To enable communities where people thrive by working with active community leaders, following their direction, acknowledging their ownership and providing access to resources and opportunities
Ikamva Labantu (the future of the people) devotes itself to the most vulnerable communities in the Western Cape. Their mamas (women), tatas (men), caregivers and practitioners (teachers) are their heroes. They are agents of change finding solutions to problems facing them and their townships.
The Sophia Foundation was first introduced to Helen Lieberman, the founder of Ikamva Labantu, in 2011 and was deeply moved by her story and the work of Ikamva Labantu. After donating funds for food parcels for people in their nutritional support programme in 2013, The Sophia Foundation repeated this sponsorship in 2014, but requested that Ikamva Labantu work towards some sort of reciprocity from recipients that would benefit the environment.
In 2015 steps were taken to integrate environmental sustainability concerns into the work of Ikamva Labantu. The Ingcambu Nobomi (Roots and Life), a bespoke programme was developed and co-facilitated by The Sophia Foundation in partnership with WESSA (the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa) for their community based workers (CBWs). The vision of the programme was to create a heart connection between the environment and the CBWs that would encourage a wholesome approach to sustainable development and increase community knowledge and care of the environment in their work and community.
Project Supported
2013 to 2014: Sponsorship of OVC programme - “improving food security of families caring for orphaned and vulnerable children”.
2015: Co-creation and co-facilitation with WESSA of Ingcambu Nobomi Environmental Awareness Programme for Community Workers.
A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of
Nelson Mandela