For the first time ever Nyanga had more than 20 tutors joining the Nyanga Winter school which was attended by 55 learners which helped us to experience a ratio of 1:5 (one tutor and five leaners)
I would like to use this time and thank all tutors who took part in our Winter School and all the people who volunteered their time and facilitated workshops for our learners. Thank you too to our partners and sponsors for making this important event possible: UWC, Fedics, Dr Peter Mills and the Answer Series.
I would like us to all share our experiences on this Blog and write about what we have learnt during the two weeks
So let me start: its been 1 year and 10 months since I joined Ikamva Youth and it feels like a life time, this was my second Winter School that I coordinated and 2011 was just something else!! Thanx to you guys
I had an oppotunity to work with really motivated young people who share the same values as myself and who are eager to see a change in the township where many of us where born, this was very evident in how many of us gave their time to the Winter School without asking much questions but joined in with the heart to help, for me it was two weeks of being inspired and motivated whilste running around like a headless chicken! lol
Trust me tutors if it was not for you guys, Nyanga Winter School would not have been a success!!!!
And ofcoz WE WON!!!
During Winter School the Nyanga Branch was honoured by the presence of Nina who facilitated workshops for a week on Radio broadcasting and production.The learners took part in sessions where they were required to share life experiences and learn more about life from each other using the radio workshop and record their thoughts and interview each other.
Comment from a learner: “we learnt alot from the workshop and Nina and her team taught us how to use the microphones and how to record, I think I would like to be a radio presenter”
Comment from Nina: “The young participants were amazing, enthusiastic, and smart. For some, expressing themselves in English proved very challenging, but they were always checked in and present with the process. The revelations of radio were exciting for them too, handling equipment, recording their voices and playing it back in a very vulnerable public space. Considering time and language constraints, we covered two production modules that would best serve the workshops; interviewing and audio diaries”.
Ikamvanites were excited to learn about marine life during winter school workshops on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, volunteers from the Two Oceans Aquarium taught learners about marine careers and sustainability of ocean resources. Learners also got to hold and learn about starfish, sea anemones, and sea urchins. On Thursday, learners had the opportunity to visit the Two Oceans aquarium, where they explored life in the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Learners have expressed an interest in pursuing careers in marine biology after the visit.
A Special Thanks to Two Oceans volunteers.
IkamvaYouth: Branch Coordinator
IkamvaYouth is a township-based non-profit organisation, established in 2003 and formally registered in 2004, with branches in three provinces, operating from Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Masiphumelele in the Western Cape, Ivory Park in Gauteng, and the greater Cato Manor area in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. While learners enroll at IkamvaYouth when they are in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11, the programme’s success is ultimately determined by the number of grade 12 learners who access tertiary institutions and/or employment-based learning opportunities when they matriculate. IkamvaYouth in the Greater Cato Manor area of Durban (comprised of Cato Crest, Cato Manor, Ridgeview, Chesterville and Bonela townships), has grown from the Maths Support Programme that was started in 2007 by students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus for learners from the nearby Cato Crest informal settlement.
IkamvaYouth in Durban seeks to fill the position of Branch Coordinator for its flagship office, which will be based in the township of Chesterville. S/he will be a solutions orientated social entrepreneur who is passionate about the power of education to transform lives and communities, and wants to make a difference. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in a by-youth for-youth educational movement that empowers young people to take our future into our own hands. Previous exposure to volunteer work or an NGO environment preferable but not essential.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the Directors of other branches in a coordinated and collaborative way to ensure alignment of policies and processes, and prevent duplication of effort;
- Recruit, coordinate and support volunteer tutors and mentors;
- Liaise with the schools, parents and other community stakeholders;
- Fundraise to build the branch (meeting with funders, writing proposals and reports);
- Manage an office and ensure accurate and up-to date data collection and administration for monitoring and evaluation;
- Budgeting, financial management and reporting;
- Coordinate the organisation’s communications (website, group e-mail discussion lists, newsletters, etc.) together with other ikamvanites;
- Lead the team of volunteers to implement the supplementary tutoring, career guidance and mentoring and holiday programmes. Requirements:
- Post Matric qualification
- Project management skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Financial management skills
- Report writing and presentation skills
- Organised and efficient;
- Enjoys working with young people;
- Able to work alone and take initiative;
- Adept at using computers and able to work virtually (many discussions, meetings and document development occur collaboratively online);
- “Can do” attitude and belief is very important (IkamvaYouth achieves great results despite challenging environments and minimal resources);
Send resume with covering letter to: zamo@ikamvayouth.org
Closing date: 29 July 2011
Lloyd Lungu