The three buildings comprising the Wings of Life Community Centre, include MaAfrika Tikkun’s Early Childhood Development Centre; The MaAfrika Tikkun Child and Youth Development Centre and The MaAfrika Tikkun Administration and Primary Healthcare Centre.

These buildings are part of the holistic care model that MaAfrika Tikkun uses to nurture orphans and vulnerable children from birth in the townships until they become contributing members of the South African society.

The releasing of 30 doves, 10 for each of the three new centres being opened

The buildings will anchor and improve the existing services MaAfrika Tikkun already provides to over 200 residents in the Diepsloot community. MaAfrika Tikkun’s support begins through Pamodzi, which provides services to homes in the shacks where the support is really needed, providing food, counseling, health care and other forms of support. Children up to 6 years of age will be cared for during the day at the Early Childhood Development Centre.

Children 7 years and older who attend the after schools Youth Development programmes are provided with an array of support services including a daily meal, homework support, sports activities, recreation, life skills, counseling as well as access to a library and a multimedia computer center at the Youth Development Centre.

The Administrative and Healthcare Centre are the base of operations for all home-based care services, counseling and project management. The Admin Centre is the hub where data is filed by care givers daily, reports from teachers at the centres and any external reports from specialists who interact with vulnerable kids. This data will be shared with government departments. The centres also employ local community members creating substantial employment for many of Diepsloot’s unemployed who have been provided with training to improve capacity and competency.

These new centres add to the existing care giving, food kitchen, vegetable gardening and craft services which have been in place for some time.

The project is a partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and a number of corporate donors including the Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA), who donated precast concrete building materials, and Rainbow Construction under the guidance and skill of architect, Andrea Pokroy. Andrea’s passion for the Diepsloot community is evident in the precise detail she has addressed in the design and construction of the sight.

“Our model is unique and is possibly one of the most ambitious programmes of its kind anywhere in the world. It is critical that children living in vulnerable circumstances receive a continuum of care, support, love and opportunity over all their development years. We recognise that children are the future, but they can only become well-rounded adults if all aspects of their lives are supported,” says Marc Lubner, CEO of MaAfrika Tikkun.

The MaAfrika Tikkun Wings of Life Early Childhood Development Centre

“As in all of our projects, we work in partnership with local community leaders and the community at large where we supply the resources and finances from our donors, including the knowledge base. We then encourage the community to ensure that the project is kept in good shape and is run professionally. Similarly, in Diepsloot we have created an oasis of hope where the community can access much-needed services and the necessary intervention.

“Fewer than 10% of children in South Africa have any kind of formal early childhood development and this percentage drops even further in Diepsloot. We believe by providing the opportunity for a child to start the journey of life on the right road a better community and ultimately a better South Africa will be built.”

“We trust that the community will take good care of this facility as our ability to raise the money required to keep it running will depend largely on this. Civil unrest drives donors away and the children would be the ones who loose out should the funding not come through,” says Marc Lubner.

MaAfrika Tikkun founder and chairman, Bertie Lubner adds: “All our programmes, both from design to the building of the physical structures to the content of the services delivered; conform to government policy to ensure that we remain partners with government in servicing vulnerable children well into the future.”

“Despite our outstanding success to date, we cannot grow unless government grows with us. It is vital that we develop partnerships with government on an increasing basis so that together, we create programs, design applications, implement budgeted cost structures, and the effective election and running of the structures. Above all to maintain accountability and reporting at all times for all stakeholders,” he adds.

According to Diepsloot community leader and ward councilor, Isaac Maela, the project has brought renewed hope for the Diepsloot community, especially to the youth.

“This project has added value to the lives of our people in the area. It will ensure that we get our youths off the streets to do something constructive with their lives.

“The home based care project has ensured that people who previously did not receive much care and had no shelter, now have the opportunity to be cared for in a meaningful way,” Maela says.

Maela adds that the facilities will add to the social and educational development of the young people in the community.

Project manager, Bessy Netsianda says the project will leave a lasting legacy for the community of Diepsloot.

“Over 60 people have received long term jobs as a result of this project. This has made a difference in people’s lives and will help produce young people who are responsible and will in the long term become resourceful members of society,” she says.
For more information contact Amanda at 011 325 5914 or e-mail
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The MaAfrika Tikkun Administrative and Healthcare Centre