IkamvaYouth Ivory Park Open Day
The 24th of January was the day the volunteers stuff members and parents of the IkamvaYouth Ivory Park branch have been waiting for. The Ivory Park branch has been collaborating open days with its sister branch Ebony Park, but this year it went solo. The programme for the day was well managed allowing the invited guests, parents, school principal and learners to participate and represent.
The activities of the event involved prize giving to top performers in the year 2014 with certificate and gift awards in different categories to include Platinum Attendance, Most academically improved learners, Best Tutors and 2014 matriculants for having successfully completed matric with IkamvaYouth. Application forms were issued to those who wanted to join IkamvaYouth.
The programme opened with a warm welcome by the branch coordinator (Mr Clemence Msindo), followed by our host and guest of honor Mr K Maduma, the principal for Kaalfontein Secondary School where the Ivory Park branch operates from. Mr Solani from the District Department of Education, Dr W. Kubeka from University of Johannesburg and Simpiwe from the Vine Branches blessed the event as motivational speakers to learners with words of encouragement with regards to academic improvements. Our IkamvaYouth branch committee parent Mma Mogano gave a touching speech to other parents about the good IkamvaYouth is doing in the community with reference to her child’s improvement in school work.
The Kaalfontein Secondary School choir, with their melodic voices couldn’t let the event go by without them being heard, they sang so well they left the crowd asking for more. Our class of 2014 who had risen above the odds and gave the Ivory Park branch 87.7% pass rate were awarded with certificates for their courage and bravery in their achievement. The top achiever Benny Matlou was awarded a wrist watch for his two distinctions in Mathematics and Physical Science. The branch awarded the top attender with a Blackberry phone for her commitment to IkamvaYouth throughout the year.
The day was full of joy and ABI made the day extra special by donating drinks and water to the learners, volunteers, parents and guests to quench their thirst. The day ended with a number of learners queuing to grab application forms to join IkamvaYouth.
On the 07 February 2015, we had an amazing turnout from parents and learners; the hall was packed to capacity where there was a distinct feeling of excitement and hope for the year. 50 learners and 35 parents attended the event.
We presented IkamvaYouth programs and values to our new learners and their parents. We assisted to a genuine sharing of experiences through the comments and questions of the parents. And thanks to both speeches of Phumza Kibi and Thulisa Myeki.
We also have our first meeting with grade 12’s parents to prepare for 2015; the meeting was successful and we got full participation from parents and learners.
We are happy to announce that on the 07 February 2015 we already registered 52 new learners and we have issued out quite a lot of application forms during the Open Day. We are now looking at a total of 106 learners who have registered with IkamvaYouth Masiphumelele this year.
We are still looking at recruiting 5 Grade 9’s, 20 Grade 10’s, and as for Grade 11’s we only taking learners for waiting list now. Grade 12’s we have 24 for the year 2015.
The Masiphumelele Branch will officially be starting its Home-work session on Monday 9 February 2015 at 15:30 until 17:30. We look forward to host this day.
Let me extend a warm appreciation to all those who have assisted us during the Open Day and let’s keep it up guys, work has begun!
Even it was a hot and sunny day during the weekend, 15 Grade 12 learners made it to the Cape Town International Convention Centre by train on Saturday 31 Januay.
They spent 21/2 hours in the different aisles of the exhibition to discover new industries and jobs. Hair dressers, mechatronics engineers, welders, air-conditioning technicians, chefs, plumbers were showcasing their work and welcomed the students to ask questions and experienced their profession.
Simultaneously the students were invited to meet recruitment officers from False Bay College, Northlink College, Damelin and other FET colleges.
They also watched videos dealing with the artisan industry from the Merseta bus here for the event. You can consult their website which is proposing career guidance through tests, articles and videos by clicking here.
Even though it was a hot and sunny day during the weekend, 15 Grade 12 learners made it to the Cape Town International Convention Centre by train on Saturday 31 Januay for the National Skills Show.
They spent 21/2 hours in the different aisles of the exhibition to discover new industries and jobs. Hair dressers, mechatronics engineers, welders, air-conditioning technicians, chefs, plumbers and other were showcasing their work and welcomed the students to ask questions and experienced their profession.
Simultaneously the students were invited to meet recruitment officers from False Bay College, Northlink College, Damelin and other FET colleges.
They also watched videos dealing with the artisan industry from the Merseta bus here for the event. You can consult their website which is proposing career guidance through tests, articles and videos by clicking here.
Some say that the beginning of the year is always daunting, whether you’re starting a new academic year, or even meeting new people. Well our matric class of 2015 begs to differ. Saturday, 24th January, our bright stars were at the branch bright and early, eagerly waiting to meet the people they aspire to be like one day, their mentors.
In asking one of the learners on their expectations of the day, Yamkela Fobosi said, “I am very excited to meet a person who has already accomplished the things I want to accomplish. I cannot wait for him to tell me all the things that I must do in order to achieve my dreams!”
Mentor Day kicked off with a welcoming from Zukile Keswa, the Branch Coordinator. In attendance were over 20 mentors, ranging from UCT students to working professionals. Tamara Stelma, the Mentorship Coordinator from UCT, introduced the programme to everyone and shared the schedule for the day. The mentors and mentees were paired according to the results of a questionnaire the mentees and mentors completed prior to the event. During the one on one session they signed a commitment agreement contract that stipulated the number of hours that they had to be in contact with each other. From the library, to the lab, to the office you could see the mentors and mentees engaged in conversation getting well acquainted and creating a timeline for the year. One mentor said that the day was productive and a great way of networking with other great minds (mentors) and is looking forward to the rest of the year, coaching and inspiring this exciting bunch.
The day concluded with a discussion with the Grade 12s led by Busiswa Dayimani, the Branch Assistant, on the prospects for the year. What is expected of them, what they should expect from the year and what steps to take from now onwards. “There is still quite a lot of work to be done but if we put in the necessary work we are destined for success…” Busi said to the learners as they attentively listened. Energies are high, expectations are high, and we cannot wait to see what this year holds for the matric class of 2015.
With this well integrated support structure, the sky is the limit for these young stars.
Lloyd Lungu