The Sustainable Future Project

Xoliswa started in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) program at Afrika Tikkun in 2013. She was a very shy and reserved girl, who never said a word and secluded herself from her classmates. Her teacher worked closely with her and provided her with individual learning, which helped Xoliswa slowly open up. A year later, her teacher noticed that she was coming to school unwashed. She took to bathing her herself. Then a volunteer, on her way home, saw Xoliswa eating from the dustbin. In that same week, she came to school presenting bruises on her face and burns on her arms. Xoliswa revealed that she was beaten by her older brother. Her grandmother initially denied any knowledge of what was going on. Upon further investigation, the grandmother disclosed that Xoliswa’s mother had abandoned her and her two siblings, leaving them without any food. The grandmother could not take the children in as she herself was unemployed and had no source of income.

Afrika Tikkun negotiated with the grandmother to give her monthly food parcels in order for her to take Xoliswa and her siblings in. Through our Family Support Services program, they also received donations of clothes and toiletries. Afrika Tikkun has also helped Xoliswa’s grandmother by providing parental skills training, allowing her to pay better attention to the children and teaching her the importance of providing proper care and support.

We are proud to announce that at the end of 2014, Xoliswa graduated from her kindergarten class.  We receive reports that she has been performing very well at her current school. She and her siblings have started attending the Centre’s Child and Youth Development Program.

What will your investment provide?

• Quality educational support for grades one through twelve
• A safe and secure community center where quality developmental programs are delivered
• Nutritional support through hot and nutritious meals served daily
• Social services delivered by social workers and family support workers who ensure the psychosocial needs of our families are met
• Health education and monitoring to help keep our young people healthy
• Quality teachers and community workers – our staff are continuously developing to fulfil the needs of our children and youth
• Skills development and job placement that enable our young adults to become productive citizens

Thank you for partnering with us to shape the next generation of productive African citizens!