OWN CORRESPONDENT
CAN Ikageng is a welfare organisation that was set up following the closure of schools in March 2020 to help provide food security and educational materials for the beneficiaries of Ikageng, an organisation that has supported families and orphaned children in Orlando West, Soweto, since 2001. CAN Ikageng has received more than 600 bags to date.
Ikageng was created in response to the worsening vulnerability of South African children, and since 2001 has supported over 3 500 families and 15 960 orphaned and vulnerable children under the determined and courageous leadership of Carol Dyantyi (“Mum Carol”).
In March 2020, the closure of schools due to COVID-19 meant that Ikageng now had to find a way to provide food security and educational materials for its beneficiaries. One of Ikageng’s long-time supporters, the strategic marketing communication consultancy, F/NE, stepped in to magnify this call for support and eventually helped to establish CAN Ikageng (Illovo) in April 2020.
CAN Ikageng began as a small (but motivated) group of supporters in Glenhazel and has since grown to include generous partnerships with the Illovo community, Selpal (which assists with distribution to Soweto on a weekly basis), Thrupps & Co., The Angel Network, Illovo Jetline, 4u2c Print, and F/NE For Good.
This community-based network has successfully donated over 20 000 meals, as well as other essential items, including: toiletries, masks, sanitisers, and education materials and children’s books to the beneficiaries of Ikageng.
CAN Ikageng has also run initiatives to nourish the mind. To this end, it has printed and donated hundreds of educational packs to primary and high school students, as well as general COVID-19 communication materials for Ikageng and its surrounding schools in Soweto.
It was a proud moment to see President Cyril Ramaphosa spend time with the children of Ikageng in a virtual book reading session this Mandela Day – echoing the importance of education and development, even in these challenging times. And CAN Ikageng will continue to support Ikageng in its vision, even when the spotlight has gone but the hard work still needs to continue.
For more information or to get involved with our CAN please contact Tanya Kahanovitz on 082 330 9003 or follow the updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canikageng/
