At Ikamva I signed up for tutoring but when I got there I did not just became a tutor I also became a leader now I have leadership skills because at some point you have to lead the leaners on the right parts uplift their broken spirits and upgrade their way of thinking and the way that they see life. Some tutors are role models to the learners.
It takes a special person to volunteer themselves in improving other people’s lives. I learnt to speak to people without yelling and hauling because sometimes it’s fine to say the truth but the most important thing is how you say it, because words do discourage people when not said in the right manner.
I am Usiphe Ngwadla I am 22years old. A tutor at IkamvaYouth Makhaza branch, I am one of the new I started at Ikamva on the 17th of February this year. I have found myself a new family not just any family but a loving family. With the help of Ikamva i have become this matured and self-driven person that doesn’t need to be pushed to do something. No one tells me to follow my dreams anymore I push myself to where I want to be. Out of nowhere I stopped wondering and started doing because sometimes action speaks louder than words, and thoughts without action are meaningless. All of a sudden I stopped doing things to impress people now I do things to impress me more, and it is all thanks to IkamvaYouth.
I am moving forward because in 5 years’ time I don’t want cry over the times that i have waited trying to fix what I cannot fix, but I want to keep on trying no matter how many times I may fall, because it is not the times we have fallen that counts it the strategy that we’ll use to get up and carry on. It is the power inside us and the spirit in our hearts that counts. At Ikamva differences don’t matter all that matters is carrying on, because it is not the challenges that people face or their poor backgrounds that determines their future it is us and the decisions we make.
On Monday morning, 30 June, we descended with 102 excited learners to the Univerity of the Western Cape (UWC). 40 amazing tutors joined this wonderful event. The morning began with Zukile Keswa, branch coordinator, welcoming all the learners and tutors. Rules were created by everyone that formed as law for the duration of the WS.
Every year IY hosts a Winter School (WS) for two weeks, which takes place in tertiary institutions in order to expose the learners from township schools to University life. The aim is to achieve intensive tutoring, focusing on all the major subjects that the learners are struggling with such that they can achieve the desired marks and improve their confidence in their academics.
The days consisted of two sections; the morning sessions were for intensive tutoring. The tutored subjects were decided by the learners and tutors. We always strive to maintain a 1:5 ratio, meaning that a group of 5 learners get one tutor. The motives for doing so are for learners to be able to open up to the tutors’ and enable the tutors to identify the learners’ weak points promptly.
Grade 11 learner shared his experience over the two weeks, “This was an exciting time for me as I could be comfortable with saying I do not understand my work without feeling ashamed. All the tutors were great and a huge thank you goes out to them”.
The afternoon session was comprised of various workshops. The incredible Workshops took part in our WS this year include; Stellenbosch University, Save Our Seas, University of Cape Town (Health and Life skills department), Jewish Museum, Iziko Museum, Peers in Sexual Health, Unathi Basoni, Cape Leopard Trust, Ziyanda Tshoki (Debate Society), Safety Lab, Mxit Reach, Sonwabile Dwangu and Capitec Bank. These workshops were selected according to the career interest of learners, where they were able gain insight and knowledge regarding their chosen career paths.
“The workshops are a necessity as new information and general life skills that our parents are sometimes shy to share with us were covered and taught to us.” One grade 10 learner said.
The 2014 Winter School was a huge success, a cheerful big thank you to everyone that contributed to this remarkable event.
Nyanga Winter School 2014 kicked off on a high note as 107 learners and 32 tutors congregated at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) for an unforgettable 2 weeks of intensive learning, revision and workshops.
Our Winter School opening ceremony was colourful, with learners, tutors and staff talking, singing and laying out the ground rules to govern our behaviour and engagement for the two weeks. Our host, Wandisile Mdepa, representing UWC welcomed the learners and encouraged them to work hard, pursue excellence and make the most of the opportunity afforded them by IkamvaYouth while they are still in school.
Workshops
During the two weeks, Nyanganites participated in 16 different workshops in a variety of interest streams, namely film, media, journalism, drama, business, finance, history, technology, engineering, the environment, life skills, and career guidance. All Nyanganites participated in compulsory workshops on social media, hosted by Mxit Reach, and an HIV/AIDS and TB session hosted by the SACTWU worker health program, after which there was voluntary HIV testing. The Jewish museum generously sponsored an afternoon educational tour of the museum, and the outing was one of the highlights of Winter School for many of the learners.
Tutoring
Nyanga tutors showed remarkable dedication to the learners as they tutored tirelessly for the 9 days, making recommendations for how best to help individual learners in the different areas covered. A record 16 ex-learners tutored at this Winter School, and their presence and stories inspired many Nyanganites and encouraged them in their aspirations to pass Matric and access tertiary education, in pursuit of a dignified living.
Here is what some Nyanganites had to say about this year’s Winter School:
‘I want to thank all the tutors for sacrificing their time to come and teach us what they know. It’s not easy to wake up so early everyday but you tutors have shown that you care about us and our education and we will work hard to make sure that we make you proud.’ Grade 11 learner.
‘I have learnt many things at Winter School, especially in the workshops. I learnt that it is not safe to put all my information on Facebook because there are dangerous people out there, and I must always be careful.’ Grade 10 learner.
Nyanga Winter School 2014 was definitely a success and this was possible because of the combined effort of everyone who planned it and our different partners who conducted workshops. Thank you to UWC for hosting us and to all our workshop facilitators. The full list of organisations, companies and individuals who conducted workshops is as follows:Cape Town Science Centre, Capitec Bank, Environmental Resource Management, Mxit Reach, IkamvaYouth Nyanga tutors, South African Astronomical Observatory, SACTWU Workers’ Health program, Safety Lab, SA Jewish museum, Save Our Seas, SunStep, Lufefekazi Jojo, Raldo Kruger, Sonwabile Dwangu, Tendekai Finos and Ziyanda Tshoki.
Thank you all for your contribution. IkamvaYouth Nyanga appreciates you very much and looks forward to a continued partnership with you.
IkamvaYouth Ivory Park and Ebony Park were invited to this year’s careers indaba. As we are an organization that has academics at heart; we accepted the invite and took along our grade 12s. We arrived at the career affair in the morning, with our volunteers and learners. We were given bags to put all our goodies in, books, pamphlets and all the essentials that one can use to enhance their career choices.
After the formalities, the fun began. Many exhibitors from different countries, institutions and also the SABC Education were there.
Exhibitors, like the University of Russia were there giving learners’ insight on the process of studying at their institutions and what their countries could provide for them and also the process of applying to the different institutions in Russia. The South African Defense Force was also there to answer and advices those who wanted to take a career in the defense force. Our volunteers also received an opportunity to talk to people from organizations like, Careers24,Chilli Adventures, Careers Focus and also the National Development Agency and it was clear that they were more than satisfied. Most of the international institutions such as the China Medical University, Southwest University, Education USA and Peking University of Health Science gave our learners opportunities to ask questions. Some were also displaying their power points, while others where explaining to Ikamvanites and other learners the opportunities that they countries can offer them. Bursary sponsors like the Anglo American, Eskom, Johannesburg Stock Market Exchange and Auditor General were also explaining to the brightest kids about their bursary selection process.
It was day filled with entertainment, excitement and information, fun was had by all.
On the 24th of May, ABI in partnership with the IkamvaYouth Mamelodi Branch planned an educational trip for our grade 11 learners to the University of Pretoria’s open day. The day started with the departure time being 7am, for early arrival. Breakfast was then served to everyone on the way to the university. The rules for the day were announced and learners were put into groups of five with the ABI volunteers and IkamvaYouth staff as group leaders. The aim of the day was for the learners to gather and understand as much information as possible. This open day was a new experience for all our grade 11 learners which proved to be a very eye opening and educational for them. A variety of information was pursued with unlimited eagerness; this meant that they asked a lot of questions regarding the courses and career fields the learners had interest in. Evidently, the aim of the trip was to encourage and make the learners aware of the paramount opportunities that are available to them. Amid the busyness of the day, learners took the time to ask and gather information displayed by the university regarding the extra mural activities that it offers to its students, this ranges from karate, choir’s, Tuks FM and the different sports offered by the university. Overall the open day was well organised, well received by our learners. Every course in all faculties that the university offers was exhibited diligently. Below are two testaments from two of our grade 11 learners, Keitshepile and Thabiso, who shared their experience of the Open day.
“The Open day at the University of Pretoria was fascinating and interesting to say the least. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and became motivated to apply early to the university in 2015. I will make it into the BComm programme and that can only be done by making sure that I pull up my socks & work hard at school. It won’t be easy but I am prepared to do the work. I did not know the various opportunities that I can choose from in the BComm field, the field I aim to pursue. The University offers a lot of extra mural-activities that I would love to participate in, such as soccer and karate. Overall the experience was amazing because I got to know and understand what a university looks like and what it takes to be part of one. I would like to thank Ikamvayouth and ABI for taking us there and allowing us to gather the information we need about the careers we intend to pursue.” Keitshepile Ofentse Mokgoshi – Ikamvanite
“We, the learners were invited to the University of Pretoria Open Day whereby the aim was to gather information about career guidance and academic support. Learners from different backgrounds and schools came together to know more about the courses offered and the marks one needs to get to be accepted into the courses they wish to study. Amongst all the career guidance talks and tours, there was also a bursary competition opened to the all grade 12 learners who wished to study at the University of Pretoria in 2015. There were many other tours and group sessions that were offered to provide clearer details of how the university works. We, the grade 11s were asked to come so that we can be aware of what it takes to study at the University of Pretoria in 2016. This was a great experience because most of the grade 11s don’t really think about post school opportunities and applying at a university but this open day came at a great time to know more regarding careers and other academic opportunities.” Thabiso Tsotsetsi – Ikamvanite
We would like to thank our branch funder ABI for organising and handling logistics for the day. A knowledgeable experience was had by all the ikamvanites that attended.
Lloyd Lungu