The IYKZN team decided to start the year off on a different note with the matric class of 2014. We took the learners to Highlands resort in Cato Ridge for an educational camp. The objective of the camp was to set the tone for the year and to encourage the learners to work as a team in achieving their academic goals as well as to implant in them a sense of responsibility for their studies this year and beyond.
The camp entailed a lot of different exercises, ranging from academic tutoring to exercising the body, the mind and team work. There was a group of tutors to assist with the different subjects and a team of facilitators to assist with the team building activities. English, Maths and Maths Literacy tests were administered during the camp to gauge the level of understanding of the learners within these subjects and so that they know where to focus during this year. There were also sessions where learners were helped and taught how to fill in the Central Applications Office form, this was a practice run for when they actually apply later on in the year. This activity turned out to be a great eye-opener for the learners as the majority of them saw the requirements of the courses they wanted to do and compared it with what they are achieving and realized how much they have to improve and where they needed to put further effort. This also enlightened the learners on what type of personality they are and which are the possible career options for that personality type.
The camp was structured in such a way that academic work was done early in the morning while the minds are fresh and able to absorb and be active, then the physical activities were done after lunch then the last part of the day would be for career guidance and self-study. There was also some free time which learners used as they wished, some would go swimming while others played soccer and other just chatted and got to know other learners from the different branch.
Overall, the camp was a success and the objectives were met. We look forward to a great and productive year with the matric class of 2014 and we wish them all the best.
This day started off with exercises on the field. It was a great start to the day as our minds and bodies were prepared for what would come during the day. After the exercise we all showered and went to breakfast. Breakfast was served between 7:30 and 8:30 and immediately after that, tutoring began.
There were tables set up for the different subjects and each person chose which subject they wanted to do and sat at that table. After an hour we changed to another subject. The tutors were there to help with all our questions and assist us in the different subjects. There was a 30 minute break after the two one hour tutoring sessions. During break everyone could do whatever they wanted to do. Some chose to go and play soccer, others jumped on the trampoline while other were just chatting amongst each other and walking around. Learners from different branches were connecting during the break and that was awesome.
Maths tests were written, one individual one for the pure maths learners and a group test for the maths literacy learners. The test results were an indication of where we are with our grade 11 work and they were not that great. It seems there is a lot of work that learners need to do to understand their previous work so that they can find matric work easier.
The values of IkamvaYouth were discussed as a group and some people found that they resonated more with and understood other values than others. It was clear to all in the room why it was important to have those values as an organisation and what they mean to the organisation and should mean to everyone who is a part of it.
The camp was wonderful in that it was not only about academic work but also a lot of fun, the fun part also being very educational. Learners and tutors were divided into teams and did some teambuilding activities which were challenging but taught something about self as well as about life in general. The concepts and rules of the activities and how people understood them also applied to everyday life.
The last activity of the day was a very emotional one for everyone but it brought people together. All the learners in the room had to write on a piece of paper something that was real to them, either something that was bothering them or something they were struggling with or anything they wanted to share but could not speak openly about, all the papers were anonymous. The activity was very touchy as people were pouring their hearts out. The session ended off with everyone going around and giving each other hugs. It was then lights out at 10:30pm.
We left our respective branches, Umlazi and Chesterville in one bus with the Umlazi Ikamvanites being picked up first followed by the Chesterville Ikamvanites. The journey began with a couple of tutors and some staff in the bus with the learners. The bus ride was a rather comfortable one and it was not too long. We reached our destination within the hour, the venue was a beautiful, rustic resort in the outskirts of Cato Ridge. There were huts and cabins and long yards of hills and valleys. The scenery was beautiful and it was waiting for us to explore.
The actual camp started off with us being allocated to our rooms and cabins, then we went and met up in the hall space where we were addressed and told the resort rules. We also mapped out our own expectations of the camp. Lunch was served soon after!
We took a long walk just outside the resort. We were walking through bushes, crossing rivers and climbing very high hills and going down the valleys. There was a lot to see, from sugar cane plantations to farms to swamps and just the beautiful view. We took a couple of breaks because the walk was very long and challenging. When we came back our feet were burning but some of us were used to it, and some couldn’t make it walking straight they were carried up, we walked hand in hand helping to pull those who couldn’t climb up. It was a mind blowing experience and at times I thought to myself that it was never about the journey but it was about experiencing the hardness that people in the rural areas feel when they have to travel long distances to get water, the difficulties that they have to endure to achieve what they want and the joy and sense of achievement they get once they have prospered in their quest.
Feedback on the long walk from Ikamvanites
“it was long and it tore my shoes plus it rained on the way back. And what I learned from the walk that it not about where you going but it about do you have the will to do so, and it was also about team work never to leave your team member behind.”
#Ntoko.(Umlazi)
“it was fine going there, but in the middle of the walk the situation changed because I got tired along the way .I learned that if you are a person you should never give up on something.”
#Msogo…(Chesterville)
“the walk was good. Had I known how long and challenging the walk would be, I would have paced myself better and not finished my water before I got to the halfway point. There were a lot of life lessons to learnt too”
# Nelisa… (Chesterville)
Later in the evening it was crunch time. We got to see what we were actually at the camp for. Tutoring began even though learners were complaining about how tired they were. We were not here to play, there was a time for everything and this was time for tutoring. We took out our Grade 11 work and we caught up on what would help us do better for grade 12. The session was very effective. By 9:30pm we had gone through so much and had to call it a day. We went back to our allocated rooms by 10:00pm and it was lights-out at 10:30pm.
Feedback about the tutoring
“In my view, the tutoring was okay because it is teaching us to sharpen our strategies of how to combat problems.”
#Sanele…(Chesterville)
“To me tutoring lessons are helping me because there were subjects that gave me problems not that I couldn’t handle them, it’s just that I had minor problems that’s all.”
#Ayanda…(Chesterville)
Lloyd Lungu