As part of a longstanding and sustained partnership between the Amrut Foundation and the Tshimangadzo Care Center located in the suburb of Bertrams, Johannesburg, the Ukukhanya Initiative was launched in the early parts of 2023 in order to address the educational needs of children in Bertrams and surrounding areas. Ukukhanya, meaning “light” in Zulu, provides free access to books, stationery such as pencils, crayons and paints, and computer facilities to children whose parents have signed them up. Two free meals are also provided to children daily, along with access to sports facilities such as table tennis and educational games such as chess.
Keeping it’s rallying cry “Educate and Overcome” in mind, the Initiative also provides free value-based storytelling and team building activities and free counselling in order to equip participants with the appropriate educational and emotional skill set to build a better life for themselves and enhance cohesion and development in their communities. Ukukhanya further hopes to extend the Initiative to include free skills training in varied areas such as vegetable growing, sewing and craftsmanship to children and youth of the appropriate age.
Ukukhanya forms part of Amrut’s key focus area of providing education and educational support to children and youth whose lives and lived experiences have escaped the attention of the larger conversations around education and development in Southern Africa. Keeping current developments in technology in mind, participants have also begun to receive training in coding and related skills.
