Month: December 2017

Afrika Tikkun USA CEO awarded Advocate of the Year at 7^th annual African Diaspora Awards

New York, USA

“I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent.”~ Nelson Mandela

On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the passing of Nelson Mandela, Applause Africa Communications hosted its 7th Annual African Diaspora Awards (ADA) in New York City, during which 15 leaders were recognized for being engines of impact and change to inspire the African community within the U.S. and around the world. Among those recognized was Afrika Tikkun USA’s CEO Elizabeth Ngonzi, who was awarded “Advocate of the Year”.

The ADA Awards is a premier awards ceremony applauding outstanding African leaders who have been engines of impact and change to inspire the African community within the U.S. and around the world.

Emceed by Essence Now host, Makho Ndlovu and acclaimed comedian, NaMÓ, this year’s ADA theme was “building unity”. Building Unity is a larger-than-life theme that helps Africans in the Diaspora celebrate their uniqueness and strengthen ties to each other in the Diaspora.

Over the past ten years, Applause Africa has committed time, energy and resources to identify and celebrate notable Africans that have genuinely excelled in various spheres of life, as well as individuals in society who have contributed to the advancement of Africans in the Diaspora and Africa as a whole. This event has become the convening of the “crème de la crème” of meaningful and powerful leadership in the Diaspora.

“I am very humbled and grateful to be honored with Afrika Tikkun, and share this award with visionary CEO Marc Lubner, the staff and most of all the beneficiaries who inspire me,” commented Ngonzi. Hailing originally from Uganda, Elizabeth Ngonzi has worked tirelessly in the USA since 2014 on behalf of the Tikkun cause to enable the young people of South Africa to fulfil their potential and become economically empowered. “Along with the other 14 distinguished honorees, I have dedicated my career to fighting tirelessly to not only change the narratives that are being told about Africa, but also working to nurture young people whose stories will inform other positive ones in the future.”

She is passionate about challenging a narrative that assumes that it is developed countries who produce and share knowledge, funds and value for everyone else, who they simply see recipients. “The unconventional experiment in which I have been involved has demonstrated that the African Continent has a lot to teach the rest of the world. In Afrika Tikkun’s case, it is a proven cradle to career holistic development model that can be replicated in disadvantaged communities worldwide.”

Photo credit to Applause Africa Communications

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Since our very beginnings in 1994, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa has been Afrika Tikkun’s patron, believing and supporting our cause passionately. While he remains “tremendously supportive of the work Afrika Tikkun does”, Mr Ramaphosa is unable to continue as patron due to his political profile, which prevents him from retaining an involvement in any concern where his position presents potential for conflict of interests. Afrika Tikkun wishes Mr Cyril Ramaphosa peace, wisdom and everything of the best at this very critical moment in South African history.

We thank him with all our hearts for his years of dedicated patronage, and look forward to continued friendship with him.

From the moment I first met Ann over thirty years ago, it was abundantly clear that she was not coming to South Africa merely to serve as a partner to Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris, who had accepted an invitation from our Jewish community to serve as Its Chief Rabbi.

She was clearly very much her own person and it was apparent even at that early stage, that Ann was going to make her own unique contribution, not only to our own community, but to the ambient society as a whole. Her reputation as an activist helping the then Russian refuseniks had preceded her and it was a given that Ann would never be a passive observer, particularly in the face of injustice.

Ann is extremely practical and realistic and we all know that she tells it as it is. In his book “For Heaven’s Sake”) the Chief Rabbi told the story of how Ann took one look at his first salary cheque as a congregational Rabbi, and immediately decided to seek employment.
She was a qualified solicitor and she re-entered the legal world, rising eventually to become a full partner in a prestigious London practice.

Suffice it say, her relationship with her husband gave meaning to the Talmudic dictum:”
Let a man be careful to honour his wife, for to her alone he owes the blessings of his house”.

The late Chief Rabbi has rightly been described as the right person at the right time. Ann’s role in his success cannot be under-estimated. Theirs was a partnership in every sense.
Both had the capacity to see the whole picture and to this day we continue to benefit from their vision; indeed we were blessed that they were here to guide our fearful and confused community to embrace and contribute tangibly to the birth of t e new South Africa.

We’ve heard from Marc about the founding of Afrika Tikkun. Ann served as its first Operations Director, in a purely voluntary capacity. It was her ability, personality, energy and passion that enabled her to develop and give meaning to the Jewish values of its founders, which values underpin the foundations of this most impressive and successful organization to this very day.

It is Ann who exemplifies the Jewish heart of Afrika Tikkun. We all know how difficult it is to see God, or good, or human dignity in those whose language is not mine; whose skin is a different colour; whose faith is not my faith; and whose truth is not my truth. It is Ann who gives meaning to the generosity of spirit needed to cross these divides, who emphasises that God transcends the particularities of culture and the limits of human understanding. She remains a constant voice of vision and moral courage.

As long as there is hunger, poverty and disease in the world, there is work for us to do. And, if we listen carefully to our Innermost whispers, we can hear the voice of God asking us, as he asked the first humans – where are you?

Ann is one who answered that call. She knows that we do not, that we cannot, redeem the world altogether in one go. She does one day at a time; one person at a time; one act at a time. Our sages teach us that a single life is like a universe. Save a life and you save the world. Change a life and you begin to change the world. That is called Tikkun Olam and that is what Ann Harris personifies

Ann serves as the very hands on Chair of the African Jewish Congress. She impresses not only with her grasp of the innumerable and varied issues these communities face, but more importantly with her concern and compassion for the people who struggle to keep the flame of Judaism alive in the smallest outlying areas of Africa.

Organization is important but the core of her concern remains the families, the Individuals, the young and the old, who struggle daily to remain part of our ancient people.

Many of us here this evening have the z’chut to enjoy Ann’s friendship and confidences. As we mark her 80th birthday we express our gratitude and thanks for her unstinting friendship, loyalty and support through the ups and downs of life. She remains a caring, generous and much appreciated friend.
Conventional wisdom tells us that octogenarians start taking it easy. Ann’s ongoing involvement, dedication and commitment to community belies that assumption. Her continued leadership of many varied communal organizations provides tangible evidence
of her ability to multitask, to motivate and to inspire•

Friends, many successful people live in this world, but how many can honestly answer the question: You have been successful, but have you been a blessing? Ann Harris certainly has and continues to be a profound and wonderful blessing to all who have the privilege of being inspired by her.

I ask you all to join in our prayer that she be blessed to continue to be our guide, friend and mentor for many years to come.

Thank you

Micky Glass