Afrika Tikkun sets the wheels in motion on disability inclusion in South Africa and beyond
Afrika Tikkun, a child and youth development organisation, is set to make history this March in partnership with the Valuable 500 Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG). Afrika Tikkun will host the inaugural Valuable 500 Africa Summit in Johannesburg on 27 March. This landmark summit will convene global leaders, policymakers and advocates to advance disability inclusion across Africa.
In essence, the summit will: (1) highlight challenges and inspire inclusive solutions for persons with disabilities (PWD). (2) Mobilise stakeholders to enact disability-inclusive policies and legislation. (3) Showcase the economic benefits of inclusive practices and opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWD) (4) Share successful inclusion initiatives across sectors.
For over 30 years, Afrika Tikkun has been at the forefront of uplifting under-resourced communities across South Africa. Through its Cradle-to-Career 360° model, Afrika Tikkun provides holistic services in education, health, and social support. The organisation has positively impacted nearly 400,000 children and youth over the last three decades, empowering them to achieve sustainable economic and social independence.
Afrika Tikkun’s focus on disability inclusion includes integrating children and young people with disabilities simultaneously across all its programmes and championing their participation in the economy. With over 700 persons with disabilities (PWD) currently benefiting from its inclusive initiatives, Afrika Tikkun is uniquely positioned to host this progressive event.
Equally, the Valuable 500 is the world’s largest business collective dedicated to embedding disability inclusion into the leadership agendas of top global companies. Established in 2019, the Valuable 500 represents over 500 companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Unilever, IKEA, and others, with a combined market capitalisation of $8 trillion.
Key initiatives of the Valuable 500 include CEO commitment and driving accountability for disability inclusion at the highest leadership level; amplifying the voice of persons with disabilities (PWD) in business and society; and supporting organisations to adopt and implement inclusive practices.
At its core, the Valuable 500 Africa Summit aims to address the urgent need for disability inclusion in Africa, where over 300 million persons with disabilities (PWD) face significant barriers to education, employment, and healthcare. For too long, persons with disabilities (PWD) have been marginalised, their talents overlooked, and their contributions undervalued.
The summit invites us to rethink the status quo by showing that inclusion is not only the right thing to do but a necessary directive for collective success. By platforming successful initiatives, sharing actionable insights, and creating a collaborative ecosystem, this landmark event has the potential to reshape how Africa views and integrates persons with disabilities (PWD) across all sectors.
This summit transcends mere dialogue—it is a clarion call for systemic change that recognises the inherent dignity, potential, and economic value of persons with disabilities (PWD).
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