Celebrating 60 years of Ikamva Labantu

Special Statement from Our Founder, Helen Lieberman “I saw hope, and I wanted to be a part of that hope” People often ask me why I went back into the townships after my first visit in 1963. The answer is simple: I saw hope, and I wanted to be a part of that hope. After […]
Follow Pheliwe Mbunje’s Journey of Becoming an Early Childhood Development Practitioner

Hailing from a large family in Eastern Cape, Pheliwe Mbunje says her love of early childhood learning started young. When she was just 10 years old, she was tasked with taking her 8-month-old nephew to daycare near their village of Gaqa. She was instantly hooked! Thus, when the opportunity came to teach her own class […]
School Uniform Appeal – A Great Success Thanks to YOU

We asked, and you delivered! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to help us get school uniforms to children in need! Thanks to your support, nearly 300 disadvantaged learners in Ikamva Labantu’s after school care programme, Afternoon Angels, now have brand new school uniforms to wear for the 2023 academic year. We couldn’t […]
2 000 children URGENTLY need school uniforms. Can you help?

Did you know? Having school uniforms improves school enrolment in disadvantaged communities by over 40% Having a school uniform reduces dropout and teen pregnancy rates 18 million people live below the extreme poverty line in South Africa on less than R35 (£2) per day More than 4 million children in South Africa are raised by […]
2-Knights Chess Academy – The Dream Made Reality

Sidwell Mayekiso was first introduced to chess by his physiotherapist while in primary school. He has since dedicated 30 years to teaching children from disadvantaged backgrounds how to play the game. He works with his wife and various primary schools in Khayelitsha, including Noluthando School for the Deaf. “Since I was lazy to do the […]
Santa for Seniors: Let’s make their Season bright!

As we approach Christmas 2022, we invite YOU to join our Santa for Seniors campaign. Don your Santa hats and fill Christmas stockings so that the 1 800 members of our Seniors Programme can make merry. Many senior citizens still play a vital role in their families, caring for orphaned children and using their meagre […]
International Day of Older Persons champions the elderly

UNIDOP highlights ‘The Resilience of Older Women’ This year’s UN International Day of Older Persons aptly highlights “The Resilience and Contributions of Older Women”. The challenges of the last few years have intensified socio-economic inequalities for the least fortunate, and with women constituting the majority of older persons, they have been particularly vulnerable. As such, […]
World Alzheimer’s Day empowers families and caregivers

Every year, World Alzheimer’s Day serves to raise awareness around and encourage support of dementia. Themed “Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s Disease”, the 2022 event on Wednesday, 21 September emphasized the need for post-diagnosis support. Ikamva Labantu commemorated this momentous day at the Ikamva Labantu Enkululekweni Wellness Centre, which facilitates a Seniors Programme in Khayelitsha and […]
Strong women mobilize to ‘Take Back the Streets’

High levels of crime and financial insecurity continue to impact children growing up in Cape Town’s townships. Immersed in a world burdened by poverty, unemployment and substance abuse, daily statistics show that youngsters remain vulnerable to a range of ever-present dangers. Amidst deeply worrying crime and violence, 29 Cape Town women have mobilized to open […]
Women’s Month spotlights women-run ECD businesses

Women have long been acknowledged as the bedrock of the nation, and August’s women-oriented festivities highlight their capacity to create, nurture, and empower. National Women’s Day on 9 August distils the commemoration of the iconic women that fought against Apartheid and serves to underline the ongoing value of women in society. But while gains have […]