Ikamva Labantu

12/06/2026

“Older people are the backbone of their families – yet many suffer abuse in silence.”

Ikamva Labantu marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Youth Day in Khayelitsha, we brought young and old together for an intergenerational event focused on dignity, health, and inclusion.

Our research on elder abuse in Cape Town’s townships revealed alarmingly that abuse is often committed by children and grandchildren. So protecting older persons is a shared commitment across generations.

As Lulama Sigasana, Older Persons Programme Manager at Ikamva Labantu, reminds us: “We cannot talk about the future of our youth without protecting the elders who are raising them.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing elder abuse, call 0800 10 11 10 or contact us: https://ikamva.org.za/contact-us/

Speak up. Take action. Let’s stand together to protect and respect our elders.

03/06/2026

As a Safety Marshal, Coach Wanda Sibiya helps create safer environments where children can learn, play, and thrive.

As we observe Child Protection Week, he reminds us that protecting children is not the responsibility of one person or organisation alone. It requires families, schools, community organisations, and community members to work together to create spaces where children feel safe, supported, and heard.

"We must make sure that our children are safe all the time. We create safe spaces for them wherever they go."

Join us in creating safe spaces for children.

01/06/2026

What does child protection mean to young people?

As we observe Child Protection Week, Owam Mkhwenkwe, a 16-year-old member of the Ikamva Labantu Children's Forum from Delft, shares what child protection means to him and why it matters.

"Every child deserves to feel safe, respected and supported."

At Ikamva Labantu, we believe that creating safe spaces for children starts with listening to their voices, strengthening families, and working together to protect every child.

Join us in creating safe spaces for children.

22/05/2026

Join us on Bush Radio 89.5 FM next Wednesday as our Head of Communications and Fundraising, Rowen Bauer, joins the conversation on Sakhisizwe – Building the Nation.

The discussion will explore the work of Ikamva Labantu, the power of community-led change, and how ordinary people can play a role in shaping a better future for all.

Wednesday, 27 May 2026
12:30 PM
Bush Radio 89.5FM

We’d love for you to tune in.

15/05/2026

What happens when the school bell rings across Cape Town’s township communities?

For many children, the hours after school can be the most vulnerable part of the day. Parents and caregivers often travel far for work, while unsafe streets, gangsterism and limited recreational spaces leave many young people without structured support.

Through Ikamva Labantu’s Child, Youth and Parenting Programme, Afternoon Angels and Safety Marshals help create safe, community-led spaces where children can play sport, build confidence, build friendships and spend time in environments filled with care, encouragement and belonging.

From soccer and netball to mentorship and after-school support, these programmes do more than keep children busy — they help create spaces where young people feel seen, supported and free to simply be children.

Because every child deserves a safe space to grow, play and dream about their future.

Learn more about our Child, Youth and Parenting Programme here:
https://ikamva.org.za/what-we-do/child-youth-parenting-programmes/

12/05/2026

Can a few coins make a difference?

The students behind Hout Bay International School’s coin collection drive in support of Ikamva Labantu are proving exactly that.

Their initiative, inspired by the message “Give a penny, help many,” was recently featured by Good Things Guy — helping shine a wider light on the power of compassion, leadership, and collective action.

What began as a student-led effort has already inspired meaningful conversations around empathy, community leadership, and the impact small acts can make when people come together.

And the campaign is still ongoing.

If you would like to support the students’ efforts and help contribute towards community-led programmes supporting children, youth, and elders across Cape Town townships, you can still get involved.

Read the story here:
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/cape-town-students-small-change-impact/

Thank you to the students, teachers, and wider Hout Bay International School community for walking this journey with us and thank you to Good Things Guy for helping share the story more widely.

Cape Town students from the Hout Bay International School's French class are raising funds for Ikamva Labantu, a local Cape Town nonprofit.

08/05/2026

Meet Champion Mkhontwana, Facilities Assistant at Ikamva Labantu.

Champion has been part of the Ikamva Labantu family since 2008, where he helps care for shared spaces, maintains gardens, supports with donations, and assists wherever he is needed.

His love for gardening is evident in everything he does. He enjoys working with flowers and vegetables and often shares his knowledge with others, encouraging people to start their own gardens at home.

But for Champion, the work is about more than daily tasks.

Through his work, he has built meaningful relationships with many of the seniors who attend our clubs. Whether offering a helping hand, sharing a conversation, or simply greeting someone with warmth and kindness, Champion values being able to show care to people who may not always experience it in their daily lives.

He says he finds joy in being able to contribute positively to his community and support others in small but meaningful ways.

Over the years, being part of Ikamva Labantu has also helped Champion build a home for his family and support his children through their studies, including one pursuing engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

Stories like Champion’s remind us that community care is often built through everyday acts of kindness, compassion and service.

01/05/2026

To every worker building, caring, teaching and serving, thank you. You are shaping stronger communities every day.

Happy Workers’ Day. The future is in our hands.

29/04/2026

Meet Alfred Nkosinathi Sbhoxo, one of our Seniors Club members from Ncedisizwe in KTC.

For a long time, Alfred lived in a world that felt quiet and distant. Conversations were difficult, and he often found himself smiling and nodding, unsure if he had heard correctly.

“One of my ears was really stubborn,” he shares. “I could barely make out what people were saying.”

Through Ikamva Labantu’s Health Programme, Alfred received hearing aids, a simple intervention that changed everything.

“Now I hear well,” he says.

Today, Alfred joins in conversations, takes part in activities, and shares moments with others at the club, no longer on the outside, but fully present.

Because care is not only about health, it’s about restoring connection, dignity, and a sense of belonging.

22/04/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the students and teachers at Hout Bay International School.

Earlier this week, we had the privilege of spending time with the French class, where we witnessed the launch of a powerful student-led initiative inspired by a French coin collection campaign.

With thought, care, and creativity, the students have placed collection boxes across their school, inviting others to take part through a simple but powerful message:

“Give a penny, help many.”

Through this initiative, they are raising funds to support the work of Ikamva Labantu, walking alongside children, young people, and elders in township communities across Cape Town.

What stood out most is that they chose to act. After learning more, they didn’t stop there, they created a way for their entire school community to be part of something meaningful.

Even a small coin can be part of something bigger. The future is not something we wait for, it is something we build, together.

If you’d like to support this initiative, you can contribute here:

Ikamva.org.za/donate

💡 If you’re a school or group inspired to start something similar, we would love to hear from you.