Month: July 2021

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Steve Jacobson 60th Birthday Fundraiser

In support of
Afrika Tikkun’s Garden to Kindergarten Programme

To celebrate his 60th birthday, Steve would like to invite you to join him in reaching the target of $10 000 AUD / £5 400 / ZAR 107 000 to support Afrika Tikkun’s Garden to Kindergarten programme in Orange Farm for a whole year and continue Sandi’s legacy.


Click Here to Support This Fundraiser

In 2018, Steve Jacobson and his sister Val Mardon worked with Afrika Tikkun to set up the Garden to Kindergarten project in memory of their late sister, Sandi Jacobson, aka Millie Khumalo.

The idea was to craft a programme that would improve the lives and prospects of South African children and at the same time honour Sandi’s primary passions; growing vegetables in combination with growing young minds and bodies.

The programme, which originally started in Orange Farm – where the vegetable garden bears Sandi’s name – is now running across all five of Afrika Tikkun’s centres in Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Braamfontein, Alexandra and Mfuleni. Each centre has a flourishing garden in which the programme takes place. These gardens are spaces of learning but also produce a large portion of the fresh produce that is used to make daily meals for the children, young people and staff at Afrika Tikkun’s centres.

The programme teaches children, ages 5-to-6, about the art of growing vegetables, the value of fresh organically grown nutrition, food security, food sovereignty and the wonder of growing food from seed.

Given the current context of food insecurity, made even worse by the covid-19 pandemic, this programme is incredibly important and Afrika Tikkun is looking to extend its reach to more children.

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One of the world’s great ‘friendraisers’

I first met Herby Rosenberg more than 25 years ago at the inception of the formation of MA Afrika Tikkun. I had heard about the man’s legal prowess, his sharp wit, and his all engaging style. I became aware very quickly of the magic of the man.

And I witnessed a trait working with him over 15 years which has helped to define one of the key principles that I have tried to live my life by: the kindness of always looking for something positive, no matter the chaos of any situation.

Herby brought a humane approach to the “business” of dealing with people in need. He was always a leader, always thinking about big picture issues while still paying attention to individuals and their own unique needs and requirements. Herby made time for people, he made you feel that you genuinely mattered in his life irrespective of your standing or status.

Herby epitomised the gentleman. He was at all times gentle, courteous, and impeccably dressed. Equally, his mannerism was impeccable. And this had a material impact on the name and reputation of Afrika Tikkun and the various organisations he was involved in.

His love for South Africa and its people was matched by his strongly Zionist feelings and commitments. He saw the importance of his role within the South African Jewish community as contributing towards building support for Israel. He also saw his passion for initiatives such as the South African Friends of Ben Gurion University underpinning his ability to spread himself across numerous boards. In his later years, Herby became an important ambassador while fulfilling the role of executive deputy chairperson of Afrika Tikkun.

Herby had an ability to engage in multiple projects simultaneously. He could move between the South African Institute of Directors’ meetings to the board of governors of the South African Zionist Federation without missing a step. He had a broad-based intellect that offered advice but always from a highly moralistic perspective.

He was the consummate board member, and had a unique ability to relate to the executives of various entities that he was involved with. His “entertainment expense” account was something that caused a great deal of mirth within Tikkun. You see, one could see just how many times Herby would entertain key stakeholders with tea and cake, something indicative of the social being that defined Herby. People from all walks of life simply loved him, and for good reason.

In every meeting spent with Herby, he would initiate the meeting with some positive compliment for someone in the room. This habit of his ensured that our meetings would invariably start positively and with an element of human touch.

Herby was rare to anger and quick to find praise. His love and his respect for his wife, Sandra, and his deep regard and love for his sons, Clifford and Stanley, were evident in a way in which he often spoke of them.

While Herby might no longer be with us, his spirit will always be a part of the DNA that defines our organisation.

  • Marc Lubner is group chief executive of Afrika Tikkun.
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ECD Scale-Up: Testimonies from Our Principals

We received feedback from four of the ECD principals working alongside Afrika Tikkun and Rhiza Babuyile in Diepsloot, Gauteng. Below they share their experiences thus far, and reflect on the journey of growing their ECD centres and developing them into spaces of quality learning.

Abel Moreosele, Diepsloot Ext 9

Hope More Preschool started in 2018 with only 4 children, now has 49.


Abel said his inspiration and drive of starting a preschool started when he saw a child being hit by a car. He then decided to start a creche where people can bring their children also because most of the children have teenage moms. Abel started spreading the word to people in the community to bring their children and later gave his tenants a notice not to continue renting.

Abel who did his Level 3 training heard about the Rhiza Babuyile training from a word of mouth and decided to bring his four teachers.

How has the programme assisted you?

I can practice what I was taught. I have learnt more about developmental play, entrepreneurship, and how to raise funds. I didn’t know where to start when it comes to running an ECD centre, I couldn’t approach sponsors but now I can approach people and I know where to start.

We didn’t have a curriculum that the children can follow, now we know more and children are better trained. The training has also helped me with marketing my preschool. It has given me guidance and mentorship of running a preschool. I can approach people for fundraising and learned not be impatient. The training has given me hope not to give up.

Puleng Nyaile Level 4 Training

Thatohatsi ECD started in 2014, with only 6 children now has 48

 


Puleng was moved to start a preschool when her only child moved out of home to study further. She felt alone and when she saw children in her community running around she called them for meals. Parents around started sending her children. With only six children coming to her for care and only one child paying, Puleng didn’t run out of passion for taking care of the community children in the shacks she was renting out

How has the programme assisted you?

The programme taught me more on bookkeeping, admin and fundraising. I can now communicate well with parents and teachers as communications has improved. I can work on my budget.

We can now also identify children with special needs and take care of them. My admin work is well done and the documentation is formal. We can improve where we couldn’t. Children also have a safe place to go to.

I now have bigger dreams of giving quality education to children, I see myself having a private school one day. This training has made me think beyond.

Maria Mopereo

House of Glory Children Care Centre started in 2001


Maria’s disadvantaged background motivated her to start her centre. She is from the rural area and never attended creche – her father used to tell her that education for a girl child is not important as she will later get married. But that didn’t make give up on her dreams.

She started her creche with only two children, the number grew to 115 in her shack. Before COVID-19 started she had 115 children, after COVID-19 she only has 90 children. She heard about the ECD Training at a community forum.

How has the programme assisted you?

The programme helped me with how to do my admin work and how important it is to have my staff following all ECD protocols. I didn’t know a lot of things like exit forms for the children. We now do things properly. Being in class also helps me to understand myself better and knowing where to improve. I feel I have met people who have opened their hearts, and minds to transfer knowledge to equip others. I can now communicate digitally.  I also know the importance of using household unused items like boxes, papers and other things to be creative with the children – children were introduced to activities and they have a curriculum they follow.

Sinekiwe Dube

Kiddies Haven, started in 2018 with only 7 children and now has 41


Sinekiwe’s love for children helped her to start a preschool, parents used to ask her to baby sit their children and that gave her the inspiration.

Sinekiwe heard about the Rhiza Babuyile ECD training through a colleague and decided to join.

How has the programme assisted you?

The training was really beneficial for my development. I learned a lot of things like workshops, HR, fundraising and how to run our preschools. I also learned about child protection – children’s rights and their safety.

I didn’t know the formalities of running the centre – the contracts, registers, enrolment forms of the children and other important procedures. I learned more about what is needed to be complaint and that the staff members should be qualified. All my teachers undergo the training to be more equipped. The training was worth it – I love the coaching part of the programme. I see my preschool being the centre of excellence.