Walk the talk, fund a family

Yes, R2,280 covers caring for a family in need in the Afrika Tikkun programmes for one year. The organisation believes that the best way to help communities is by providing core, interrelated services to vulnerable families so that they can become self-sustaining and independent. The programmes, which centre on children and the environments they grow up in, include primary health care, early childhood development, nutritional security and child and youth development.

Afrika Tikkun began its work in 1994, with a view to rectify the inequality created from years of institutionalised oppression. With a focus on children as Africa's future hope, it soon developed the Holistic Development Model, realising that children with empty tummies and poor home environments cannot grow into sustainable, responsible adults. Because of its heart for children, former President Nelson Mandela became the organisations Patron-in-Chief in 1999, calling the work performed daily a "miracle". Afrika Tikkun is one of four organisations worldwide to still have him as its Chief Patron.

The world's biggest

Discovery's Walk the Talk is the biggest walking event in the world with over 55,000 participants each year. It brings together people who want to be healthy, and give back to communities. Every year the Walk partners with charities along the route, including Afrika Tikkun. A percentage of every fully paid entry goes to raising funds for the various charities.

In 2011 through the team of walkers, AT successfully raised enough money to put 100 schoolchildren through primary school for a year. This year, they want to raise funds which can be used to support 300 families for a year, bearing in mind that R2,280 secures one family annually. It seems like very little when you realise the impact it can make to one family.

There are just three days left for people to enter Walk the Talk on Afrika Tikkun's behalf. Those who are interested can email Claire Alexander on moc.liamg@dnaltocserialc.

For more information on Afrika Tikkun and the work that they do, please visit http://afrikatikkun.org/.