The Community Collaboration Project (CCP) was launched at a 2 day training weekend at the end of January 2014. 25 representatives from 11 organisations came together for a weekend of instruction in theory and methodology, practical advice and guidance, and discussion about how we can face our shared challenges together. Please read the manual for information about the training session.
Participating organisations; Ikamva Labantwana Bethu, SALT, Amandla Edufootball, EWB, Fundisa Primary Fund, Grasroots Boxing, Nebula Skateboarding, Masakhaneni Community Development, Sozo Foundation, UPDP, Institute for Change, Axium, Communiversity, and Etafeni.
Collaboration doesn’t come easily to most of us. We have too long a history of perceiving the world and organising ourselves within it, ‘hierarchically rather than democratically, to compete rather than collaborate, to listen to authority over intuition, and to be subjects rather than active citizens’ Tana Paddock (Organisation Unbound).
We were all there to collaborate and make Vision 2030 a reality. The term ‘collaboration’ is spoken of more and more in the profit and non-profit sectors, but the actual process of how we can collaborate while pursuing our own agendas is much harder to actually implement and achieve. The aim is to reach a mutually beneficial compromise, which is by definition, extremely difficult.
Yet there is hope! People are recognising the need to collaborate in order to succeed and sustain. The boundaries that we have built to protect ourselves are being dismantled slowly but surely. The realisation that together we are stronger, better, and will inevitably last longer has led to a growing number of trusting relationships developing between organisations. Collaboration requires a huge amount of trust as you have to let other organisations into your world and you are required to enter theirs. It is all very uncomfortable at first, but as wise people have told me ‘you have to lean into the discomfort’. So we are.
It is exciting to see so many people from different communities all trying to do the same thing, which is ultimately to build a better future for South Africa’s young population. By connecting these organisations and providing a space for conversation a number of challenges have already been addressed. One inspiring example was the donation of 60 Answer Series books from an organisation with surplus to one with a shortage. This is exactly what the collaborative community is designed to be; a community of people working together and sharing their resources and expertise to reach a collective goal.
We can only do this if we work together with other like-minded organisations and individuals who are also committed to the ambitious aims of Vision2030. Through collaboration we can make better informed decisions, leverage (not exploit) the fruits of others labours, vocalise and publicise solutions, share best practice, reduce the number of ‘failed’ projects, and replicate positive change.
Collaboration makes sense, but what does it look like? Well, the collaborative community are going to work it out.
If you are interested in running tutoring programmes in your community, can identify an area for intervention, would like some advice and guidance on your project, want to invest in a project, or have a collaboration idea that will contribute to the attainment of Vision2030 we NEED to hear from you.
Again this year IkamvaYouth Gauteng was part of the Nedbank My Career, My Future initiative program, where they put the power of choice into the hands of the next generation of job seekers. Learners across the country are encouraged and given the opportunity to make things happen through this initiative.
“This program alerts learners on the career path to follow and the choices that they need to make at the start of their journey”, said Mr Mike Brown- CEO of Nedbank.
The Gauteng Branches of Ebony and Ivory Park started attending the Nedbank My Future, My career program last year and this year, with the great relationship IkamvaYouth has with Sunshine Solutions, we went on to attend two consecutive Sunday screenings at Sandton City on the 23rd of February and the 2nd of March. The two screenings taught learners about the right choices to make for different career paths they wish to follow in future. It also encouraged them to be responsible and commit to their studies. Ikamvanites went on to know about the different careers that are shown at the screenings, the first was about Transport and Logistics followed by Banking and The Financial Sector. Each learner walked away with a booklet that has all the information on different careers and institutions where they can go and obtain their qualifications. IkamvaYouth encourages learners to put their future into their own hands: which such programs like My Future, My Career initiative is all about.
On the 22nd of February 2014, the Nyanga branch held an Induction Day for new parents and learners, which doubled up as the first parents’ meeting of the year. The event, held at Zolani Centre was attended by more than 100 parents and learners.
The purpose of our Induction Day was to formally introduce IY to new Nyanganites and their parents, and to facilitate the meeting and exchanging of knowledge between old and new parents, learners and volunteers.
There were two components to the Induction day, namely the parents’ meeting and the learner session, which ran concurrently, after the initial welcome and introductions. Siphelele, the Branch Assistant, and our volunteers facilitated the parents’ meeting. This session covered a range of topics, including 2013 results, the IY model, what parents can expect from the branch, and what the branch expects from parents and learners.
Shuvai, the Branch Coordinator, facilitated the learner induction, in partnership with the Branch Committee and volunteers. This session covered topics such as learner conduct, attendance, expectations and the IY values. The branch committee spoke to their peers about their function and answered the different questions fellow learners had about being an ikamvanite. The learners later got into groups to investigate, discuss and debate the meaning of each IY value and present their findings to the larger group.
The day was a huge success, garnering positive feedback, from parents especially. Two parents indicated their interest in representing other parents on the branch committee, and both are looking forward to being actively involved at the branch.
Thank you to all the parents who attended, and to all our volunteers who showed up as true superheroes on the day. 2014 will be our best year yet!
The learners, parents, tutors, mentors, staff and partners all came together, on the 1st of February 2014 in Chesterville, with one purpose of sharing and receiving information on the purpose of IkamvaYouth, the main founding principles and the things that have kept IY going thus far. The main aim for the event was to give potential learners a feel and understanding of who IY is and for them to know the expectations that IY has of them and also to remind those who are already Ikamvanites about these same expectations and requirements so that all parties move forward in the year ahead with a clear head and zeal towards making 2014 yet another fruitful and productive year. 
The parents had an opportunity to hear for themselves what their children are a part of and get a sneak on the activities that transpired in the previous year and therefore a picture of what to expect in the current year.
The event began with a warm welcoming of all parties, followed by a brief synopsis of the purpose and the reason as to why there has been such a gathering. Then the Branch Coordinator (Nelisa Luhabe)enthralled the audience with a presentation she had prepared for them, giving them an overview on the major events and activities that took place in the previous year. The presentation also had details on who can become a member of the IY team and how, followed by a showdown on the expectations and requirements directed to all those who do become members, this was a crucial moment as these form the foundation that one requires to make it to the end as an Ikamvanite. It also contained details on the achievements of IY as a whole thus far and also those of the Chesterville branch individually, (included herein were the achievements of the learners i.e. the matrics).This information allowed all to comprehend the major role and significance of IY in our underprivileged communities and how it can continue with its endeavors as more learners commit themselves to the programme that IY offers them.
All persons in their different categories got an opportunity to be represented as individuals shared their own experiences of IY in their respective positions, what IY means to them and how it has helped them to give or receive thus grooming them into the people they are today.
We also had a wonderful talk by our partner representatives, Samukelo Nkosi of ABI and his team, who motivated the learners and gave them hope for the future, encouragement and reinforcement that they (the learners) have not made a mistake by being a part of IY. They also assured them that the work they do is from their hearts and are happy to play a role in the progression of IY in advancing our communities through education. And to make it even more exciting having them that day, one of them couldn’t leave without signing up as a tutor for the Chesterville branch!
Amidst all the information there were some great performances prepared by the learners that really took people to another level. The day ended with a note of thanks from the District Coordinator (Thabisile Seme) who acknowledged and appreciated everyone who forms a part of IY Chesterville, thanking them for their participation, contribution and loyalty to the programme..
By the time the programme ended the learners were looking forward to the New Year and the parents had a clearer picture of the role of IY in their children’s education.
On The 8th of February 2014, IYWC learners went on a scenic hike up Table Mountain, through Kirstenbosch Gardens. The outing was organised by the Pride of Table Mountain and 41 learners from Makhaza, Masi and Nyanga participated. The outing provided a good opportunity for the WC learners from the different branches to meet, mingle and get to know each other in a relaxing atmosphere.
The Pride Projects help to fulfil the need for an environmental education outreach among disadvantaged youth from urban and rural areas. The experience received on the hike helps to instil a sense of pride and responsibility in their natural heritage.
‘If more of us love nature, the environment will take care of itself’
The learners who participated enjoyed themselves immensely, and Mzukisi Gwegwe said the following. ‘I love nature so I enjoyed learning about the different trees; specifically that our indigenous trees are best for our land. I learnt that some exotic trees suck too much water from the ground and this causes our trees to suffer.’ Another participant highlighted that the outing gave her clear insight on the importance of nature, and she also learnt fun facts, such as the fact the protea, South Africa’s national plant can make ink.
A huge thank you to Andrea Sanke, Sharon McCullum and the Pride of Table Mountain team, for making this outing a reality.
Lloyd Lungu