Auction fundraiser looks to help youth
HOUGHTON – At the auction fundraiser by Afrika Tikkun, beneficiaries shared testimonies of how their lives changed for the better.
The non-governmental organisation Afrika Tikkun hosted a fundraiser gala dinner at The Houghton Hotel. The fundraiser was attended by about 250 of South Africa’s most influential business professionals and celebrities who aspire to end child poverty and youth unemployment.
Kicking off the event proceedings, TV personality and comedian Siv Ngesi said young South Africans face many challenges and Afrika Tikkun is dedicated to providing education, health and social services to young people and their families through centres of excellence in South African townships.
He added that funds raised at the auction event would go towards developing, upskilling, educating and creating job opportunities for South Africa’s youth.
Afrika Tikkun Junior Board member Hazel Dube said she had been with the NGO for nine years and with the help of Afrika Tikkun she had grown into a young, confident and wise woman. “The team at Afrika Tikkun ensured that our full human potential is reached through consistent feedback. It is because of people like you in the room today that we as young people got the opportunity to dream, be better people and be young people that other young people look up to,” Dube said.
She added that she did not allow her background situation to define her. Dube said being awarded the opportunity to travel to America by the NGO taught her the importance of education.
Chief operations officer of the Afrika Tikkun Junior Board, Sinanziwe Ndlovu said 10 years ago she was a young girl who had a dream to be educated and become a successful young woman. “Ten years ago, those dreams were cancelled when my parents got taken away from me (died) and the family income did not allow me to be in school anymore. This is the reality of thousands of young people in our country. However, I found a space in a place that I call home,” Ndlovu said.
She said 10 years later she was sitting on the Afrika Tikkun Junior Board making things happen for other young people. Ndlovu said the board’s young members aspired to provide solutions to the horrific and violent situations that happened so that they don’t affect future generations.
Details: Afrika Tikkun at www.afrikatikkun.org
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