On the afternoon of Friday, 28 November 2014, celebrations were underway in Makhaza at the Desmond Tutu Hall. Where the annual prize giving event was held, in which we recognize and celebrate the achievements of learners, volunteers and stakeholders who have performed well and been a great support throughout the year.
The prize giving was well attended by learners, their families, partners and supporters and IY staff. They bore witness to the great work and sacrifice the learners have made and how these sacrifices were converted into achievement. The categories of the prizes that were given included; academic achievement, most improved learner, outstanding leadership and best attendance (learners above 75%). More than 50% of our Ikamvanites had an average attendance of over 90%. This is a great feat as we have tutoring 6 days a week and this dedication just shows how special this programme is to the learners. Our amazing tutors were also recognised and awarded with certificates.
Our partners who work closely with our learners also gave out certificates of participation on the various programmes they hold with these young motivated individuals. Numeric, hosts a mathematics programme, Khan Academy, for grade 9s which is run by Yanga Zukelwa a Maths tutor. Creative Code hosts workshops every Friday afternoon specializing in programming and is run by Marion Walton who is a lecturer from UCT. The facilitators from EWHOZA were also in attendance, they facilitate life skills workshops and have a created a documentary which was directed and produced by the Ikamvanites.
We would like to thank the following people who attended the prize giving and those who made this day possible; Desmond Tutu Hall, Tamara Stelma (Mentorship Programme), Nazeema Isaacs Library, Old Mutual, Khwezi Bonani (UCT), Marion Walton (Creative Codes), Kristen Thompson (Numeric), Olga Ganta (Capitec Bank) and Tasha Koch (EWHOZA) and IkamvaYouth Makhaza Tutors.
The 2013 IkamvaYouth Annual Report highlights the remarkable achievements that we have made in 2013 by enabling disadvantaged youth to pull themselves and each other out of poverty with education.You can view the full annual report here but here are some of the highlights from 2013:
- 92% of our learners passed their matric (including supplementary exams); 62% achieved a bachelor pass (compared to 30.6% nationally) and 90% of our learners accessed a post school opportunity (tertiary, learnership or employment);
- The first survey of IkamvaYouth’s alumni was conducted. The findings were more encouraging than we could have hoped: IkamvaYouth learners are almost half as likely to drop out of tertiary studies, four times more likely to graduate and are three times less likely to not be in education or employment than the average South African young person.
- IkamvaYouth WON the Stars Award which exists to reward outstanding local organisations improving the lives of children in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. IkamvaYouth WON in the category of Education in Africa and the Middle East.
Thank you for taking the future into your hands, and to holding ours. Let’s keep reaching for the stars together.
©Neo Ntsoma/Majority World
If you are having trouble with the link please click on the below link:
ikamvayouth_annual_report_2013.pdf
The Ivory Park branch team is very excited and motivated after securing a new tutoring venue and office at Kaalfontein Secondary School. Venue instability has threatened the branch’s existence for very long, following a short notice eviction from the Ivory Park Youth Centre in December 2013. This was due to political controversies raised by the Greater Midrand Youth Council (GMYC) management committee leading to imposition of threats that could compromise the safety and security of IkamvaYouth staff, volunteers and learners.
The branch was then temporarily housed at the Ivory Park Community Stadium where space issues were still not entirely solved as learners were studying crowded in a very small hall that was also shared with Churches. The Ivory Park branch staff was also temporarily accommodated at the Ebony Park branch in a small and unsafe office. The staff would travel to the tutoring venue for every tutoring sessions. The conditions at the stadium did not allow learners to makeup days or come study at any times as tutoring was restricted to only 3 days a week as per the agreed MOU. The venue also made it difficult for staff to invite or meet with stakeholders as well as to track, meet and help the grade 12 learners with applications. Learners could not benefit from resources like photocopying, internet and full support from staff due to these conditions.
Moving to Kaalfontein Secondary and securing enough space for tutoring and office has opened up unlimited opportunities that include opening up of a computer lab that will benefit Ikamvanites and the school from 2015. Communicating and meeting stakeholders would be more convenient, all learners will benefit from the programme equally, being able to access the required support to ensure improved pass marks and success at matric level, and recruiting and retaining volunteers would be manageable with a stable venue.
I would like to acknowledge the interventions made by our stakeholders, to mention Kaalfontein School Principal and the SGB, TziChi as well as the IkamvaYouth team for playing a significant role in making this venue possible despite all challenges faced.
One small step for IkamvaYouth, one giant leap for Vision 2030!
A month ago IY was joined by three employees from SAP an international software solutions company. They were on a social sabbatical with IkamvaYouth and had accepted the mission of restructuring and revolutionising the Ikamvanite Zone. I can safely say mission accomplished!
It is hard to arrive in a strange country, be introduced to a team of people, dumped in an office, and be given a task with a vague objective and set of deliverables, in a context you don’t understand. Yet the SAP rose to the challenge! It is also hard for an organisation to welcome a team, determine what they are able to do and then direct them effectively to do this within a short time period. Yet IY rose to the challenge!
Marise Sfier, Marc Bernard, Zoe Mann, Yolana Xu, Zukile Keswa
This month has been a true reminder that collaboration can be a beautiful way to work. The SAP team brought with them their exceptional knowledge of software applications, technology, data analysis, design thinking, marketing, and web development. Without which the Zone redesign could not have been realised. However, without IkamvaYouth’s depth of contextual understanding the SAP team would not have been able to apply their expertise. Such an understanding is invaluable, but often taken for granted.
Within this short time they were able to conduct a design thinking workshop to determine the users and roles on the Zone, create a detailed website specification document, build a Drupal 7 back-ended prototype, create a comprehensive project plan going forward and put in place a go to market communication plan. Just a few bits and pieces!
Design Thinking Workshop
Although there is a lot of work still to be done. I am grateful for the SAP team for progressing IkamvaYouth further towards the realisation of the Zone. The vision of the site is to create an online resource hub and learning environment to inspire, enable and support individuals, organisations, learners, volunteers and IY staff to take the future into their own hands and make Vision 2030 a reality.
The new website will be launched at the beginning of next year – watch this space!
In the meantime if you are interested to find out more about the Zone or Vision 2030 please contact zoe@ikamvayouth.org
I.Y is all set for Mafikeng…….! Through negotiations with the Department of Education and Sports Development and funding partnership from ABI, we can finally reveal Danville Secondary as the host school.
The organizations eleventh branch nationally and the second one for the N.W province will start operating early 2015.This exciting announcement, made at the recent matrics prayer meeting,on the 23rd October 2014, is the culmination of hard work and dedication from all stakeholders.
Attended by ranking government officials, learners from local schools, parents, teachers and members of the community. The MEC challenged the current matrics to outperform the 2013 group, saying ““Parents and teachers have done their part, and it’s up to learners to do theirs. We trust and believe in you”.Interfaith leaders prayed for learners, showering them with strength to face even the most difficult papers.
The next steps is finding an experienced high level Branch Co-ordinator for Mafikeng, a social entrepreneur ready to take the ropes and fill the branch with learners and tutors. If you think you are ready to join the hardworking, high flying, dedicated, achieving against the odds and somewhat crazy IY team,click here;https://ikamvayouth.org.www518.jnb1.host-h.net/blog/2014/10/24/branch-coordinators-ikageng-and-mafikeng
Students from North West should look out for posters inviting them to contribute to their communities by tutoring on Saturdays. Volunteer tutors gain a wealth of experience in an office environment, learn project management skills, facilitate workshops and its’ a great opportunity to find balance and fulfillment within your community…………. Sign up for this awesome opportunity….!!!!
FROM LEFT: MR.D Huma- Ikamva Youth North West District Coordinator, MR. H Motara – District Director, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Ms.L Rampete -QLTC Provincial Coordinator, MR. B Monale -District Director,Ngaka Modiri Molema District and Ms. Z Shongwe – Ikamva Youth National Coordinator
Lloyd Lungu