Internet Solutions sponsors development of Afrika Tikkun’s New C

The official opening of the Afrika Tikkun Uthando Centre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, took place on August 15 in a heritage building that has been given a new lease on life.

Afrika Tikkun, a humanitarian non-governmental organisation which provides education, health and social services to children, young adults and their families through a number of centres, recently relocated its Hillbrow centre to the former Transvaal Memorial Hospital for Children on Constitution Hill in Braamfontein. The centre has been operating from its new premises since mid-July and the number of children and young adults attending it has already increased.

Speaking at the launch of the Uthando Centre, Afrika Tikkun’s chief executive, Marc Lubner, thanked the organisation’s private and corporate sponsors for their contributions, and paid tribute to the professional team who renovated the building for their top quality work and professionalism, but above all their humanitarian spirit.

Lubner also complimented the Department of Infrastructure Development, particularly the MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, for the opportunity to develop the centre in partnership with the department, and for the speed and efficiency with which Afrika Tikkun’s occupation of the building was facilitated.

“We look forward to walking together into a brighter future one in which the youth are equipped with the skills and values that will make our country better,” he said.

He also thanked the Afrika Tikkun staff, who work at all the centres in the country, for their dedication to their jobs and their enthusiasm, which is a hallmark of the organisation and its projects.

In her keynote address, MEC Mahlangu thanked Afrika Tikkun and all who contribute to the organisation for their efforts to make SA better and help young people to realise their potential.

The Department of Infrastructure Development is the landlord and Afrika Tikkun has a rolling nine year lease on the portion of the building it occupies. Afrika Tikkun undertook extensive renovations on the premises, which were funded by Afrika Tikkun’s donors and sponsors, with the biggest of these on the Uthando Centre the Gary Lubner Family Foundation.

Amongst the sponsors are Internet Solutions, Eskom, Nedbank Infrastructure, Datatec, ApexHi, the German Embassy, and a variety of Australian donors via Global Development Group (GDG), a NGO carrying out humanitarian projects with approved partners.