Ikamva Labantu is one of the many great social development projects in South Africa. Ikamva Labantu means ‘The Future of our Nation.’

This Cape Town social development project aims to provide health services, poverty alleviation, food distribution education, capacity building and social development. Ikamva Labantu in provides it all, for everyone.

The Ikamva Labantu project in Cape Town strives to improve the quality of the lives of marginalised and vulnerable South Africans: From those who suffer from HIV/Aids, to abused women and children, the hungry, poor, homeless, unemployed, and sick of all ages.

The social development strategy of Ikamva Labantu is 'bottoms up'. Ikamva Labantu 'starts on grass root level' where Cape Town communities and its people have ownership of the organisation and the programs.

Ikamva Labantu was founded by Helen Lieberman. Being very concerned about the miserable living conditions of millions of South African, Lieberman decided to get involved in the townships around Cape Town. This was over 30 years ago.

Over time different programmes developed and evolved, finally resulting in the birth of Ikamva Labantu, a social development project officially launched in 1992 in Cape Town.

Today Ikamva Labantu delivers four core services: Health Services; Poverty Alleviation and Food Security; Education and Capacity Building; and Land and Building Services.

These are delivered to all affiliated programmes and projects, like 'Early Childhood Development', 'Foster Mother Programmes', 'Youth Development', 'Home Based Care', 'Visually Impaired', 'Economic Empowerment', 'Men's Kindness Programme' and 'Seniors'.

Over the years, the Cape Town based project has done great work improving the lives of vulnerable South Africans:

• The project serves 18,000 children in the Cape Province
• About 30 foster homes provide loving care to 750 children
• The youth sector serves over 15,000 young adults and their parents
• About 40 trained social workers and caretakers look after 400 beneficiaries and provide support for the social and basic health needs of frail, vulnerable and elderly members of the community
• The number visually impaired South Africans who work has grown from 50 to 100 in the last 4 years
• In 2000 the Community Creations factory had 80 people; now it has 250 beading artists and 250 other employees
• 120 farms have been established so far
• There are 30 clubs for over 2500 seniors in Cape Town

In other words: The Ikamva Labantu social development project makes a true difference to thousands of people in Cape Town, making South Africa a better place. For all.

Where?
Ikamva Labantu
Buchanan Building
Buchanan Square
160 Sir Lowry Road
Cape Town 7925
South Africa
+27 (0) 21 461 8338

Madam Zingara Christmas in July:
Christmas in July 2007 at Madame Zingara's Theatre of Dreams raised a whopping R205,000 for Ikamva Labantu.

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