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According to the City of Cape Town census, more than a third of the families in Mfuleni (bordering Khayelitsha, in the Cape Flats) live in informal shacks without water and electricity. In this severely under-resourced area, approximately 45 000 people are trapped in a relentless cycle of long-term, endemic poverty.

It is estimated that only 42% of the population of Mfuleni have completed Grade 11 – but that may change from today as Afrika Tikkun opens its expanded Mfuleni Community Centre, the training and resource centre it has been running in the community since 2005.

“The new centre, named the Zolile Malindi Community Centre in honour of Zolile Malindi (b 1924, d 21 April 2008) a community activist from the area, makes a practical difference” said Marc Lubner, CEO of Afrika Tikkun. “We are proud of our contribution to the transformation of Mfuleni from a settlement into a community.”

The R17.5 million spent on the centre means that Afrika Tikkun will now be able to help a lot more people. In the past around 350 children made use of the services offered. The beneficiary figure will now more than double to1300. If one includes children reached through the health programme the figure becomes more like 3,500 because of the community outreach work that the health programme does working with school health and integrated management of childhood illness (IMCMI) programmes. The Mfuleni centre is run in partnership with the City of Cape Town, and the use of this new building, owned by the the Sport, Recreation and Amenities Department ensures that the community will benefit from Child and Youth development programmes, Family Support Services, Primary Health Care, Early Childhood Development and Nutrition, Food Security and Support services.

“We are making a difference in a very practical way” said Lubner “Before this centre opened, on weekdays the streets of Mfuleni were filled with small children with no access to the critical educational opportunities offered by Early Childhood Development facilities. Furthermore, the need to take care of children at home has prevented parents from being able to find employment. This centre will provide children with a safe and nurturing environment while preparing them for successful schooling.”

The funding partners of the Zolile Malindi Community Centre are: The Pola Paslovsky Charitable and Educational Fund, Belron®, Lewis Group Ltd, Growthpoint Properties, Mutual and Federal and NIF Trust Belgium

In the words of the funding partners:

· Growthpoint has partnered with Afrika Tikkun because we share their vision of improving educational and employment opportunities among South Africa’s youth.
· Belron® is extremely proud of its 10 year partnership with Afrika Tikkun. These centres are integral to enabling the provision of a truly holistic approach.
· Mrs Pasvolsky, after whom the Health Care Center is named, was a passionate and determined woman of culture and community compassion, who left almost her entire estate to benefit those less fortunate than herself.
· The Mfuleni Community Centre will provide much needed services and support to a very under-resourced community and Mutual & Federal is proud to have supported Afrika Tikkun
· The Lewis Group is committed to uplifting the communities in which we operate. Lewis is proud to be a key partner in the Early Childhood Development Centre in Mfuleni.