This document provides an overview of events and accomplishments at Afrika Tikkun Uthando Centre in 2014. It discusses the June and Eliot Tatelman Camp of Miracles which provided educational and character-building activities for youth. It also discusses the South African Service Summit for Youth which showcased community development work by young people. Additionally, it discusses the successes of the Early Childhood Development program in providing quality education and the annual Spelling Bee competition. It highlights accomplishments in other areas like skills development, sports, and initiatives to support youth. The manager, Xolani Sampies, expresses gratitude for the year and wishes everyone a blessed 2015.

1. STORIES FROM THE HEART Issue 2
Editorial Team
Sinanziwe Ndhlovu
Mamiki Masilo
Zanele Mangena
Grace Ghata/Massengo
Rofhiwa Tshidada
Anele Tshabangu
Andile Tshabangu
WWW.AFRIKATIKKUN.ORG IN THIS ISSUE
Although the year 2014 has been one
filled with challenges due to the several
changes that have taken place this year,
with the help from my firm boss Leonie
and the support of my hard working staff,
we have managed to overcome.
The biggest lesson that I have learnt this
year is that one must never give up on a
young person irrespective of what they
do. My experience with youth
development and assisting young people
discover the best career is what keeps my
passion going.
I believe filtering knowledge of self-
awareness is of ultimate importance, as it
directs a youth to make the right decisions
about their lives.
The highlights of the year for me was the
career guidance for the grade 8,9, 10 and
the grade 11 learners The camp which
was great, was not only a fun event, but
also an educational venture for many
thank you to June and Elliot Tatelman. In
the camp most youth had the opportunity
to discover themselves in a new
environment. Lastly the annual spelling
Bee was also one of the many educational
events that were hosted by Uthando
center. With so many events happening at
Afrika Tikkun, this proves that the
organization is wholly involved with
development of the youth of South Africa.
I would like to congratulate all the 2014
matriculates who have made it, passing
with flying colors. To Sphamandla
Ndlovu with 2, Duduzile Hadebe and
Tumelo Mahafa with 3, Nthabiseng
Boroto and Zanele Mangena with 5
distinctions each, I say well-done!
My ultimate wish is that everyone has a
blessed year this 2015.
Xolani Sampies
A Word from the Manager
by Xolani Sampies
UTHANDO
NEWS
DECEMBER 2014/
JANUARY 2015
The June and Eliot Tatelman Camp
of Miracles 2014 P 2
South African Service Summit for
Youth P 2
ECD-The Bright Light in the Lives
of Children P 3
Spelling Bee 2014 P 4
Uthando Facilities Continue to
Give the Community Hope P 4
lending a heart on Mandela
The Uthando offer to the
community P 5
An all-rounded year for the
Uthando sports team P 5
Initiatives that are making waves
P 6
Youth corner P 6
Getting to know”...” P 7

2. 2
The 26th of November 2014 marked the
first day of camp for all the different
Afrika Tikkun centers. The camp was
organized by Afrika Tikkun, June and
Eliot Tatelman as they saw the need of
gathering children and providing an
unforgettable and cost –free camp. The
children then headed to the North West
to Camp Tholo for five days.
This was an educational trip for the
young ones and also provided different
activities and themes. They were taught
more on team work, The Legend in Me,
and Living beyond Your Fear. They were
taught to be fearless and to work hard.
“I learned so much about being a leader
through the bold leaders section” said
one of the children at the camp. The
change of environment really made a
difference in the children’s reasoning.
They were given the platform to find
direction and to be self-aware.
“These young people have the
potential to be what they want in life
but they seem to fear the challenges
along the way but here we will help
them find their feet” said one of the
camp Tholo facilitators.
“The born free generation” .This was
the theme topic which resonated in
2014’s three day SASSY Summit.
The summit which was hosted at the
renowned American International
School of Johannesburg (AISJ) in
Brynston between the 28th
and 30th
of March 2014.The aim of the
summit was to showcase the
potentials and successes of the
young people involved in community
development. Afrika Tikkun; which
has a close relationship with (AISJ)
gave a few youngsters from different
centres the opportunity to attend
the summit. The summit included
interactive workshops, collective
panels and motivational expects.
The panelist consisted of young and
successful community leaders who
have not used their difficult
background and age as an excuse to
achieve in helping their societies
prosper. The participants from
different schools and centers around
South Africa and abroad were placed
in sustainable action teams aiming
to create an environment that is
open to discussions on how the born
free generation could still achieve
their goals despite the lack of
resources and opportunities even
after democracy .Three days of fun,
networking and ample learning –
SASSY proved to be a successful
platform for the youth to engage in a
productive learning experience.
The June and Eliot
Tatelman Camp of Miracles
2014
by Sinanziwe Ndlovu
South African Service Summit for Youth
By Mamiki Masilo
This camp was indeed true to the saying, “Leadership is the
cornerstone of every individual’s success.”
By SINANZIWE NDLOVU
LEADERSHIP AND INSPIRATIONAL EDUCATIONAL CORNER

3. 3
By Zanele Mangena
The Early Child Development
division at Afrika Tikkun Uthando
Centre continues to shine a bright
light into the lives of many children
in the community. The division
which can take up to 250 children
holds a number of achievements and
successes. It is known to offer quality
education as well as to produce top
performing learners who are
equipped with all the skills and
knowledge that they need to excel in
the future.
Teacher Jane, one of the grade R
teachers, believes that it is the
qualified teachers, the safe learning
environment as well the essential
value of love that ensures that the
ECD remains at its best. ”We make
sure that the children are safe and
well taken care of so that they may
be able to learn as best as they can”
she says
It is clear from this that Uthando
ECD cherishes and values the
education as well as the growth and
Knowledge that the children have
about the world around them. This
can be seen in some of the events
that were hosted this year such as
the heritage day celebration which
allowed the children to explore the
different cultures around them and
understand the diversity that is
present in our country, “Teacher
Jane goes on to say.
The children’s awards; this is where
the children received various prizes:
for numeracy and literacy. The ECD
graduation saw seventy-nine
children graduating on 29
November 2014. May this light
continue to shine for years to come
indeed!
”We make sure that the
children are safe and well taken
care of so that they may be
able to learn as best as they
can”
ECD-The Bright Light in the Lives of Children

4. STORIES FROM THE HEART Issue 2
n the 10th of October 2014,
Uthando Centre held its
annual Spelling Bee
competition at the Human Rights
building , Constitutional Hill. 37
contestants participated in the
competition. Children from the ages
of 9 to 14 were divided into junior
and senior teams. The youth of
Uthando Centre and the community
came in their numbers to support the
children. The Spelling Bee over the
years has brought great impact in
the literacy of the young ones and
has challenged the children to be
readers in order to gain better
vocabulary. In this regard, every
child now looks forward to the next
Spelling Bee Competition.
Sinethemba Phakhathi -a contestant
in the previous year, who is now in
the Nationals of the Mzansi Spelling
Bee, came back to encourage the
2014 spellers on the importance of
participating in the Spelling Bee as it
could take them a long way
The judges, Ms. Lerato and Ms.
Susan, assisted with the order of the
day. The day was a success as the
children spelled and until we reached
the 6 top winners including both
the junior and the seniors.
Lending a Heart
on Mandela Day
By Grace Ghata-Massengo
The junior reigning champion of the
Uthando Spelling Bee was Sibusisiwe
Phakathi.
A twist in the final round swerved in
as the spellers had to spell two words
in succession to become the
senior spelling bee 2014. Nontobeko
Shabangu came out as reigning
senior champion.
All would agree that the Spelling Bee
truly supports the phrase:
“knowledge is power!”
o
UTHANDO SPELLING BEE 2014
By Grace Ghata-Massengo
UTHANDO’S FACILITIES CONTINUE TO GIVE HOPE TO THE COMMUNITY
Mandela Day is a day entirely devoted to contributing 67 minutes of the day towards lending a hand in the community.
This day, celebrated in the 18th
of July –which is significant to being the late former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday-
is celebrated in remembrance of the 67 years of community service and selflessness, and the impact that this iconic man
has made in the country and further out in the world.
On July 18, 2014 at Afrika Tikkun Uthando Centre, parcels of food were given out to the children and parents of Uthando
Centre. The packing and handing out of food as well as the making of the Mandela Day banner that hung at the center’s
entrance, were managed and handled by the extreme youth of Uthando Centre. The youth also assisted the kitchen staff
with kitchen duties such as serving the food to the younger children and the cleaning of the dining hall. Special gratitude
goes towards the entire staff that helped make that day a Mandela day, and especially to the youth for taking their time
to give back to the community.

5. 5
THE UTHANDO OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY
By Sinanziwe Ndlovu
Uthando Centre has a multitude of
facilities which aid in community
development. Room 51, the skills
development department, is one of
those facilities which are changing
the face of the community one
person at a time.
Skills Development is responsible
for various initiatives such as the
career readiness program, as well as
the self-mastery program which
empower the youth between the
ages of eighteen and thirty-five and
prepare them for the working
environment. The Skills
Development area has had two
graduations in 2014 and has helped
several graduates find employment,
bursaries and internships.
The Empowerment Programme
which works with parents of the
children with disabilities. This area is
also one of those facilities that add
value in the community. It was
opened in August 2014 and has since
opened files for sixty-nine children in
the community. It originally began at
the Orange Farm Afrika Tikkun
Centre and it has grown from
strength to strength, helping the
children and their parents deal with
the problems of advocacy, human
rights as well as helping them find
schools. The unit also provides
therapy and inspires the community
to accept those with disabilities.
Doreen and Phumzile of the
disability unit both believe that every
child deserves to live a happy and
fulfilled life as well as receive quality
education regardless of their
disabilities.
.
An All-Rounded Year for Uthando Sports Teamby Rofhiwa Tshidada
This year the sports division at
Uthando excelled more than it did
in the previous. Lucky
Sivhugwana the soccer coach had
a lot of work to do with the boys
this year and they seemed to be
achieving better than before. The
soccer team went to seven
competitions and lost only once
while the netball team went to
two competitions and also lost
once. On the 10th of December
the annual Sports Awards took
place and the Uthando soccer
team got six awards for the
league championship and runner
ups from SAFA. The SAFA awards
were held in Mayfair and the
individual team awards were held
at Afrika Tikkun Uthando Centre
on the 11th of December. Fifteen
individual soccer players received
awards for the hard work and
team work that they displayed
during the games. There were
five soccer teams this year, the:
under9’s, under11’s, under13’s,
under15’s and under17’s, the
awards were based on the best
shooter, defender, striker and
goalkeeper. The best score in
soccer this year was 23-1 and in
netball was 40-10, meanwhile the
soccer team had special
invitations to the SAFA annual
tournament and had a lot of
players taking part in the
tournament. The players are
given opportunities to play in the
national soccer teams and they
might as well get the privilege to
play in international soccer
teams. Most children were able to
improve their behaviour by
participating in sports. And Coach
Lucky ends off by saying: “sport
keeps children out of danger”. It
has been an all-rounded year for
the Uthando sports team this
year indeed!

6. 6
Phenomenal Me
The giving continues…
On November 20, 2014 the Phenomenal Me project was initiated at the Africa Tikkun Library. Tinyiko Sambo and Nokwazi
Mkhize were the first two ladies to be introduced to the project and what it was all about. The project Phenomenal Me is an
initiative aimed at targeting girls who are attending their matric dance but cannot afford a dress to come in and get a
chance to choose a dress that they will feel special in, on the night of their matric dance.
The ladies were interviewed on how they felt before and after they received the dresses and their response was a positive
one. “I still cannot believe that anyone would do this for me, I am grateful for this initiative “one of the ladies commented.
Tinyiko went home with a beautiful matric dance dress whilst Nokwazi went home with a lovely pair of shoes.
The initiative aims to provide more dresses for ladies who wish to go to their matric dance in the following years to come
and live up to its slogan where the giving truly continues. A special vote of thanks goes to Sinanziwe Ndhlovu, Mamiki
Masilo, Grace Ghata-Massengo and Zanele Mangena who all assisted in bringing this project to life.
YOUTH CORNER
The youth may be facing disturbing issues such as drugs and crime, but the biggest challenge that the youth is really facing
is the lack of self-awareness. Self-awareness creates a platform for an individual to know themselves and not fall into the
scheme for social instabilities. It assists one to stand firm in positive values avoid being drawn into peer-pressure and
negative behavior. It is therefore of utmost importance that the youth become self-aware of themselves as well as their
surroundings to grow stronger in a very demanding world.
IF I REALLY KNEW MYSELF
By GRACEY DEE
+
IF I REALLY KNEW MYSELF
I WOULD KNOW THAT I AM CAPABLE OFACHIEVING GREATNESS
AND THAT MY GREATEST WEAKNESS
IS MY INABILITY TO REALISE MY STRENGTH
IF I REALLY KNEW MYSELF
I WOULD KNOW THAT LIKE A PALM TREE I STAND
MY VALUES BEING THE ROOTS THAT ANCHOR ME
HOLDING ME FIRM AGAINST THE WINDS OF SOCIAL INSTABILITY
IF I REALLY KNEW MYSELF
I WOULD KNOW THAT I AM NOT DEFINED BY SOCIETY’S NORMS
AND THAT I STAND OUT ON A PLATFORM OF INDEPENENCE
THAT RAISES ME OUT OF THE HARSH REALITIES OF LIFE
IF I REALLY KNEW MYSELF
I WOULD KNOW THAT CHANGE IS MY MIDDLE NAME
AND THAT EVERY LIFE I TOUCH
LIKE IN A POND CREATES RIPPPLES WHERE ASTONE IS CAST
IF I REALLY KNEW MYSELF
I WOULD KNOW THAT FROM THE CROWD I STAND OUT
BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES I FACE
PURIFY ME LIKE GOLD
THROUGH FIRE REFINED

7. 7
Getting to know”...”
The CYDP Manager
UTHANDO NEWS
STORIES FROM THE HEART10 JOUBERT EXT STREET BRAAMFONTEIN
Name and Surname: Ms Precious Machira
Position: Child and Youth Development Manager
Q What are your responsibilities as a CYDP manager?
To make sure that the youth programs that are available are beneficial,
effective and run in the best possible manner and to provide the means
and tools in which to run those programs.
Q What is the best part of the position?
Working with different people from different backgrounds, and being
able to witness the change in the lives of the youth as they are
empowered by the programs that are available.
Q What are the demands of the position?
Gathering the youth to take part in our programs as well as organizing
some events can be a challenge but it is all worth it at the end of the
day.
Q What inspires you to keep on going?
I believe that the love of children is the root and this together with
the impact that can be seen through the programs has kept me going.
Q How do you use the position to inspire change in the youth?
I engage with the youth, guide them as well as help them with their
challenges and remind them that there is hope and a better and
brighter future ahead of them regardless of their circumstances.
Q What advice would you like to give to the youth?
To be themselves and to realize the value and potential that is within
each and every one of them and to work hard to make sure that they
are best in whatever they do.