The Ikageng branch held a Grade 12 learners and parent meeting on the 30th August 2014 at our tutoring venue, Thembalidansi Primary School. The aim of the meeting was to discuss Grade 12 learner challenges and jointly formulate solutions to address their issues.
Our learners mentioned the a lack of clarity of the role of the parent with applications curriculum gaps created chapters not thoroughly covered at school, learner time management, low self-esteem due to personal circumstances as part of the challenges they are faced with. The parents, learners, tutors and staff discussed the challenges and some of the solutions were the following;
– Parents understand they need to part of each decision made by learners, from choosing careers to retrieving reports from schools. The branch will introduce motivational video “ice breakers” every Saturday to keep learners motivated…..WATCH THIS SPACE..!!!
We held an Interview with one of our Ikamvanite parents: M.s S.M Makale , parent of Lerato Makale- 2014 IY Matriculant, to understand her views of the Grade 12 learners and parents meeting.
Q: How does it feel knowing that you child is part of the first group of Ikageng matrics?
A: I am happy that my daughter is part of Ikamva Youth, there is an improvement in her school ethic and I will give her more support.
Q : Todays meeting, your thoughts..?
A : Well..as tutors, you guys are doing a great job and your presence is a motivation to our children to excel in schoolwork. As parents, we should take initiative and interest in our children’s studies, by supporting them in whichever way we can.
Ikamva youth winter school talent show 2014
“Appreciation can make a day even change a life and a tiny drop of chemical makes an enormous difference.” Unknown
IY believes in making learning fun and providing a friendly environment of learning. We acknowledge that in order for the youth to excel at school, they also need to lead balanced lives in order to function well. Thus we give learners a platform to show case and embrace their artistic skills and talents during the annual winter school programme.
This year it was no exception, the Winter School’s Talent Show was filled with talented presentations in genres ranging from dance, singing, acapella & beat box, poetry, rap, drama to a mix of all these. The acts were both entertaining and educational as they covered themes such as teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, rape, issues of sexuality & making informed choices and motivation. These were presented with all sorts of props such as face paints and furnitures. The show was well received, and Ikamvanites were excited about this opportunity. Mr Sipho Dee, from the branch’s sponsor- ABI, was also part of the audience.
The tutors also participated by assisting the leaners choreography and to put these acts together. The panel of judges consisted of tutors and were evaluated the acts based on originality, choice of act, presentation, talent, appropriate costume, audience reception and entertainment value. The participants were awarded for best performed act, best dance performance, best male singer, best female singer and best spoken word (poetry and rap genre) performance.
IkamvaYouth are partnering with the Western Cape government and Action Volunteers Africa (AVA) in an exciting new project to implement high-impact after-school programmes in secondary schools in the Western Cape while developing the skills and proficiencies of young leaders. Today saw Helen Zille and Ministers of Cultural Affairs and Sport and WCED launch the Year Beyond programme.
Helen Zille meets the MOD Centre teams at this mornings press conference
The Year Beyond project will improve the after-school programmes offered through the school’s MOD Centres by increasing the range of after-school activities. The programme will include IkamvaYouth model tutoring, tech-assisted English and Maths tuition through Fundza and Siyavula respectively, and practical clubs that will introduce robotics, coding, and media.
The project has attracted applications from over 100 grade 8/9s in just 2 schools who are all eager to take their futures into their own hands. They are supported in this after-school space by a fantastic bunch of change makers who hail from all walks of life but share a passion for youth and development. These young graduates are paying-it-forward by volunteering their time to serve as role models for these aspiring learners.
The launch of the Year Beyond programme
The involvement of numerous organisations, departments and people has produced an exciting collaborative approach to youth development and one that IkamvaYouth wholeheartedly supports. IkamvaYouth is a value based organisation and one of the core principles is peer-to-peer support and collaboration. To see this happening on a large scale with governmental involvement is a huge step for IkamvaYouth as an educational non-profit. It is hoped that this form of government – non-government partnership can become a model for operation in order to reach more learners with high-quality after-school programmes.
Vision 2030 was conceived by IkamvaYouth in 2012, which is the vision to see every grade 1 learner who starts school in 2018 to matriculate or the equivalent by 2030, and to access a post-school opportunity of their choice that sets them on the path to earn a dignified living. This is an audacious goal and one that requires many hands and minds.
The Year Beyond project offers an opportunity to engage in true collaboration towards a common goal. It is hoped that this is the first of many partnerships that will open the doors of after-school programmes to young people all across the country.
For more information on the Year Beyond project, IkamvaYouth and how we can work together to enable more learners to achieve their dreams please contact zoe@ikamvayouth.org or alex@ikamvayouth.org
Convincing young people to trust each other is not an easy task. Making them see each other as heroes and and future leaders takes time but when it happens many doors of opportunities open. Sometimes they do things because they’re are told to, some do beacuse they believe. Yet you push until everyone sings the same song. You practise the song until everyone is comfortable and falls inlove with it.
This has been the case with the Joza Ikamvanites not understanding the importance of peer to peer. It took exam time for our grade 12’s to believe and see the importance of peer to peer. They didn’t take any special pills all they had to do was sit and help each other out. The Joza grade 12’s are now confident they will achieve bachelor passes at the end of the year.
All it takes is preparation,patience and perseverance.
Ikamva lisezandleni zakho.
So there we were, Monday morning, June the 30th, in buses from Chesterville and Umlazi all headed to DUT Steve Biko Campus. There was excitement, joy and very high expectations from everyone, learners, staff members and tutors. For those who were joining us for the first time, it was a matter of experiencing the most talked about gathering in the calendar of the IkamvaYouth Organization. Yes, it was time for the most exciting 2weeks for all Ikamvanites in the KZN region: Winter School.
tutoring session in the morning
In the morning, Learners had normal tutoring and in the afternoon there were activities. Our very own version of the Amazing Race was amongst those. We had a workshop with learners being encouraged about the importance of working with each other, the importance of listening to one another views amongst other things. While that was running another group of learners were with ASN who conducted some team building activities with the learners and hosted some very educational talks with the learners afterwards about leadership. The activities conducted were really helpful in the sense that the learners really enjoyed working in teams to achieve certain goals.
Rooted Souls in collaboration with Science Spaza performing for the learners
A presentation for the learners about How to save money was done by Capitec. This didn’t just help grow the learners financially but it also made them think a lot about their spending habits, which is always a good start for everyone seeking financial awareness. Experiments, hiphop and live performances got the whole IYKZN team excited and picked up some very fascinating facts about science along with it all thanks to the Science Spaza team. We had graphic Design students, information technology as well as a lot more workshops that were running. Learners also had an opportunity to go to excursions such as Phezulu Safari, Independent Newspapers, UKZN Howard to watch Footloose amongst others.
Learners on an excursion
Health and Wellness Day
The last day of Winter School is the Health and Wellness Day where learners have an opportunity to play games and take part in health related activities. The games that were prepared were sack Race, Netball, Soccer, marbels, uShumpu, Amatshe, Magalobhe and the Relays. Competition was tight. As the games went ABI had music playing and got everyone dancing. The competing teams were red, yellow, orange, green, blue and the purple team. Lunch was served and the winners of the 2014 winter School were the Yellow team.
A lot of running around was being done by the tutors and staff members to ensuring a smooth running throughout winter school and the learners’ response towards that hard work put in was nothing less than well received.
It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of ABI),the Municipality for providing transport for the learners, the tutors, the facilitators such as Science Spaza, love life , DUT IT students, DUT Graphic Design students, Impucuko, Sam Moodley, ASN, Ithembalabantu and Capitec and Joy Olivier. It truly was a pleasure working with everyone.
Lloyd Lungu