A very big THANK YOU to Schneider-Electric – the global energy specialists – from a very excited group of Ivory Park Ikamvanites as staff from Schneider-Electric spent the afternoon with our learners and awarded awesome gifts to our top attending Ikamva-KNIGHTS!
After a presentation on Schneider-Electric and some insight into the multitude of career opportunities available to young motivated learners leaving school, we heard from Schneider-Electric staff who shared their personal career stories and experiences in the working world.
It’s easy to see that Schneider-Electric is a company specialising in energy management as the energy levels grew quite palpably as awards were made for learners based on their levels of attendance over the past year. Learners with the best attendance each received scientific calculators and a stationery pack in recognition of their commitment and dedication. Those learners who made the minimum 75% attendance criteria also received very cool stationery packs for their efforts too.
What’s more, Schneider-Electric purchased Mindset teaching DVDS to help with revision across a range of school subjects in grades 10-12. These DVDs will be sure to come in extremely handy as learners try to get to grips with sections of the curriculum they are struggling with. We look forward to the queues of learners lining up to work with the DVDs as they seek to improve their understanding.
Once again… a very big debt of gratitude to Schneider-Electric for a memorable afternoon and for enabling us to recognise the dedication of learners who truly are ‘taking their future’s into their hands’.
Given IkamvaYouth’s learner’s consistently high achievement, we’re often asked about our learner selection process; the quick answer is that our learners select themselves. This approach is based on our organisational values (i.e. equal access to opportunities) and beliefs (that anyone can achieve success with commitment and hard work).
IkamvaYouth’s open days are held at each branch at the beginning of the year. They’re open to all (learners, parents, volunteers etc) and any learner in grades 8 to 11 can take an application form. The application requires learners to motivate why they would like to be an Ikamvanite and why they’re willing to commit to attending more than 75% of all IkamvaYouth’s after school and holiday programmes. Applications are considered on a first-submitted first-served basis; only those who have failed to make significant effort are placed aside. IkamvaYouth does not consider academic results or writing ability in selecting learners. Most providers of supplementary academic support that we know of in South Africa either select learners who already demonstrate academic achievement and potential or rely on teachers to select appropriate learners. IkamvaYouth doesn’t do these things because we believe that everyone has the potential to succeed and that it’s only those who have decided for themselves to take their future into their own hands that are likely to do so. Learners who join us with significantly poor academic results often demonstrate the greatest improvement.
At last… we’ve been threatening for a while to step up the non-academic aspect of Ivory Park’s Saturday IkamvaYouth sessions and we were able to take our first step in this direction on Saturday as Danny Naidoo led the learners through one of the fundamental components of improving one’s personal effectiveness: GOAL SETTING.
Danny presented a step-by-step account of what this might entail and spoke about identifying goals for one’s life and the resilience and perseverance that is essential for achieving these goals. Over the next few weeks we’ll be looking to build on this goal setting framework and provide opportunities for Ikamvanites to identify the areas they most want to target in their own lives.
To a large extent we are using these sessions as an experimental opportunity to identify where the learners find value with a non-academic focus. If you are interested in contributing in this area then find the branch nearest to you and get in touch. Basically if you have a talent or a gift that you’d like to share that is something other than tutoring then why not try it out.
So to prospective artists, creative types, life coaches, motivational speakers, drama fundi’s, etc – come join us.
Before I attended my first Strategic Planning Workshop for IkamvaYouth, I was kinda apprehensive, not knowing what kind of people to expect…it only took a fraction of a second to realise that Ikamvanites from other provinces are such open minded people, free spirited, passionate about the improvement and development of an African child’s education.
The whole session can be easily summed up as sharpening of our skills to advance the objectives and programmes of IkamvaYouth. Big up to all the Ikamvanites who renewed their commitments to the vision of IkamvaYouth South Africa.
Our Vision for South Africa
Our SPW particiapnts were asked about their visions for this country and asked to complete the sentence… “A South Africa where…”
Phil: where knowledge is a matter of choice irrespective of class race or discrimination but it dependent on choice.
Nombu: equality for everyone that reflects our diversity. Everyone has access to the best of everything
Naledi: working together we can do more – where education is priority and education is fully functional
Andrew: a world with cooperation rather than competition – everyone brings what they have to be a part of the solution
Khona: Everyone has equal access to quality opportunities in education, health, housing, career opportunities. Everyone knows and understands their worth and they can contribute meaningfully to the country’s benefit
Zoe: a better education for all and equal opportunities for all SAs where all schools have the necessary resources
Joe: SA that creates and sustains equal opportunities for wealth among its youth. A high values-based South African society through access to equal educational opportunities for all learners.
Themba: SA where every citizen has motivation to make use of opportunities
Nico: Identity is not by origin or status or class – IY tools for cooperation. Tools for developing own identity and to take initiative. People aware of themselves and able to work together to make something better
Charles: People having opportunity to realise their potential. Everyone with the opportunity to become who they can become
Joy: high quality education for all enables equal access to opportunities and prosperous, peaceful, caring nation
Lloyd Lungu