User:Achadinha/sandbox

Early Life
Ivor Ichikowitz was born in 1966 in the mining town of Springs in South Africa and educated at the university of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Business Life
Ivor Ichikowitz founded Paramount Group in 1994 and the company now operates in the global, defence, internal security and peacekeeping industries.

The Group manufactures a range of armoured vehicles including Maverick, Mbombe and Marauder (which featured in an episode of the BBC's Top Gear ), and most recently its sister vehicle, the recently launched Marauder Patrol.

In 2011 launched AHRLAC, Africa‚Äôs first designed and manufactured aircraft, due to take its first flight next year.

Mr Ichikowitz is well known as an African businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist advocating South Africa and the wider continent's manufacturing capacity and regularly championing the importance of a vibrant engineering sector for the social and economic advancement of Africa.

His business continues to expand, including operations in countries including the Middle East, South America and India as well numerous African countries.

Philanthropic Interests
Mr Ichikowitz maintains a philanthropic organisation called the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, founded in 2010. The Foundation is focussed on developing Africa's young generation through education programmes, promotion of human right, a better understanding of Africa's modern history and the conservation of the continent‚Äôs biodiversity.

Ivor was awarded the Crans Montana award Prix de la Fondation award from the Crans Montana Forum for his contribution to social and humanitarian development in Africa. Mr Ichikowitz is the first South African to receive this award in its 23-year history.