Welcome to our new website! We decided that attaching ourselves to our South African site created a collaboration and unity that symbolises the purpose of MaAfrika Tikkun. We hope you like it ~ and we welcome your feedback.

Lots of exciting things happening! . . .

Chief Mandla Mandela is coming to Sydney!!!!!

Mandla Mandela is Chief of the Xhosa Tribe. He is also the eldest grandson of Nelson Mandela. He graduated from Rhodes University with a degree in Politics in 2007.
Chief Mandla Mandela will be Honorary Guest Speaker at our Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Dinner on Saturday 26th July. Please be there . . . it promises to be a fabulous night! See http://www.maafrikatikkun.org.za/web/content/view/174/283/

Nelson Mandela's e-birthday card . . .

For those of you unable to attend our Big Event as mentioned above, please keep an eye on your Inbox for our Nelson Mandela e-card. This has been designed to travel the world, giving everyone the opportunity to wish this great man Happy 90th and to securely donate on line to our projects of which Nelson Mandela is Chief Patron. Please forward the e-card to as many people as you can to ensure we give family and friends the opportunity to be part of this momentous occasion. Just as Nelson Mandela said when he visited our projects in Diepsloot: "What I see here today is a Miracle" . . . so too is it a miracle that he has lived to this incredible age. Let's acknowledge him and everything he stands for in whatever way possible. His dream is to eradicate poverty. Thank you!

Mandela Hotel Program . . .
We’ve signed an agreement with the 5 star Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney!

www.amorahotels.com.au

Amora Jamison have launched our Mandela Hotels Program and we’ve become their charity of choice. What does this mean? Amora Hotel Jamison are engaging their management, staff and guests in an awareness and fundraising initiative, designed to create a sense of giving - for all, as well as team spirit amongst employees - as they join together in events designed to help them feel part of the MaTA community.
• Mandela Door Hangers are placed in each room, giving guests the opportunity to add a donation to their bill
• The management are sponsoring a family in South Africa
• The Hotel is hosting our Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Dinner and other events throughout the year
• Staff are receiving presentations so they learn more about MaTA and have the opportunity to contribute in a variety of ways, if they wish.
Thank you Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney!

We have a new Ambassador to MaTA . . . Greg Wilson

www.gregwilsongallery.com

Greg is a prolific and inspirational Australian artist. Greg’s commitment to and success with his art came after a battle with depression that lasted many years. With Nelson Mandela as Greg's hero throughout his own struggle of adversity, coupled with his passion to serve those less fortunate than himself, Greg now actively volunteers his services to and promotes the work of MaAfrika Tikkun, whilst selflessly donating a percentage of the sales of his artwork to our projects. Greg has painted the official Nelson Mandela portrait, which will be unveiled at a Cocktail Party on June 25th and auctioned at our Nelson Mandela Birthday Dinner on July 26th. Both events will be held at the 5 star Amora Hotel.
http://www.maafrikatikkun.org.za/web/content/blogcategory/45/283/
Thank you and Welcome Greg!

Our Events for this year . . .
Please check out our Events Page http://www.maafrikatikkun.org.za/web/content/blogcategory/45/283/ and join in wherever you can: Cocktail Party 25th June and/or 90th Birthday Dinner at the Amora Hotel 26th July, Angels Gathering August 28th, Sydney Running Festival September 21st, Justine Bradley’s Concert at the Sound Lounge September 23rd ~ there’s something for everyone. Your support of our Events goes a long way in the support of the orphans and vulnerable children that need our help. Have fun whilst you’re MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
Thank you all!

Peninsula Heals Event . . .
On Sunday 15th June, MaTA participated in a fantastic "Celebration of Community Caring" at Jonah's in Whale Beach. As one of the three charities involved, MaTA was proud to present alongside Home Hospice www.homehospice.com.au and Smile Foundation www.smilefoundation.com.au The three charities raised awareness and funds (which were divided equally amongst the three charities) in an atmosphere of caring celebration. Actor Peter Phelps was our MC, David Edwards from LJ Hooker in Palm Beach was our auctioneer, Wendy Matthews, Melinda Schneider, Justine Bradley, John Stone & Jenny Cincotta were our entertainers - and the local and global community provided some great auction items that helped us collectively raise almost $60,000 for those in need. Thank you to everyone who contributed to a brilliant night of Community Caring on The Peninsula!

Casual Week Campaign . . .
If you’re finding it difficult to get to our Events, please consider initiating a
Casual Week at work. Maybe in the week leading up to Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday(18th July)? Simply go to:
http://www.gofundraise.com.au/FRPView.aspx?fid=601

News from South Africa . . .

There have been some alarming reports and images of Xenophobic Violence from South Africa recently. Our CEO in Johannesburg Marc Lubner, issued the following press release:

MaAfrika Tikkun’s response to Xenophobic violence
The outbreak of violent attacks on foreigners living in South Africa has shocked and distressed us all. MaAfrika Tikkun is opposed to any form of random outbreak of violence and does not support any form of ethnic blame for conditions of poverty that pervade our country. While the current violence represents a complexity of underlying issues, the suffering of its victims requires our immediate action. As an organisation, MaAfrika Tikkun is committed to finding and effecting both long-term and short term solutions to the current crisis in partnership with local governmental efforts and other NGO initiatives.

We believe the wide gap that exists between expectations of our country’s impoverished communities and the perceived slow service delivery by the government to be the fundamental cause of aggression and violence. The current attacks on foreigners shows how this deep-seated frustration in our country’s most impoverished communities fuels existing sentiments of xenophobia. MaAfrika Tikkun believes the issue must be addressed on all levels.

For sustainable and lasting change, we daily address the fundamental problem of frustration and dissatisfaction in our townships. Therefore, our core mandate is to work with local government, and in support of community based organisations, to effect service delivery that addresses the many needs of people living in impoverished conditions. This is what MaAfrika Tikkun was established to do over 14 years ago.

Our organisation’s long-term vision in response to the problem of xenophobia is to cement all South African’s commitment to human rights, democracy and regional integration. We are supporting the call from the Jewish Board of Deputies providing tangible relief in support of victims affected by the current wave of violence. In partnership with the Methodist Church, we are contributing funds to print and distribute 50 000 tee-shirts with positive messages of co-habitation and mutual respect as part of our longer term campaign to address issues of ethnic blame. Within our core projects, we plan to incorporate into our early childhood and youth development programmes a module which addresses the problem of ethnic difference. We will promote not only the values of tolerance and respect, but also educate on the leadership that diversity can offer.
It is MaAfrika Tikkun’s philosophy that to effect sustainable change, we must work in sync with local government and other NGOs. Our existing core programmes reflect the success of this partnership, and now- faced with an immediate obstacle of this nature- we will continue to work in collaboration with government and NGO initiatives. Based on this practice we will not simply take isolated initiatives on our own, but rather work together with local government and community based organisations. So far, our immediate response to the crisis has been in line with this policy.

In Alexandra Township alone MaAfrika Tikkun has to date donated in excess of R15 000 (please note conversion rate: ZAR1 = AU$0.15) in the form of winter clothing, food parcels, and over 100 blankets. In Diepsloot, we are currently feeding approximately 50 people with three meals a day who have found safe haven in the Diepsloot police station. MaAfrika Tikkun caregivers are distributing blankets and food parcels to those shack dwellers who are providing accommodation for foreign residents. The Department of Social Development and the local police stations have served as key distribution points in this effort. We necessarily have to act without too much public exposure for fear of reprisals against our staff and facilities by that minority element of community committed to irrational violence.

Our fundamental mandate as an organisation remains unchanged. We continue to work alongside government to examine and address issues that form the basis of the current crisis. Therefore, we maintain our appeal to donors to support our existing core programmes. If ever there was a need for evidence of the plight of township dwellers, the current situation highlights this.

However, the urgency of the current crisis demands that we bring together resources to act quickly. MaAfrika Tikkun appeals to donors to contribute to an emergency fund to tackle the direct needs of thousands of victims of the present violence. We have already committed R50 000 from our emergency relief fund to be used in this effort. The cost is approximately R400 per individual for a week’s supply of emergency relief services (blanket, food parcel and clothing). MaAfrika Tikkun’s contribution alone will assist approximately 125 people. The need is obviously much greater, and so we will call on donors now to bolster this emergency fund. With donors’ help, we can reach a far greater number of people- people that urgently require our help.

It is by us all pooling our efforts in a coordinated way that we give life to the concept of our Patron’s dream, Mr. Mandela’s promise of a Rainbow Nation.
Marc Lubner
CEO MaAfrika Tikkun

And in the communities . . .

MaAfrika Tikkun awarded ‘Certificate Of Excellence’ at the Impumelelo’s Annual Award Ceremony . . .
19 May 2008
MaAfrika Tikkun, an NGO committed to transforming communities and nurturing and developing a new generation of strong leaders, has been awarded the The Star Award (Impumelelo Certificate of Excellence) at Impumelelo’s annual award ceremony held at the Cape Town City Hall this Saturday, May 17.
MaAfrika Tikkun has been recognised for their ‘invaluable contribution to improving the quality of life for underprivileged South Africans’. The two Education Programmes - Generation of Leaders Discovered Peer Educational Programmes (GoLD) and Student for Student (SFS) were acknowledged in this year’s awards. These programmes reach approximately 2500 learners in 22 High and Primary schools across the Western Cape. Both initiatives provide important leadership opportunities for Grade 10 and 11 students to develop into the future leaders of our country.
“As Mahatma Ghandi once said: ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world.’ The acknowledgment of this award goes to show that our programmes are that change,” says Barbara Miller National Executive Director Youth Programmes at MaAfrika Tikkun.
GoLD is a pioneering intervention strategy that addresses the behaviours and beliefs that are at the root of the HIV/AIDS pandemic amongst young people, while at the same time preparing for the leadership crisis that is being precipitated by the disease.
The SFS programme aims at growing leadership, countering peer pressure, encouraging young learners to develop self-pride and breaking the cycle of discrimination. This programme responds to the root causes of the HIV/AIDS crisis amongst young people, encompassing both prevention and a future leadership strategy. It instills vision and purpose, bringing about personal, group and community transformation, essential to combat the devastating, multi-faceted impact of HIV and AIDS.
Established in 1999, the Impumelelo Innovations Award uncovers what is good and what works in the public sector. Impumelelo is an independent award programme based on a rigorous evaluations programme. Every year between 20 and 30 evaluators visit more than 100 projects across the country, even in the remotest rural areas. Among the entrances MaAfrika Tikkun was one of the 131 NGO’s (Nationally) who participate in this year’s award.

Med-Lemon knitters to keep orphans warm

For the fourth consecutive year, Med-Lemon is running its winter campaign: an income-generation scheme that pays the community to knit scarves which are distributed to needy township children.
Community organisation MaAfrika Tikkun helps to identify areas in need of assistance and manage the knitting operation off the ground, whilst the Med-Lemon team provides wool and knitting needles at participating community centres and pays knitters ZAR40 ($5.30)per scarf. A posse of township women will gather this month to knit thousands of scarve's which will be distributed in Orange Farm, Diepsloot and Alexandra, in Johannesburg, and in Delft and Mfuleni in the Western Cape.
Each community will produce 1,500 scarves, aiming for a total of 7,500, which will be distributed in late June or early July.

Special Thanks . . .
To Adam Ginsburg for his relentless patience as he helped me – voluntarily – over many hours, days, weeks, to research, plan and build the new website in collaboration with the team in South Africa.
So much appreciated Adam, thank you!

Note from Kim Morris, Donor Relations

Since commencing in my role as Donor Relations Manager in March, I have been very humbled by the giving and support of our donors - their feedback and generosity has been truly uplifting. Working on the Mandela 90th Birthday Dinner has given me - as part of the team - the opportunity of spreading the word in relation to MaAfrika Tikkun far and wide, securing new/potential donors and sponsors - the response has been immeasurable - thank you to each and every one of you, it's your support that allows us to continue helping those in need.

In my capacity as Donor Relations Manager, I am excited to be taking over the management of the Mandela Angels Sponsorship Programme in the near future - and to be connecting with all our Angels individually before long. I look forward to it!
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information or to just 'have a chat'. I hope to see you all at the Mandela Birthday Dinner on 26th July - we are looking forward to a wonderful, enriching and uplifting celebration and to honoring the life of our Chief Patron Nelson Mandela.

Thank You from the team . . .

This is such an exciting year for us as we raise the profile of MaAfrika Tikkun in Australia. We all thank you from our hearts for the various ways in which you support us to do what we love to do . . . support one vulnerable child at a time towards a future of hope and dignity.

With warmest wishes and gratitude,

Gael