Who We are
About Us
Afrika Tikkun is an international NGO that provides education, health and social services to children, youth and their families through centres of excellence in South African Townships. Our aim is to empower communities to develop new generations of productive citizens.
Our name is a representation of “Afrika”, the mothering, empowering African atmosphere, mixed with the word “Tikkun” which loosely translated means change or transformation. Together the values of compassion, caring and helping and the African values of community warmth and sharing encompass the vision of our NGO, which is to care for vulnerable children in townships in a compassionate manner that is sustainable over time.
Our History
When Tikkun – later MaAfrika Tikkun – was formed soon after the emergence of democracy in South Africa, the objective of our founders was to establish an organisation that would actively address the consequences of decades of institutionalised oppression.
The founders, the late Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris and philanthropist and businessman Dr Bertie Lubner, believed the organisation should focus on children as they were the future of the country. The organisation’s credibility won the support of the then President Nelson Mandela as its Patron-in-Chief. Initially Tikkun concentrated on dealing with the day-to-day needs of children.
It soon emerged that in itself, this type of action – necessary as it was – would not achieve a sustainable outcome. With this realisation, MaAfrika Tikkun began its evolution into a Developmental Organisation.
Renamed Afrika Tikkun, our approach was refined and reformulated into an Holistic Developmental Model, which entailed the delivery of five core inter-related programmes that would nurture, educate and support children, youth and families, to develop a new generation of productive citizens.
Our Vision
A sustainable future for children in South African townships.
Our Mission
Afrika Tikkun is dedicated to investing in education, health and social services for children, youth and their families through its community Centres of Excellence and strategic partnerships
Our Values
1. Ubuntu
2. Commitment and Passion
3. Professionalism
4. Integrity and Honesty
5. Responsibility and Accountability
6. Human Development and Investment
7. Excellent Communication
