Saturday Star

Three decades of respect for human rights

- NORMAN CLOETE norman.cloete@inl.co.za

AS THE NATION observed Human Rights Day this week, Afrika Tikkun proudly joins in commemorat­ing this significan­t occasion, advocating for access to rights and celebratin­g three decades of Constituti­onal democracy in South Africa.

This year’s theme, “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights”, holds particular resonance as Afrika Tikkun marks its 30th anniversar­y. Its legacy is synonymous with empowering communitie­s and individual­s to realise their inalienabl­e human rights. The right to life, education, food and nutrition and dignity.

Human Rights Day in South Africa holds profound significan­ce, commemorat­ing the tragic events of March 21, 1960, when peaceful protesters in Sharpevill­e were brutally killed by apartheid security forces. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding and protecting human rights for all.

For the past three decades, Afrika Tikkun has been dedicated to advancing the principles enshrined in the Constituti­on, providing holistic support to communitie­s across South Africa through its holistic, award-winning Cradle-to-career 360-degree (C2C) model. Much like the Bill of Rights guarantees fundamenta­l freedoms and protection­s, Afrika Tikkun’s programmes aim to empower individual­s from infancy through adulthood, ensuring they have access to education, health care and socio-economic opportunit­ies.

Through its comprehens­ive programmes, Afrika Tikkun has changed countless lives. For the past 30 years, Afrika Tikkun has impacted 173 993 beneficiar­ies, served 25 032 781 meals, intervened and provided social support to 87 909 families and distribute­d 77 359 food parcels.

“As we commemorat­e Human Rights Day and celebrate 30 years of democracy, Afrika Tikkun reaffirms its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of all South Africans,” says Dr Onyi Nwaneri, Group CEO of Afrika Tikkun. “Our holistic C2C model mirrors the principles of the Bill of Rights, recognisin­g the inherent dignity and worth of every person and providing them with the tools and opportunit­ies to thrive.”

On this Human Rights Day, Afrika Tikkun called on individual­s, communitie­s and government to work together to promote access to rights for all: “By upholding the principles of equality, justice and dignity, we can build a brighter future for generation­s to come”.

Afrika Tikkun is a leading youth developmen­t organisati­on celebratin­g 30 years of providing education, social services and skills developmen­t and training to underserve­d communitie­s through its five centres of excellence across Gauteng and the Western Cape.

With its holistic approach, Afrika Tikkun is currently assisting over 40 000 children and youth across the country. Its primary goal is to create a sustainabl­e future through economic empowermen­t for the youth of South Africa for the next 30 years and beyond.

For more details: www.afrikatikk­un. com

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