Latest news with #Childhood
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Afrika Tikkun celebrated its talent day at DP World Wanderers Stadium
Smiles, cheers, and jubilation filled the DP World Wanderers Stadium on July 26 during Afrika Tikkun's talent day. The talent day is a chance for 3 000 children from different Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres around Gauteng to come together to show their talents. Afrika Tikkun is a South African non-profit organisation transforming the lives of children and youth from cradle to career. Also read: Scouts welcome Johannesburg Children's Home for weekend of fun and friendship The talent day was made up of sporting activities, including netball, soccer, running, and dance competitions. Afrika Tikkun's CEO, Marc Lubner, explained that although there were prizes for winners, every single child present would receive a prize. 'The Talent Day Initiative started approximately 12 years ago; we were a much smaller organisation. We've got a new group that's here today from Marikana, which is part of our latest outreach programme.' Lubner added that the NPO has begun to engage with children with disabilities in an inclusion programme. 'So rather than keeping the disabled children separate, we involve the children in mainstream.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
IOL News
21-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Rise Against Hunger's campaign to pack 2. 5 million meals
Several companies took part in the Rise Against Hunger's meal-packing event in Durban on Mandela Day. Image: Leon Lestrade Independent Newspapers Rise Against Hunger Africa's Mandela Day campaign this year is a national initiative spanning 25 days with the goal of packing 2.5 million nutritious meals. This ambitious undertaking aims to support 225 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across South Africa for a full year, reinforcing the vital link between proper nutrition and early childhood education. The organisation said, rooted in the spirit of Nelson Mandela's enduring legacy of service and social justice, the campaign encourages corporates to dedicate their time and resources to uplift underprivileged communities. The initiative invited South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes of their time in service, aligning with the spirit of Mandela Day and its global call to action. Corporate teams participated in coordinated meal-packing events across six major cities, directly supporting food security and education for the country's most vulnerable children. The Mercury and Independent Media staff also participated in the meal packing event. Image: Leon Lestrade Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In Durban, there was a vibrant atmosphere at The Station venue on Friday, where teams from various companies set up production lines and got busy packing meals. Kim Carrington, Rise Against Hunger KZN Regional Branch Manager, said 220,656 meals were packed on Mandela Day at the Durban event. Several corporates took part including Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Sibaya Casino, Shoprite Checkers, Liberty, NMI DSM and SA Home Loans. The Mercury also had a team at the event. 'It was a spectacular day and we made a huge impact on reaching our goal of packing 2.5 million meals in 25 days. The campaign goes on even after Mandela Day; we work with corporates throughout the year. 'We can host team building meal packing events at their premises and they receive a Section 18A certificate for their contribution.' Carrington explained that for ECD centres, providing meals for children can be their biggest expense; therefore, Rise Against Hunger steps in to provide nutritious meals which also allows the centres to save money for other needs. She said they encourage the centres to use the savings to improve infrastructure, upskill staff or buy educational resources so they reach a point where they can sustain themselves and get registered with their government, which allows them to receive grants. THE MERCURY
The Star
17-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Foundation calls for action to support climate-resilient early learning centres this Mandela Day
The Do More Foundation is making a heartfelt appeal to South Africans to mobilise their resources and efforts towards building climate-resilient Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in underserved communities. This year's campaign revolves around a compelling premise: 'A better climate future begins with the children. And this change starts with play.' With climate change leading to increasing occurrences of heatwaves, floods, and droughts, younger generations are proving incredibly vulnerable. Many under-resourced ECD centres, where foundational learning occurs, are directly affected, often operating in extreme conditions characterised by inadequate infrastructure, lack of shade, and poor access to clean water, hindering children's health and development. 'This Mandela Day, your contribution goes far beyond infrastructure; it's an investment in a child's future,' emphasises Warren Farrer, CEO of the DO MORE FOUNDATION. 'We're calling on South Africans to unite with purpose and compassion, creating safe, nurturing spaces for children to learn, play, and grow amidst the shifting climate.' Last year, their 'Mandela Day of Play' effort mobilised over 25 corporate partners and 500 volunteers, culminating in significant upgrades to 192 ECD centres and enhancing play opportunities for approximately 9,600 young children. This year, the foundation is expanding its focus, inviting individuals, corporations, and community partners to join a national initiative aimed at transforming early learning centres across nine rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, North-West, Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. Upgrades will include: Safe, shaded play areas to protect children from excessive heat Planting drought-resistant trees Installing water harvesting kits for access to clean water Providing solar-powered appliances, such as fans and lights Offering age-appropriate climate play packs to educate children about seasons and weather patterns Implementing climate education and training for ECD practitioners As part of the campaign, corporate volunteers will devote their 67 minutes to assembling Climate Resilience Play Packs, interactive tools designed to teach 2- to 5-year-olds essential concepts of climate change in a fun and accessible manner. Dr Jessica Ronaasen, the Foundation's Advocacy and Innovation Lead, states, 'Early childhood is such a powerful time to foster awareness and encourage proactive behaviours.' By equipping teachers, parents, and carers with strategies to instil everyday climate actions—such as conserving water, protecting trees, or ensuring safety during extreme weather—we are nurturing a generation that is more in tune with their environment and better equipped for an uncertain future. In addition to volunteering, the foundation also invites individuals unable to participate in person to engage through various sponsorship opportunities. Initiatives begin at just R67 for a Climate Resilience Play Pack, while higher tiers can provide complete upgrades for ECD centres, enhancing them with climate-adaptive tools and infrastructure. This investment promises to transform under-resourced ECD centres into safer, cooler, and more joyful spaces for learning and play. 'ECD centres are often the heart of their communities. Practitioners do incredible work, often with very little support,' observes Jabu Mthembu-Dlamini, Community Programmes Lead at the DO MORE FOUNDATION. 'By upgrading these spaces, we protect children and demonstrate that climate action can begin right in their own communities.' Saturday Star
IOL News
07-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
South Africa's ambitious plan to plant a million trees in one day
The Forestry Department aims to plant one million trees on September 24. Image: ImsoGabriel Stock via Pixabay As part of its National Greening Programme, South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has announced an ambitious plan to plant one million trees on September 24. The initiative not only aims to mitigate climate change, but also create employment and enhance food security through the planting of fruit trees. At the launch of the One Million Trees Campaign at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden on July 7, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, said her department was currently finalising logistics for the 'one million trees' planting day. The DFFE has identified 'safe' spaces where the trees will be planted, where requirements such as water availability, a dedicated person to look after the trees, and security or fencing are in place. Such places will include public institutions such as schools, churches, clinics, Early Childhood Development Centres, and certain Low-Income Housing establishments. The trees will be sourced through a network of approved nurseries, and South Africans will be asked to sponsor trees as soon as the DFFE's online QR system has been set up. The donated trees will be stored at the 11 National Botanical Gardens across the country, and DFFE nurseries, while planting logistics are being finalised. 'We are calling on all South Africans to join hands in greening our country. This is an all of society campaign which calls on collaboration by government departments, municipalities, civil society organisations, Non-Government Organisations, corporates, students and learners, churches and the public at large to plant at least one million trees for the benefit of our country,' Swarts said at the campaign's Pretoria launch event. 'The country has borne the brunt of climate change and the resultant devastation it causes in communities and economies. We have witnessed fires, deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, and prolonged droughts. These events underscore our shared vulnerability, but also our shared responsibility to act, to adapt, and to do so in a way that leaves no one behind,' she added. Swarts also underlined the importance of planting trees that were suitable for a particular area, and said that researchers were working with the department to develop a list of suitable trees in accordance with agro-ecological zones and climatic conditions in each province. The One Million Trees campaign follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's earlier instruction that 10 million trees be planted in the country over five years. Of these 60% should comprise fruit trees and the other 40% should be indigenous. 'I forever mourn when I go to Soweto and I see how we don't have enough trees in that Soweto environment and indeed in many other townships as well. So part of beautifying our cities, part of injecting life in our cities, should be looking at our environment, making it clean, making it attractive,' the President said during an address in March. IOL News
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
How to raise a boy: Raising a boy is not like taming a tiger
Written by Ramesh Agarwal Every two weeks, I read about what parents share regarding the challenges of raising their boys. As responsible members of society, they genuinely want to make a positive change in the world around them. Yet, the ongoing debate about 'how to raise boys' feels fundamentally misconceived and misguided. The premise suggests that boys are naturally different: Difficult, aggressive, and problems-in-the-making. This view is not accurate. Boys, just like girls, are simply children. We are already in the error zone once we start applying different parenting rules for boys and girls. Boys are neither monsters nor angels. They are children. Wonderful children. Both boys and girls are young, naive, curious individuals who need love, space, care, and freedom from gender stereotypes. Like girls, they need guidance, including education about sex. As an academic paediatrician and a father of two now-adult children, here is my perspective: It is all about childhood experiences Boys are not born aggressive or entitled. They learn those behaviours. Decades of research (including the landmark study on Adverse Childhood Experiences) show that both boys and girls act out when they are hurt, ignored, or spoiled. A boy's punch and a girl's tantrum stem from the same roots: Frustration and feeling unheard. Society often tells boys to 'man up' when they are sad or scared, teaching them to bottle up emotions until they explode as anger. Boys are not naturally aggressive. They are conditioned that way. If we let them cry, talk, and ask for help like anyone else, they will grow into healthier, more balanced adults. That is true for girls as well. They show us a mirror The hard truth is that rude, selfish, or bullying behaviour in your child — a boy or a girl — usually mirrors what they see at home. Children copy adults. They show you a mirror. If you scream, they will scream. If you hit, they learn to hit. If you gossip about a neighbour, they will mock a classmate. If you treat service staff like inferiors, they will believe they deserve special treatment. Boys are not born disrespectful. They pick these traits up from adults who say, 'Don't cry like a girl' or expect girls to clean up. Effective parenting is not about fixing the child. It is about fixing yourself. Work on you, not just the child. Model good behaviour It's all about modeling good behaviour, not preaching. Children, boy or girl, are excellent at gauging your belief system. Choose an apple over fries. Let them see healthy choices. Share chores. Show that respect for women is non-negotiable. Admit mistakes and apologise. Demonstrate humility and compassion. Help an elderly neighbour; guide someone across a busy street. Teach kindness by example. Lend a hand where you can. Values are not lectured. Children see their parents as their role models. Children, whether boys or girls, come to this world with a clean slate. A child raised with genuine kindness today reflects the same timeless principles that have shaped children for centuries. Boys are not villains or monsters When we label boys as potential monsters or obsess over 'toxic masculinity,' we are being biased and unfair to them. Boys can be tender, creative, and empathetic. They already are. They can also fail, cry, and get frustrated. It is part of growing up. We label them 'problems,' and they become one. They are not predators but innocent kids, like girls, who deserve the freedom to be themselves without a stereotype suffocating them. Raise humans, not boys Raising boys is not complicated. It is no different from raising girls. It remains the same today as it was a century ago. It is not an engineering problem to solve. It is a human problem. Nourish them with love, not stereotypes. Give children a safe space to be soft, to speak up, and to feel heard. Be yourself, and they learn that everyone commits mistakes. Show them respect in every interaction, not because it is socially expected, but because it is simply the right thing to do. Practise timeless values yourself. We should stop treating raising a boy like taming a tiger. They are simply children. Naughty, messy, fun-loving, and creative. Raise them well, and they will become men who respect women, parents, the elderly, the poor, and the weak. They will learn to manage their emotions responsibly, and strive to make the world a better place. Not because they are boys but because they are inherently good people. The writer is professor of Paediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi
