running water is clean.

Step 5- Shake your hands off until they are half or completely dry.

Children should not use a towel to dry their hands after washing them because after people finish using in the restroom, they make use of the towel to dry their hands. This means that the likelihood of the towel being infected with germs is very high- which then defeats the purpose of washing their hands in the first place.

Parents, in order to prevent your child from getting a tummy bug and being infected with Diarrhea, please ensure that they wash their hands often. They should wash their hands before they eat, after relieving themselves and after playing with fellow learners and friends.

A couple of hand washes a day keeps the Diarrhea away!

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Alumni Day Newsletter

June 14, 2019, 12:32 am

≫ Next: Focus!

≪ Previous: Controlling the spread of infections

What is the Alumni/ Career Day on the 15th June 2019?

Over 600 Afrika Tikkun Alumni members will gather at the Reception Hall, Johannesburg in Braamfontein on their Alumni/ Career Expo on the 15 June 2019 from 9am-4pm. The event is made possible by the City of Johannesburg and Afrika Tikkun.

The event will offer a seminar talk on the 4^th Industrial Revolution. Furthermore it will lead a discussion exploring the opportunities available for our young people in the 4^th Industrial Economy. Amongst the panelist, we have African Bank, National Empowerment Fund, and Cloud Smith. Also, we will present Afrika Tikkun success stories of our young people that have found a gate way to be part of the new exciting economy.

In addition, the day is special to all our young people. It take place during June, a month known and put aside to celebrate and remember June 16, 1976. Our perspective is to continue celebrating the day and provide opportunities and platform for our young people to engage on youth development and access employment and entrepreneurial opportunities through our partners in cooperate, youth development and academic institutions.

Alumni/ Career Expo Agenda June 15 2019 (9am-3pm)

7am-9am– Arrival and Tea

9am-10am– Welcome: Birgit Vijverberg COO- AT (5 MIN)

Opening: Marc Lubner CEO- AT (30 MIN)
Alumni report: Nehwoh B Geh GM- AT (20 MIN)

11:30am-12:15pm– Alumni State of Address: Speech Competition
12:30pm-1:15pm– Young People & the 4^th Industrial Revolution
Panel Discussion

1:30pm- 3pm– Lunch and Career Expo

3pm– Announcement of Speech Competition Winners and Award Ceremony (30 MIN)

& Closure- Onyi Nwaneri Group Executive Partnerships and Marketing (5 MIN)

Speaker

Lindiwe Mdaki is the Social Support Specialist. The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) is established by the National Empowerment Fund Act, 1998 (Act No. 105 of 1998). The NEF is a driver and thought leader in promoting and facilitating black economic participation by providing financial and non-financial support to black empowered businesses, and promoting a culture of savings and investment among black people.

The NEF provides business loans from R250 000 to R75 million across all industry sectors, for start-ups, expansion and equity acquisition purposes.

NEF is the proud partner with Afrika Tikkun, and will be participating in the Afrika Tikkun Career Expo for the second time. Lindiwe will address to our Alumni Members on entrepreneurial opportunities and how NEF can assist them in their dream towards becoming business man and woman.

Panel discussion

KK Sibongakonke Fumba: Panel Moderator

He will be moderating a panel discussion on the topic ‘The 4^th Industrial Revolution in our life time’. The discussion will explore opportunities available for young people in the 4^th industrial economy.

Biography on moderator

Sibongakonke “KK” Fumba is a Director at Thomson Reuters’ Financial and Risk Africa business (now known as Refinitiv Africa) where is responsible for the Africa business’ Strategic Accounts. KK is passionate about Diversity and Inclusion and his motto is “Diversity means we see things differently and it is OK to disagree”. Kk was awarded a 2018 Tutu Fellowship, a flagship leadership development programme. He was also appointed an Afrika Tikkun Ambassador during the same year; where the organisation’s vision is to end child poverty and positively impact and mentor youth, from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, into economic empowerment.

Panellists

African Bank
National Empowerment Fund
Cloud Smith
City of Johannesburg Youth Unit
Young and Successful Entrepreneur 1 Tebogo Mabye
Young and Successful Entrepreneur 2 Mpumelelo Mfula

All biographies will be submitted to Afrika Tikkun by the end of the day 14 June 2019 by the panellists.

Rising Stars Awards

This year and for the first time we will award seven candidates in the Alumni Programme in order to recognize their one year contributions and dedication in leading and organizing for the Alumni Programme in their centres.

Categories and their objective

Leadership Excellence Award 2019

It is awarded to an Alumni Committee Member for demonstrating outstanding leadership skills.

The Most Committed Leader of the year 2019

It is awarded to an Alumni Committee Member for demonstrating outstanding and tireless commitment towards his/ her fellow team and centre level alumni committee.

The Best Innovative Team Award 2019

It is awarded to an Alumni Committee for demonstrating an ability and effort in implementing the Alumni Activities.

Responsible Kindness Award 2019

It is awarded to an Alumni Committee for demonstrating kindness to his/ her fellow members and clients. He/ She exemplifies the responsible kindness value in their very best of their ability.

The Most Organized Team Award 2019

It is awarded to an Alumni Committee for demonstrating ability to organize their administration tasks, recruitment strategies and communication in the Alumni Programme (National and Centre level).

The Most Supportive Facilitator Award

It is awarded to a CDP facilitator who has demonstrated great support towards his/ her team, and at all national level activities and events.

The Most Promising Team Award

It is awarded to an Alumni Committee for demonstrating an ability to grow, organize better and become a better committee in the year 2020.

All candidates were officially nominated and elected making up a final list of the recipients to be recognized on the 15^th June 2019.

In addition, all Alumni Leaders will be presented with an acknowledgement certificates and golden medals towards their service hours as Alumni Committee member for the year 2018- 2019.

Career Expo

This year, for the first time, the Alumni Day will feature a career expo. The expo will provide an opportunity for our Alumni members to interact, engage and network with cooperate, government, non- governmental organizations, academic and youth agencies to plan for their career goals and access employment opportunities on site.

Confirmed exhibitors

SAICA
Teddy Bear Clinic
City Year South Africa
Damelin
National Empowerment Fund
Financial Services Board
National Credit Regulator
Cloud Smith
African Bank
Thusanani
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation

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Focus!

June 24, 2019, 7:43 am

≫ Next: Alumni June Newsletter

≪ Previous: Alumni Day Newsletter

“Focus!
Are lunch breaks for wimps, or do they make us more productive? It is true that you can improve office performance simply by relocating the kettle or coffee machine? And what are Monk Mode Mornings and Hack Weeks? These and many more questions are investigated by Bruce Daisley in his new book, The Joy of Work. As a taster, we have this extract in which he looks at the benefits of focusing on one thing at the time.

Let’s address that thought that you’ve been having – the one you only ever dare mention to yourself as a half-formed notion or to friends when drunk. You have a strong suspicion that you’d be happier doing something else, don’t you? Perhaps you could travel the world. Possibly you’d enjoy being farmer – an organic farmer, perhaps, growing courgettes or purple-sprouting broccoli. Our relationship with work has always been complicated. If we don’t have a job, we’re unhappy. Yet when we do have a job, we invariably rate work as our least favourite activity. We also say that the single thing we most dislike at work is being with our bosses. No wonder that running away to grow courgettes seems so attractive. Survey statistics certainly aren’t encouraging on this front. Office workers asked to evaluate their lives out of 10 tend to give it around six. When researchers used a smartphone app to record over a million observations from tens of thousands of individuals in the UK, they found that being at work scored the second lowest happiness score. Only ‘being ill in bed’ was regarded as being worse. Commuting was also regarded as a thoroughly unenjoyable activity. It’s worth noting, though, that if being an office worker gets you to only a six, being a farm worker scores even lower: 4.5.Even if you have a nice porch to sit on at nights with your lovely little dog, Rex, for company, you’d probably still only achieve 5.5. Courgette growing, then, is probably not the answer.

What is?
It’s been known for some time that money doesn’t lead to happiness – or, at least, that while a certain amount of money is key to a sense of security and wellbeing, it doesn’t follow that the more you have, the happier you become. The inversion of that equation is probably less familiar to people, though. Researchers Andrew Oswald and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve looked at the comparative performance of siblings to see whether happier teenagers went on to perform better financially in adulthood. They found that young people who reported being more content with their lives went on to earn significantly more money later in their lives. How much more? Using accepted measures of trying to calibrate happiness into a score, their data suggests that for every 1% more life satisfaction that individuals showed at the age of 22, they earned $2 000 more at the age of 29. (Of course, this is not the case with that tiny number of jobs that involve high pay and huge stress – such as investment banking).

However, if you are able to achieve happiness at work, not only are you likely to end up earning more, but you’re also more likely to stay in work. Scientists call this ‘reverse causality’. In essence the relationship runs both ways. A win-win (or lose-lose) style situation. At the same time, researchers at Warwick University have found that the productivity of happy workers is likely to increase by 12%. Any unhappy employees, on the other hand, are shown to experience a 10% reduction – meaning a 22% total difference in output from their contented colleagues.

So, how do you make yourself happier at work? Well, in this book, I outline a variety of ways to recharge such as taking a break from email to getting a better night sleep. And while they are effective for variety of reasons, they are also important because the greater focus they give you is in itself a source of greater happiness. Time and time again, scientists have found that constant distraction is a sure path to a sense of discontent. Psychologists at Harvard University, using another smartphone prompt to check on what people at work were thinking and doing, discovered that for 46.9% of the day they weren’t thinking about very much. They were in a fug or blurry mind-wandering. And while mind-wandering can take you down pleasant paths, it seems to be one’s darker thoughts that stick: those in the survey who were particularly prone to self-distraction were 17.7% less happy than their more focused colleagues. As the researchers put it: “A wandering mind is an unhappy mind”.

If you want to be happier in your job, then, doing one thing at a time is a route to happiness as well as productivity. There are times when we need to be unstressed and expansive in our thinking – when we need divergent ideas coming to us. But no idea is of any value unless we have the undistracted concentration to bring it to life. In an age when many of us have dozens of Internet tabs open in our browsers, when we can quickly skip from one activity to another to try to make progress, It can feel that haste means getting more done. In fact, the opposite is true: your mind will most readily serve you with creative thoughts if you’ve completed more of the jobs expected from you. And to get this done you need to focus. “

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Alumni June Newsletter

June 26, 2019, 1:38 pm

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≪ Previous: Focus!

Alumni Day 15 & 21 June 2019 a moment we won’t forget and celebrating our youth month

Over 600 Afrika Tikkun Alumni gathered on the 15th and 21^st of June as part of the annual, Alumni Summit. The events offered a seminar talk on the 4th Industrial Revolution and the discussion exploring the opportunities available for young people in the 4th Industrial Economy. Amongst the panelist, we had African Bank, National Empowerment Fund, and Cloudsmiths. Also, we presented success stories of young people that have found a gateway to be part of the new exciting economy. The event took place during our country’s youth month, a month known and put aside to celebrate and remember June 16, 1976. Our perspective is to continue celebrating the day and provide opportunities and a platform for young people to engage on youth development and access employment and entrepreneurial opportunities through our partners in corporate, youth development and academic institutions.

Rising Stars Awards

Alumni Programme Wall of Fame!

Rising Stars Awards and Awardees 15 June 2019

Leadership Excellence Award 2019
Recipient: Khanya Sibanda, Uthando

The Most Committed Leader Award 2019
Recipient: Lindiwe Mabuya, Uthando

The Best Innovative Team of the Year 2019
Recipient: Uthando Centre, Braampark JHB

Responsible Kindness Award 2019
Recipient: Khuthatso Mabina, Phuthaditjaba

Most Promising Team in the Year 2020 Award
Recipient: Phuthaditjaba Centre, Alexandra Township

Most Supportive Facilitator of the Year 2019 Award
Recipient: Maxwell Ndlovu, Arekopaneng

Next awards will take place at the Alumni Day 2020. Do miss the opportunity to shine and acknowledged for your contribution to the Alumni Programme.
Well done to all awardees!

On the 13th of June we organised a breakfast and meeting for our partners, donors and prospects. Marc Lubner took the audience through the highlights of 2018 with his annual review presentation and we had an external guest Musa Khalenga, talking about the 4th Industrial Revolution and what it means for organisations like Afrika Tikkun. We are very proud to have completed another Annual Review which can be viewed here.

Alumni Geared Up for Upcoming Talent Day Preps Semi-Finals 20 June 2019 Soccer and Netball Qualifier Games

City Year South Africa is looking for you to serve your community for a year!

City Year South Africa is the proud partner of Afrika Tikkun. This year, once again, City Year SA is looking for passionate young people to serve their communities you’re a year. Give a year and change the world

How!

Go to City Year SA Website: www.cityyear.org.za

See through the eligibility requirements or your supporting documents

They include You!

Certified copy of your ID

Certified copy of your matric certificate, or if you are still in matric, a copy
of your latest statement of results

An updated copy of your CV

For more information email recruitsouthafrica@cityyear.org.za

Or call directly to 011 429 0300

Or call Afrika Tikkun:

+27 11 325 5914 or mail info@afrikatikkun.org

Are You Responsibly Kind

In the month of July we will be promoting the value Responsible Kindness. As Tikkuners we ought to live a life of responsible kindness, which involves far more than just simply being kind – it means that one has to be kind in a way that reflects the consciousness around being kind. In this way, we ensure that we are not creating ongoing dependency, but rather orient our kindness towards empowerment.

Focus!

We would like to share with you an interesting article which we came across along our travels (the original comes from Kulula magazine, who would have thought!). It is an interesting insight on work happiness, written by Bruce Daisley entitled “Focus! Click the following link to read more: https://afrikatikkun.org/2019/06/24/focus/

We can also expect the following exciting events and publications coming:

Talent Day Prep Semi-Finals, 20 June 2019 (see poster above for more information)
Talent day in Johannesburg & Cape Town – 20^th in JHB and 27^Th in CT
Mandela Week where corporates and individuals volunteer at our centers – 15^th -19^th July
My Afrika Magazine

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Annual Alumni Day encourages SA youth to join the conversation

June 26, 2019, 1:53 pm

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Annual Alumni Day encourages SA youth to join the conversation

Afrika Tikkun alumni gathered in great numbers at the Metropolitan Building in Braamfontein on Saturday, 15 June to celebrate Youth Month and participate in a discussion around the importance of preparing for the unprecedented age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

CEO of Afrika Tikkun, Marc Lubner opened the event with inspirational words urging young people to participate in debates and discussions such as these in order to join the conversation and discover the greater opportunities that await them as the next generation of South African leaders.

More than 600 young people from Diepsloot, Hillbrow, Orange Farm and Alexandra attended Afrika Tikkun’s Annual Alumni Day, whilst representatives of African Bank and Afrika Tikkun, as well as SA celebrity Sibongakonke KK Fumba sat on the panel.

Annual Alumni Day is a marked occasion on the Afrika Tikkun calendar as the organisation celebrates the significance of Youth Day, commemorates the actions of the young people that gave hope to South Africa, and provides opportunities and platforms for young people to engage on youth development, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

As Afrika Tikkun celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year, alumni also shared their success stories under the theme ‘We are Afrika Tikkun Legacy’.

Onyi Nwaneri, Group Executive of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing at Afrika Tikkun commented, “Afrika Tikkun’s Annual Alumni Day provides the perfect opportunity for young people to engage, network and interact with exhibitors, panelists and guests on the future of youth development and employment in the country; sorely needed in these times. For this, we would like to thank all our partners involved in making the day such a success and we look forward to furthering those partnerships in order to make a real difference in the lives of our young people”.

The next Annual Alumni Day is set to take place in Mfuleni on XX, where over 150 young people who are part of the Afrika Tikkun Alumni Programme are expected to attend and engage on the same topic of discussion. Guests and panelists will include representatives of local colleges, corporate companies and government entities who will provide insights and career guidance to alumni members.

The Afrika Tikkun Alumni Programme was introduced in 2018 as the fifth arm of Afrika Tikkun’s holistic Cradle to Career 360º model, intended to further their objective of empowering South African youth and securing new ways of curbing youth unemployment.”

For more information on Afrika Tikkun and their initiatives call 011 325 5914, email info@afrikatikkun.org or visit www.afrikatikkun.org.

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The African Child is at the centre of attention this Youth Day

June 26, 2019, 1:59 pm

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International Day of the African Child is celebrated around the globe on 16 June each year in order to raise awareness around the ongoing need for government, institutions and NGOs to act on issues affecting vulnerable children across the African continent; most importantly, the improvement of education and the full realisation of the rights of African children. Every year a new theme is proposed, designed to highlight different aspects of the problems experienced by Africa’s youth, with 2019s focus being ‘Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First’. For the global non-profit organisation, Afrika Tikkun, South Africa’s youth aged seven to thirty five are at the core of their efforts.

Onyi Nwaneri, Group Executive of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing at Afrika Tikkun says, “The developmental work of our Cradle to Career 360˚ model is essentially geared towards enhancing the wellbeing, empowerment and protection of the youth of today. Of critical importance to us is that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and, naturally, upholding the rights of children plays a crucial role. Our core belief is that every young person has the potential to change the world”.

Afrika Tikkuns Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres offer age appropriate care for those aged two to six, and a curriculum that produces school ready children. This age group has been identified as an extremely important time for growth across all areas of development.

The Child and Youth Development (CYD) Programme works holistically with young people aged seven to eighteen towards facilitating their emotional, intellectual, physical, mental and social development. The programme provides learning and homework support, life skills, sports, arts and culture activities, as well as interventions tailored for the specific outcomes of a higher matric pass rate, positive life choices, taking responsibility for their own lives and further learning opportunities.

The Career Development Programme (CDP) provides career guidance, job readiness training, job placement and bursaries for further learning; targeted at young adults between nineteen and thirty-five years of age. The key outcome is economically empowering young people and breaking the cycle of poverty. These young people should be able to navigate the job market and access opportunities for sustainable employment or self-employment.

In addition, Afrika Tikkun offers an Alumni Programme that aims to secure new ways of curbing youth unemployment as well as outreach and support services to children of all ages with programmes such as Nutrition and Food Security, Health Care, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Child Abuse, Family Support and an Empowerment Programme for Children and Families Living with Disabilities.

“Together with like-minded supporters we are passionate about developing young people from cradle to career. Throughout all our programmes we aim to shape economically empowered youth so that they, in turn, can contribute to the successful building of our nation”, remarks Nwaneri.

Youth empowerment is a prevailing tool in combatting poverty, crime, violence and poor governance. Empowerment guides youth toward developing a wholesome outlook on life and encourages personal development of the individual. This process starts in early childhood and becomes even more important as young people mature.

Nwaneri concludes, “In South Africa we celebrate International Day of the African Child on the same day as Youth Day because they are so integrated. It is a very auspicious day for us because it speaks directly to our objectives as an organisation”.

For more information on Afrika Tikkun and their initiatives call 011 325 5914, email info@afrikatikkun.org or visit www.afrikatikkun.org.

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Is corporate citizenship the answer to youth unemployment?

July 15, 2019, 6:22 am

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≪ Previous: The African Child is at the centre of attention this Youth Day

On 15 July 2019, Afrika Tikkun will join the United Nations (UN) community in the global celebration to mark World Youth Skills Day (WYSD)[1] and raise awareness about the importance of youth skills development.

According to the UN, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 – 24 years across the world, which accounts for 16% of the global population. They are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults and continuously exposed to lower quality jobs and greater labour market inequalities. In addition, it is young women that are more likely to be unemployed or underpaid, causing them to accept part-time or temporary contract work. Like Afrika Tikkun, the UN believes that the active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving ‘inclusive and stable societies’ and to preventing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, gender inequality and conflict.

Relative to South Africa, Statistics SA confirms the above facts in their latest Labour Force Survey[2] reporting that ‘the working age population (15 – 64 years) in South Africa increased by 149,000 in the first quarter of 2019’. This would be good news for most countries; however, in South Africa ‘the unemployment rate between Q1 2019 and Q4 2018 also increased due to a decline of 237,000 in the number of people in employment’. In this same report it is stated that ‘of the 20,3 million young people aged 15-34 years, 40.7% were not in employment, education or training (NEET) – an increase of 1.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018’. The Unemployment in the country is at an all-time high. This is not good news.

The aim of World Youth Skills Day is to advocate for skills as an important factor to improve young people’s transitions to decent work, and to highlight the crucial role of skilled youth in addressing today’s most challenging global issues.

So how do we as individuals and organisations address this issue and contribute to a viable and sustainable solution? Obviously, we cannot create hundreds of thousands of jobs out of thin air and we cannot rely solely on government to achieve this either.

In 2018 Bonang Mohale, CEO at Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), published a book titled Lift as you rise, in which he talked about the concept of Ubuntu and acting for the greater good of our fellow countrymen. The sentiments published in this book are directly related to how we as a people can be part of positive change. In his book he says, “You don’t have to wait until you are called a chairman, CEO or managing director – extend a hand and lift someone who is slightly less fortunate than yourself. That’s how you build a people” … “I have tried to live my life with these old family values, the same way my grandmother brought me up in saying lift others as you rise because that is what is required and expected of you” … “Selflessness is a notion that says I will do it even though no one is watching, I will do it even though there is no recognition and I will do it because it is a moral obligation”. Inspirational words to say the least, and certainly a goal that we should all be aspiring to.

[1] https://www.un.org/en/events/youthskillsday/

[2] http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=12115

The answer to the question therefore lies in working together to develop a pipeline of young people who are well positioned to take on the scarce and critical skills our.

country needs, as well as be able to engage and meaningfully fulfil the requirements of the jobs of the future.

Based on this year’s WYSD theme of ‘learning to learn for life and work’, this World Youth Skills Day let us emphasize the importance of

Career guidance and career pathing for all young people in high school, particularly grades 9 -12
Digital inclusion, literacy and accelerated learning for all young people as we advance into the fourth industrial revolution
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) – providing youth with the opportunities to develop their competencies and accelerate their transition to work
Internships, learnerships and work experience that enables our young people to earn a living whilst continue their learning and improving their skills

The key to achieving this lies in corporate citizenship – the investment a business makes in the local community or society as a whole. Corporate citizenship cuts across all players in the private sector, from SMMEs to big business.

Internships and work experience programmes, for example, are arguably one of the best ways to stimulate job creation. It is an effective way to integrate unemployed and inexperienced youth into the formal economy and assist improve their long-term career prospects by arming them with practical work experience. And businesses can benefit too… internships allow businesses to increase staff quantity at a relatively low cost and increase staff quality by growing their talent pool and training up youth for specific placements, thus enabling interns to add value to the core business.

In the long term, businesses can be an invaluable part of the unemployment solution in South Africa. As we know, with increased levels of employment a country fairs better on all fronts – job creation lends itself to strengthening social development and increased spending power means a thriving economy; all in all, a more optimistic life for all citizens. It is a win-win and it is clear: skills advancement and practical work experience, plus corporate citizenship means more opportunities for young people.

In support of the above, this year the UN, as part of observing World Youth Skills Day, sheds light on the ‘mechanisms needed to operationalize lifelong learning’, confident that ‘through upskilling the youth individuals, communities and countries will be propelled towards a more prosperous future’.

This is most certainly what the father of our nation intended when he took office, “driven by an unshakeable belief in the equality of all people”. Established in 1994, it was in 1999 that the then Tikkun ‘project’ was visited by former president Nelson Mandela, who was so impressed by what he saw that he volunteered to become its Patron-in-Chief. Years later and Afrika Tikkun is a fully-fledged Not for Profit company and organisation with public benefit status, still living up to the inspiring ideologies of Tata Madiba: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”. And as Madiba Week draws near with the theme ‘Action against Poverty’ Afrika Tikkun and its benefactors are stepping up to the plate.

With corporate citizenship and conscious leadership on the rise South Africa is on a trajectory for success, but it will take the entire country and all her people as a single unit to solve the crisis of unemployment and keep that trajectory true to its course.

* There can never be enough support for SA’s young people! To find out more about Afrika Tikkun and how you can get involved call 011 325 5914 or visit www.afrikatikkun.org.

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Are the human rights of children really that important?

July 24, 2019, 2:08 am

≫ Next: Celebrating 25 years of democracy and changing lives

≪ Previous: Is corporate citizenship the answer to youth unemployment?

Are the human rights of children really that important? Yes, if we want our children to become the next generation of economically active South African citizens, we need to understand that their capacity to be the best they can be starts first through the acceptance and recognition of their human rights.

But why are human rights so important? I’m sure that many will agree, we live in difficult times; and because of this, human rights guarantee people their basic needs, freedom and protection against abuse so that they can take full advantage of opportunities for a better life. For young people this includes their right to association with both parents, human identity, as well as the basic needs for physical protection, food, universal state-paid education, health care, freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, colour, ethnicity etc ; being physically, mentally and emotionally free from abuse, care and nurturing.

Chapter 2 of South Africa’s Constitution includes the highly comprehensive and inclusive Bill of Rights, arguably one of the most progressive in the world today, and yet we are not without stumbling blocks to fulfilling all the aspects set out within it. As such, many NGO’s across the country work with government and the private sector to assist the Bill of Rights come to fruition for all South Africans.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) reports in their 2016/2017 Trend Analysis [1] that “in the five-year period from 2011/ 2012 – 2015/ 2016 human rights complaints and enquiries rose from 8,149 to 9,238. The highest number of human rights’ violations reported to the Commission was in the category of equality where between 2014/15 and 2015/16 equality complaints jumped from 493 to 749, representing an increase of 34%. In addition, socio-economic rights have consistently been in the top five complaints reported to the Commission, and between 2015/16 and 2016/17 increased drastically from 428 to 631 – an increase of more than 30%”. More significantly, “when these complaints (631) are taken together with other socio-economic rights’ complaints relating to housing (297) and education (289), the total number of socio-economic rights complaints (1,217) exceeds equality complaints (705)”.

Our Bill of Rights stipulates the everyone has the right to life, the right to equality before the law, the right to have their dignity respected and protected, the right to freedom and security, the right to freedom of religion and opinion, the right to a basic education, the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being, and the right to have access to health care services, sufficient food and water; and social security.

More importantly for us at Afrika Tikkun are the rights of children, the most vulnerable of our society: every child has the right to family or parental care, or to appropriate alternative care; to basic nutrition, education, shelter, health care services and social services; to be protected from maltreatment, neglect or abuse; and to be protected from exploitative labour practices; to freedom and security.

Do you see how that word ‘freedom’ keeps popping up? Possibly more so than adults, children need freedom. The guarantee of security, a stable environment and care enables children the freedom to learn, play and grow as individuals, which in turn encourages problem solving, self-reliant, capable and responsible adults. The freedom to express themselves and have opinions inspires confidence and a positive sense of self.

That said, in the 2017 Child Gauge by the Children’s Institute of the University of Cape Town [2] it was reported that one in three children will experience sexual or physical abuse before the age of eighteen. And more recently, Parliament heard from the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, that 99% of children in South Africa have experienced or witnessed violence, and that 41% of all reported rape cases in the last three years have been of children.

Further, the 2018 Child Gauge [3] notes that South Africa has very high rates of child poverty. “In 2017, 65% of children lived below the upper-bound poverty line… and 36% of children were below the food poverty line, meaning that they were not getting enough nutrition”. They talk about “glaring racial disparities in income poverty: while 72% of African children lived in poor households in 2017, 45% of Coloured children were defined as poor, only 2% of White children lived below this poverty line”. In terms of employment, education and training – according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q2 of 2018 released by Statistics South Africa [4], “Of the 20,2 million young people in South Africa aged 15-34 years in the second quarter of 2018, 39,3% were not in employment, education or training (NEET) – an increase by 0,4 of a percentage point compared to the second quarter of 2017. The NEET rate increased for black African males and white males… The female NEET rate was higher than that of their male counterparts for all population groups.”

This is not freedom for the children of our nation… who we say are our future and the hope of the nation.

Afrika Tikkun is one of a network of organisations working to make SA a better place, protecting the rights of children and young people, and lending support to enable them develop into young adults with the education, skills and value based attitude that gives them the ability to access the economy in real time. We aim to economically empower young people through our Cradle to Career 360° model from early childhood development through to job placement and beyond. Moreover, we offer outreach and support services to children of all ages with programmes such as nutrition and food security, health care, gender-based violence and child abuse programmes, family support and an empowerment programme for children and families living with disabilities.

At our five centres of excellence in Gauteng and Western Cape we have over 12,000 registered young people every year who each receive a comprehensive set of services designed to propel them into success, and we provide additional services to over 10,000 beneficiaries on ad-hoc interventions. In 2018, 2,102 vulnerable families received psycho-social support; 2,206 received primary healthcare services; 659 families of children with disability were supported; 1,381,572 meals were served; 2,143 food parcels were distributed to families in need; 941 kilograms of food was harvested from vegetable gardens; and we handled 57 child protection cases. We also advocate for the rights of women and children, freedom of speech, empowerment and child protection throughout the year with campaigns such as Memeza Bazokuzwa.

All of this in an effort for the children of South Africa to be productive citizens of the future. If we want the country to grow, we have to acknowledge the human rights of all its inhabitants and work together to ensure their safety, freedom, economic advancement and well-being. It takes a village to raise a child.

[1] https://www.sahrc.org.za/home/21/files/SAHRC%20Trend%20Analysis%202016%20-%202017.pdf

[2] http://www.ci.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/367/Child_Gauge/South_African_Child_Gauge_2017/Child_Gauge_2017_lowres.pdf

[3] http://webcms.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/367/South%20African%20Child%20Gauge%202018%20-%20Nov%2020.pdf

[4] http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=11361

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Celebrating 25 years of democracy and changing lives

July 25, 2019, 6:23 am

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This year marks a quarter of a century since the birth of democracy in South Africa. How far have we come since then?

According to sources such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum (WEF) South Africa has the second largest economy in Africa and one of the most diversified, technologically advanced and integrated economies on the African continent. We are classed as an upper-middle-income country and we remain a favoured destination for investment in Africa, acting as an important gateway for business throughout the continent. Yet, South Africa is an anomaly among developing countries as it boasts great infrastructure and investment opportunities somewhat marred by social and economic problems.

In general, there is a sense of freedom and equality, and yet there is still so much to be done. Although the democracy that today’s youth are born into is vastly different to the world their predecessors grew up in twenty-five years ago, the reality is that life remains harsh for most South Africans. Can you imagine living without hope? Well, for millions of South Africans there’s no need to imagine… and this is precisely why the combined effects of government, corporate and NGO interventions are essential.

We asked a couple of our young people at Afrika Tikkun – who share a birthday with South Africa’s democracy – how they feel about the state of our nation and their future prospects. To be expected, we received varying responses – where some see a failing economy others acknowledge the process of rehabilitation; where some see government as a hotbed of corruption, others do not.

Tsholofelo Molokwane says that in general, “We are all equal and have access to quality basic education. We have a lot more opportunities and we’re able to choose our own career paths”.

Thabiso Mnisi says that she’s very grateful for our democracy because she will not have to experience the same challenges and difficulties that people used to. “My life is already better compared to that of my parents and grandparents because I have more opportunities and support than they did getting through life’s challenges”, but in saying this Mnisi also touches on the country’s leadership, “I feel that we have not yet started rebuilding and improving our country to its full potential because we’re still dwelling on the past. I believe that South Africa has the potential to become one of the top countries in the world and for that we need leaders who will help build a well-developed nation”.

Continuing the topic of leadership, Phamela Dlamini says, “Our lives are very different now than our parents years ago. Our voices have been recognised and systemic racism no longer exists like it did with our parents. But I don’t have much confidence in the state of our nation. As long as people keep violating the rights of our constitution, South Africa will continue to be a dangerous country and our poor economy will affect the next generation”.

On this, Lebohang Rametse adds, “I feel like our government is not investing in us as the future leaders of South Africa. We are educated and we’ve graduated but still most of us are unemployed. I even feel guilty for wasting my parent’s money sending me to college, I should have taken that money to invest in my future or start my own business”.

Neliphiwe Mbhaswana also commented, “Although there is a huge difference between my life and my parents, I don’t feel good about the state of the nation because there have been a lot of empty promises. Hopefully over the next 25 years the future of the country will get better and tertiary education will be free so that more people can have the skills needed for employment”.

Recognising what is needed for the fourth industrial revolution Zandile Mthethwa says, “I’m confident that we have a great and humble president who is the perfect ambassador for the country, and with the current focus on technology I believe that the next 25 years will see South Africa become more technologically advanced and ready for the changing work space”.

On a positive note Busisiwe Mzalamba says, “I’m happy that our democracy provides equal freedom, rights and opportunities for all our people now. I believe that the country is changing for the better and I see a much more developed country in our future”. And Thelma Mwale adds, “I consider myself lucky to have been born and raised during this beautiful era of liberation and reconciliation in South Africa where I have an opportunity to open doors my parents could not access before. I do recognise the challenges we still face as a country, but I appreciate the direction our country has taken post-Apartheid. This year was my first time voting at the national election and I felt so proud to be a South African because I know that generations fought to give me this opportunity. South Africa is a country full of so many possibilities and the future of our country is exciting”.

In the 25 years since Afrika Tikkun was first established, it has brought impactful and lasting change to tens of thousands of young South Africans. Throughout those 25 years the organisation has provided aid to 28,000 children aged two to six, a further 62,500 school going children aged seven to eighteen and has focused on preparing and upskilling young employable adults aged eighteen to twenty-five. In addition, the organisation has assisted a total of 75,000 families; provided primary healthcare services to more than 480,000 individuals and served more than 20 million meals. All of this has been made possible through Afrika Tikkun’s award-winning Cradle to Career 360˚ model, which oversees all aspects of an individual’s development from early childhood to adulthood. But Afrika Tikkun is just one of many compassionate organisations trying to assist the most vulnerable of South Africa’s society.

In the words of Afrika Tikkuns Patron-in-Chief, Mr. Nelson Mandela, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”.

Years later and Afrika Tikkun is a fully-fledged not-for-profit company and organisation with public benefit status, still living up to the inspiring ideologies of Tata Madiba with the simple goal of providing a helping hand and supporting the goal of sustainably eradicating child poverty and youth unemployment in our lifetime. We live the philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’ – that of compassion, kindness, sharing and community – transforming words into actions.

Now, as the organisation celebrates its silver anniversary, Afrika Tikkun looks forward to opening the door of hope for many of South Africa’s young people, giving them the chance not only to dream but to turn those dreams into a reality in the new South Africa.

This is not freedom for the children of our nation… who we say are our future and the hope of the nation.

[1] https://www.sahrc.org.za/home/21/files/SAHRC%20Trend%20Analysis%202016%20-%202017.pdf

[2] http://www.ci.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/367/Child_Gauge/South_African_Child_Gauge_2017/Child_Gauge_2017_lowres.pdf

[3] http://webcms.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/367/South%20African%20Child%20Gauge%202018%20-%20Nov%2020.pdf

[4] http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=11361

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Radial Path Partners With African Charity Supporting Young People

July 28, 2019, 12:21 pm

≫ Next: Alumni August Newsletter

≪ Previous: Celebrating 25 years of democracy and changing lives

Radial Path today announces a partnership with Afrika Tikkun, a South African NGO working to reduce poverty in South African townships.

CEO and Founder of Radial Path, Ruth Plater, said: “The work that Afrika Tikkun does with young people and disadvantaged communities in Africa is incredible. I’m really excited that Radial Path gets to play a part in supporting the work they do in developing the health and education of young people in Africa.

“We work in the region [Africa] with digital infrastructure businesses who are typically looking to advance regional development through technology, but this is an excellent opportunity for us to support the region from another angle–through working with charities such as Afrika Tikkun.”

Afrika Tikkun Strategy, Partnerships and Communications Group Executive, Onyi Nwaneri, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Radial Path and are already benefiting from their experience and expertise in marketing, as well as with new technologies.

“Radial Path has brought new ideas and a fresh perspective to our work. Our small marketing team is really appreciating the additional hands to help, and our processes are already more efficient. With Radial Path’s help, we’ve already begun refining, changing, and optimising some of our internal operations.

“When less time and resources are spent on internal operations, we can allocate more helping young people. I hope that Afrika Tikkun and Radial Path continue working together on many exciting projects in the future.”

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Alumni August Newsletter

August 22, 2019, 2:37 am

≫ Next: Farming for a Greener Future

≪ Previous: Radial Path Partners With African Charity Supporting Young People

Alumni prepares for the upcoming Business Day Season for the year 2019

Business Day Season was launched in May 2018 at the Career Expo in Orange Farm. This year, this grand idea piloted in Orange Farm takes a bolder step. Through the season, we will be providing support to aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs and as a result 6 young entrepreneurs will be supported to start and/or grow their ideas/business.

The Season commences in September and ends in November 2019. The objective is to find ideas and existing businesses that could be supported enabling young people to be economically empowered. We are excited to pioneer a ground breaking competition. Interested in participating: See below the official schedule for the season

August:

22 August 2019 Alumni Leaders Annual General Meeting

September:

19 September 2019 Business Planning Workshop
27 September 2019 Alumni Open Day

October:

17 October 2019 Business Day Excursion
24 October 2019 Business Day Academy

November:

16 November 2019 Annual Business Day Competition Finally

For more information on the above events please contact Warren S. Radebe at warrenr@afrikatikkun.org or call directly at 072 193 8181

Meet Sihle Vilakazi now employed with AON

Sihle Vilakazi is 28 years old from Alexandra Township. He completed his Career Development Programme CDP in 2018. Thereafter, he was placed with AON Reinsurance Solutions in August to 2018 and was later then offered an employment opportunity and contract for the next two years. Sihle is respected by his manager and colleagues at AON.

Sihle’s excellence has been through hard work, dedication and determination to represent Afrika Tikkun with outstanding behavior, character and work ethics. He is grateful for Afrika Tikkun’s investment and support, and will always extend invitation to other young people like him to make use of Afrika Tikkun’s career development services.

Sihle now leaves in Hillbrow with his brother. His journey began in Kwa-Zulu Natal and later in 2009 when he moved to Johannesburg, and only then after completing his honours in economics and finance he joined Afrika Tikkun after staying unemployed for over a year. He aims to grow in the company and pursue further studies in economics and finance.

In his words ‘I really appreciate Afrika Tikkun for changing my life, and it is a job acceleration machine that is really needed in Africa’ Sihle’s success story is like of many that have been as a result of a strategic and successful model in career development in disadvantaged communities.

Opportunities

If you would like to apply for the above vacancy, please contact Lungisani at lungisanim@afrikatikkun.org

National Alumni Leadership Elections in December 2019
Alumni Open Day September 2019 (All Centres JHB & CPT) – 27^th September 2019
Business Expo Season: August – November 2019

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Farming for a Greener Future

September 10, 2019, 2:40 am

≫ Next: Alumni Notification

≪ Previous: Alumni August Newsletter

The teams discussed the importance of farming and planting, including the contribution trees make to air quality and clean climate. The group sharpened their practical skills too, learning how to start and maintain a garden. At the end of the day, 80 new trees beautified the centre. This action of planting trees, impactful at local level, is also in line with a larger, global movement to plants billions of trees worldwide in order to revert de-forestation. Increasingly, young people are demanding more concrete action on climate change, as evidenced by the upcoming September 2019 climate strike in cities across the world, including Johannesburg and Cape Town. We support these voices that call for a greener, healthier future where young people can realise their educational and economic potential.

“We are seeding the revolution one tree at a time,” said David Jaffe from PlantNation, an organisation that educates people to not only earn a living but grow one too.

PlantNation and Afrika Tikkun hopes this initiative will encourage communities around Diepsloot and the people in South Africa more broadly, to plant trees and take greater care about the environment. The 80 planted trees will be carefully maintained and cared for by the community of the Diepsloot centre. Those trees are just the beginning for a broader movement towards a greener South Africa, and more trees and plants are being planned to be planted at Afrika Tikkun’s centres.

Would you like to participate in the next environmental projects with Afrika Tikkun? Sign up for receiving news or contact us here.

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Alumni Notification

September 10, 2019, 6:15 am

≫ Next: Alumni September Newsletter

≪ Previous: Farming for a Greener Future

Alumni who are studying an accredited course relating to the Financial services sector can now apply for bursary funding by e-mailing a copy of their ID, proof of registration, statement of fees and latest results to nicoleb@afrikatikkun.org

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Alumni September Newsletter

September 19, 2019, 1:20 pm

≫ Next: Violence is everyone’s problem

≪ Previous: Alumni Notification

Join the Danny K & Kabelo Mabalane’s WORLDS APART OR PARTNERS Tour At Afrika Tikkun Johannesburg

Danny K and Labalo Mabalane are visiting our Johannesburg Centres! They’ll be holding groundbreaking conversations on issues that really matter, providing real solutions for local businesses who share our vision of tomorrow. Not to mention, heating up the venues with amazing live performances! Don’t miss the chance to say you were there!

Save the dates and join the tour:

Phuthaditjaba Centre (Alexandra T/ship) – 23 September 2019, 3pm-4pm

Wings of life Centre (Diepsloot) – 7 of October 2019, 3pm-4pm

For more information call Warren S. Radebe at 0721938181.

You never work a day in your life when you love what you do

We love it when our young people take the training we provide and run with it. This month we feature Lucia, who from an early age, had a love for the arts. Today she has taken her passion and turned it into a business. Her company, “NHLONIPHO CRAFT ART”, comes from the respect she has for her products, which include beading, badges, jewellery and mosaics.

After graduating, Lucia trained 15 young, unemployed women from her community as her way of giving back. Read more

WHAT IS NEXT ON THE BUSINESS DAY SEASON

Thank you so much to all who applied for the Business Competition.

Please see below the schedule for upcoming briefings and workshops.

(This is only applicable to Alumni members who applied for the opportunity)

Workshop 1 (Briefing and Induction)

Date: 26 September 2019

Time: 8am-4pm

Location: Belron Main Hall, 10 Joubert Street Extension, Braampark, Johannesburg 2017

Focus: Business planning and mentorship, featuring governmental and non-governmental representatives to offer business planning and practice guidance to all applicants.

Business plan submission

All applicants will be required to submit the final version of their business plan to warrenr@afrikatikkun.org.

Final selection will be conducted on 30 September 2019 and the shortlist published on the 4 October 2019.

Click on the link below to access a basic guide template to help you begin your first business plan. Please note that a standard business plan form will be provided at the business planning and mentorship workshop. https://www.bplans.com/business-plan-template.pdf

For more information on the Business Day Season, please contact Warren S. Radebe at warrenr@afrikatikkun.org or 0721938181.

This is an exciting work experience opportunity for unemployed Alumni (those who completed training in 2019), as well as those who completed between 2016 and 2018.

Requirements: Matric (19 years – 28 Years)

Experience: 1 year experience in the workplace

Skills: Logical thinking, fluency in English

Opportunity open from now until 30 December 2019

Submit your CV to Lungisani Magubane on 073 704 4196 or email lungisanim@afrikatikkun.org

Keep an eye out for the following exciting events:

Alumni Open Day (all centres): 27 September, 9am-4pm.

Quiz & Debate Competition (volunteering opportunity): 5 October, 8am- 5pm, Uthando Centre.

Spelling Bee Competition (volunteering opportunity): 26 October, 8am- 5pm, Arekopaneng, Orange Farm.

For more information and to participate, contact Warren S. Radebe on 072 193 8181 or email at warrenr@afrikatikkun.org

Celebrating Africa’s Heritage

South Africa will be celebrating its diverse heritage this month. It’s time to reflect on what it really means to be South Africa, African, or any number of the many ethnicities we celebrate in this country. While heritage exists to give us a sense of community, it’s not intended to serve as a source of conflict or division. This heritage month, as we enjoy our braais, dress in traditional wear and celebrate our music, let’s celebrate the real meaning of diversity. Let’s not limit our celebrations to aspects of South Africa’s culture, but let us embrace the many cultures across Africa that fuse with our own, ultimately enrich our own sense of who we are.

Afrika Tikkun’s Got Talent!

Afrika Tikkun’s 2019 Talent Day, was an incredible showcase of the diverse skills and talents of our children. The laughter, healthy competition and team camaraderie made the day rewarding and enjoyable for our children, their families, Afrika Tikkun staff and all our invited guests. Thank you to all the Alumnis who served on the day.

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