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.

Two Caregivers from one of MaAfrika Tikkun’s projects will spend six months in New York learning how to promote tolerance worldwide through the philosophy of Universal Harmony. When the two women return from their course, they will share their newly developed mental and physical skills with the children they care for as well as their colleagues.

Sensei John Mirrione, who can identify with vulnerable children because he was practically homeless from the age of 4 to 6, says, “We believe that these young women will not only gain the ability to defend themselves in an attack situation and to strengthen themselves in the “daily battle”, but the course will also increase their self-confidence”.

Harmony By Karate’s motto is giving “courage to transform”. Karate techniques are learned through slow movement to maximize speed, power and flexibility, while philosophy and meditation are integrated to nurture spiritual growth. The “Harmony” component is the community, philosophy and meditation aspect of the classes; the “Karate” aspect of the school is the self-defense which rids the individual of fear and empowers them to conquer any obstacle.

Background on the two candidates

Sylvia Selelekela

After completing matric in 2003, Sylvia Selelekela (right) could not proceed to tertiary education as her parents did not have enough money. However, in 2004 Sylvia managed to attend a computer course in Orange Farm. “Lack of finance didn’t stop me from making sure that my dreams become a reality,” she says.

Sylvia has been an OVC (orphan and vulnerable child) Caregiver with MaAfrika Tikkun for 4 years. “Working with orphans and vulnerable children is very challenging as those children need love, support and good care and guidance as well.” She has now been promoted to a Caregiver Coordinator, where she has a more administrative role.

Ouma Chaane

When Ouma Chaane (left) was 5 years old her father was retrenched and the family had to relocate to Orange Farm. “It was so sad when we had to move from a house to a shack,” says Ouma.

In 2007, Ouma joined the home-based care centre at Leseding, one of seven organizations that work with MaAfrika Tikkun in Orange Farm. She started working as a youth leader, or vochellie, facilitating afternoon programmes for the vulnerable children and helping them with their homework. “Most of the children I am working with are orphans. They tell us sad stories about their parents being ill and dying of AIDS and the sadness of growing up without parents while other children have both parents,” she says.

MaAfrika Tikkun is extremely proud of the achievement of these two ladies who will be representing the organisation at Harmony By Karate in the United States of America and looks forward to them sharing their newfound knowledge when they return.