MaAfrika Tikkun and Deutsche Bank have worked together on three youth dialogue events (called The Big Talk) in the last two years that have involved giving Grade 10 learners the opportunity to discuss their challenges and celebrate their ability to identify possible solutions to these issues. These events were all attended by officials from the Department of Education from provinces of Gauteng and/or the Western Cape.

From the previous events it has become apparent that although the youth uncovered the same issues each time, including teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure and low self esteem, when it came for the youth to attempt to lessen the impacts of these in their schools and communities, they felt overwhelmed and intimidated and therefore stopped trying to be change agents.

Therefore, this year’s Youth Citizens Action Programme is linked with the National and Provincial Department of Education's Race and Values Directorate and has been tailored to provide step-by-step guidelines on how to initiate change to help the participants to first grasp the background of what it takes to be a good citizen, and then to embody that by acting responsibly and making a change in their schools to improve their situations. The scope of the learners’ projects will be practical and implementable within their frame of reference and environment to effect change for the better.

The Chairman of MaAfrika Tikkun, Bertie Lubner featured in the Wits Business School journal, issue 17, 2009.

"My father would say, if you want to do something, you will know in your heart whether it is right or wrong. If it is right, you know."

MaAfrika Tikkun and Field Band Foundation gave 450 children from Diepsloot, Orange Farm and Alexandra the opportunity to watch a live stage performance for the first time. They were special guests at the MaAfrika Tikkun and Field Band Foundation performance of the Snow White Pantomime at the Civic Theatre on November 26.

"More recently, aware of the continued negative legacy of apartheid, a group of Jewish leaders started MaAfrika Tikkun, an organisation that provides services in the townships on behalf of the Jewish community. This group recognises that it is not enough to provide aid. It also helps the townships learn to negotiate with the government to provide essential services, knowing that long-term stability and sustainable economic development depend on empowering community members to be effective advocates for themselves"

Ruth Messinger, President of the American Jewish World Service.

BikeTown Africa, an international project which provides bicycles to healthcare workers to assist them in traveling to their suffering patients in Africa, is visiting South Africa.

From 9-18 July The Star Seaside Fund sent 120 children ranging from 10 to 16 years of age from Diepsloot, Alexandra and Orange Farm to Durban. Four caregivers accompanied the group, and fun was had by all - especially since for most of the children, this was their first trip to the sea.

There is a clear need for the youth of South Africa to become practically involved in the problem-solving process surrounding issues facing students so as to develop South Africa’s next generation of leaders. Championing this issue, MaAfrika Tikkun, an NGO that strives for the upliftment of under-resourced communities, together with the Deutsche Bank hosted the second annual Big Talk Youth Conference at the Seapoint Civic Centre in the Western Cape on 23 July 2008.

The two OVC caregivers from Orange Farm arrived back home in Johannesburg on Sunday 15 June. 

Like father like son like granddaughter. That is how the Lubner family passes on its kindness.

Read about Ouma Chaane, who is a 23 years old Vochelie (youth leader) at MaAfrika Tikkun. Ouma facilitates after school programmes with vulnerable children, which includes life skills and various games and sports.

Harmony By Karate, located at the Reebok Sport Club in New York, USA, has announced the launch of the Harmony By Karate Africa Scholarship Program, which is being developed in partnership with MaAfrika Tikkun, a non-profit organisation that focuses on a holistic caring model for vulnerable children in South African townships.

My name is Tsietsi Motloung, I come from the Vaal Triangle. I found out about MaAfrika Tikkun. Some time back during the winter holidays, I visited my grandmother who lives in Orange Farm. She was suffering from high blood pressure which led to her lose her eyesight.

Children under the care of local community welfare organisation, Western Cape, recently received an unexpected but very welcome festive surprise in the form of toys from Integr8 IT.

'Tikkun' is a Hebrew word meaning 'to make right' or 'repair' and this represents the ethos that drives MaAfrika Tikkun, established in 1994 as a national and international fundraising organisation to help under resourced South Africans