8 young leaders from South Africa’s most impoverished townships got to enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime—attending Festival 24 in Lyon and Paris and the Olympic Games opening ceremony!
Global (29 July 2024) — Eight exceptional youths and leaders from SA embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Lyon and Paris to attend Festival 24—an event that gives disadvantaged youth the opportunity to shine on the global stage. Not only this, they also got to relish in the thrill of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games grand opening ceremony!
These young leaders from Afrika Tikkun’s 360° Wellness and Fitness programme were selected after a highly competitive process and are the best of the best. The Festival 24 event took place from the 19th to 28th July in Lyon, France; bringing together over 500 participants from 37 countries for 10 days of sports and cultural exchange, and culminated in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of a global celebration that transcends borders, through the power of sport, plays a critical role in helping young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods on their path to success—transmitting values that are important for personal development and professional integration.
Afrika Tikkun’s eight young people attended the opening ceremony last Friday and had the privilege of participating in workshops during the week preceding the opening ceremony.
These workshops promoted respect, friendship and equality and engaged each participant in an educational and cultural exchange programme. They also participated in and led various vibrant cultural performances, showcasing the rich and diverse heritage of South Africa to foster understanding and unity among people from different cultures and continents.
The delegates took part in friendly competitions where they demonstrated their skills on an international stage in a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports. Afrika Tikkun’s young leaders led and participated in workshops to share best practices in sports, leadership, and community engagement.
Afrika Tikkun’s Group CEO, Dr. Onyi Nwaneri, expressed that the eight young ambassadors have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication and a commitment to excellence in their respective fields.
16-year-old Masego Madiga of Alexandra Township has been part of Afrika Tikkun since 2010. As a “competitive and determined athlete who always strives to be the best,” she couldn’t have been more excited about the trip.
Masego shares:
“I joined Afrika Tikkun as part of their Bambanani Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme and am now in Grade 11. During my 14 years with Afrika Tikkun, I have earned two awards: the Legitimate Leadership Award and the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. I am highly motivated, hardworking, and passionate and I know how to get things done.”
“Being a part of the Duke of Edinburgh programme has taught me valuable life skills, and I will always be grateful for the experience. Afrika Tikkun has helped me develop a strong foundation,” Masego adds.
Reflecting on how essential the exposure is to young leaders, Afrika Tikkun’s CEO, Dr Onyi Nwaneri, said:
“Our delegation joined others from around the world, including notable attendees such as French Ministry of Sports members. Exposure to this high-profile event and delegate representation underscores the importance of our mission and is a true reflection of the remarkable outcomes of our Afrika Tikkun Cradle-to-Career methodology.”
Marc Lubner, Executive Deputy Director, Afrika Tikkun added, “It is immensely gratifying to witness young boys and girls from SA’s most impoverished townships taking their rightful place alongside talented youth from first-world countries across the globe. We are incredibly proud of the excellence these individuals have achieved and demonstrated.”
About Afrika Tikkun
Afrika Tikkun is a leading youth development non-profit company (NPC), celebrating a 30-year legacy of creating holistic development and sustainable impact in South Africa (SA). Fuelled by a vision to uplift SA’s most vulnerable, the organisation is dedicated to tackling SA’s entrenched socio-economic disparities and fostering a more equitable society by breaking the cycle of generational poverty.
The participation of these young ambassadors is not just a personal milestone but a significant step forward for Afrika Tikkun and the broader mission of empowering young South Africans. “Together, we are building a brighter future for our young leaders and enabling them to make a lasting impact on the world,” concluded Dr Nwaneri.
You can find out more about Afrika Tikkun here.
Sources: Supplied
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