The award is a joint project of the Mail & Guardian and the Southern Africa Trust – a non-governmental organisation that supports public policy development to overcome poverty.
I regard myself as being fortunate to have been one of the few invited to the event.
I had the opportunity to interact with and be exposed to individuals as well as organisations that are qualitatively confronting the developmental challenges that the Southern African region continuesto face.
Among the winners was a community-based youth organisation called Ikamva Youth. Ikamva means future in isiXhosa.
Ikamva Youth is a township-based nonprofit organisation with branches in Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Masiphumelele in Western Cape, IvoryPark in Gauteng and Cato Crest in KwaZulu-Natal.
The organisation runs after-school classes for pupils from under-resourced schools. It is run by volunteers – including students from nearby universities and local professionals who offer their time to assist pupils from grades 8 to 12 in navigating all their school subjects.
Asked why he got involved in the project, IkamvaYouthIvoryPark branch coordinator Joe Manciya said: “We are driven by the dire situation prevailing in our schools.”
According to Manciya, of the 30000 schools in the country only 1500 are “good schools”. That is, they have all the necessary resources and facilities, including libraries and laboratories.
Manciya says an estimated 24000 throughout the country are “bad schools”. That is, they are badly under-resourced.
A South African Institute of Race Relations survey released last year showed that only 10percent of the South African youth access tertiary education. Only a fraction of this comes from the townships.
“As Ikamva Youth we do not believe in folding our arms and pointing fingers. We assist the youth who come from poor communities like IvoryPark to take their future in their hands.”
The project’s success is measured by the number of Grade 12 pupils who access tertiary institutions and-or employment-based learning opportunities when they matriculate.
So far (according to the organisation’s records) Ikamva Youth’s matric pass rate has been between 90 and 100percent each year since 2005. More than 70percent of the last two matric groups gained access to tertiary education (compared with the township average of about 5percent).
Manciya says what makes the project unique is the fact that it is run “by the youth for the youth”.
The call from Manciya is that the country needs “an education revolution where all sectors of the community are involved”.
Parents must play an active role in supporting their children, while teachers must show their commitment to providing quality education.
Ikamva Youth is just one of the initiatives with which ordinary people in the region are making a contribution to bringing change to the lives of the poor and marginalised.
Having a youth-driven project winning such an award is an indication of the role they can play in overcoming the obstacles created by the unequal societies they find themselves in.
The awards must in general also serve as a clarion call for all sectors of the society to be involved in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment.
But it is important that those who do get involved do not do so because it is good public relations but because they are committed to changing the society they live in.
They must do so also driven by their commitment to social justice, and the belief that such justice will only come when those who do not suffer injustice are as angry as those who do.
We all understand how stressfull the exam time can be, and how stressfull preparing for the unknown. Although writing the final examination brings anxiety and tension amongst other people, but for the learners at Ikamva Youth (Makhaza) this year’s preparation for exams was blessed with some words of inspiration. The Makhaza branch was visited by a renowned international motivational speaker Mr. Dan Brule who has travelled the world conducting motivational sessions with professionals using Breathing Technques. What a beautiful session we had and the learners we thrilled by what they have experienced on the day. The session came at the right time when they really needed some inspiration to deal with their stressfull exam time. Dan Brulé is a modern day teacher and healer. He is a world-renown pioneer in the field of Breathwork, and leader of the worldwide Spiritual Breathing movement. Dan is one of the originators of Breath Therapy, and was among the first group of Internationally Certified Rebirthers. He is a leading member of Inspiration University, the International Rebirthers Association and the International Breathwork Foundation. He is a master of Prana Yoga (the Hindu Science of Breath), and of Chi Kung/Qigong (Chinese Medical Breathing Exercises). On that high note I’d like to say to all the learners out there that you have already made a GOOD move to commit to your school work thus far, now it’s time to go for the BETTER move. Ayoba!
Im so happy and excitted to announce that since the 18th of October 2010 Nyanga learners have been attending every day home work sessions and this will continues until we are all done with exams. Starting from 15h00 until 17h30 Grade 9,10 and 11’s gather here to prepare for exams, while interacting with each other and having discussion groups.We are going through past question papers and the answer series books.
So anyone who is available during the week is welcome to come in and assist our learners.
Lets do this Ikamvanites* with a proud smile * 🙂
What a great time to get our learners educated and aware of their sexuaity and safe measures so that they do not contract HIV/Aids. As much as the buzz is around Exams and preparation of exams but the Nyanga and Makhaza learners are taking an oppotunity of being informed and also share their thoughts about sexuality and HIV/Aids so that after exams people remain safe. As we all know we are approaching , the holidays and many kids will be waking up to doing nothing and in many townships this coming season means “party party party” shebeens will be packed more than ever and girls are taken advantage of, during this time.
After school learners have been gathering at their Ikamva Youth Branch and taking part in a series of workshops prepared by Susan Parker from the UK who has a great back ground in HIVand sexual education.Susan n has studied Health Studies in London Metropolitan University and her aim is “to devise, design and deliver training which will support the reduction of sexual health inequalities and the promotionof a society that is inclusive, enabling and empowering for everyone”
This is inline with one of our core programme as Ikamva Youth to make sure our learners are aware of their status and know their sexual rights.
“Together we can make a South Africa that is HIV negative” By a Nyanga grade 10 learner
“Im tired of HIV and my family dying of it” By a Nyanga Grade 11 learner
It is with great honour and enthusiasm that we break the great news of IkamvaYouth’s latest accomplishment, not only in South Africa but throughout the Southern Africa Region of the continent. Southern Africa Trust and Mail & Guardian hailed IkamvaYouth as an overall winner in the Drivers for Change – Civil Society Category, in a glamorous evening award ceremony held at 69 Melville Road near Hyde Park, on the 28th of October 2010.
Mr Brandan Cox (former secretary to Prime Minister Gordon Brown) wowed the dignitaries in his key note address based on the three G’s, Growth, Gender and Governance as pillars of successful interventions in redressing the atrocities of the African Continent. Mr Cox acknowledged the fact that the drivers of change are the experts in knowing and dealing with the challenges of Africa.
The drivers of change judges praised IkamvaYouth’s achievement of breaking the cycle of poverty through education and for helping pupils to take responsibility for their own education and future. “These learners are the drivers of change as they are also setting a good example for younger learners to become agents of change for their own success,” the judges said.
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Joy Olivier and Joe Manciya could not contain their excitement as they were cheered onto the stage to collect the oversized framed award.
“This award has been won as a result of collective efforts, hard-work and commitment to the vision of IkamvaYouth by the learners, volunteers and project sponsors”. – Andrew Barrett.
“It’s pleasing to know that someone out there is recognising the work we are doing, hopefully this would open up new avenues for us in the future”. – Winile Mabhoko.
“These are really great news I totally think we deserved this award, after all that IkamvaYouth has been through and goes through this is a great break. I trust we can do even more with this achievement in our hands”. – Nombuyiselo Dziba
Congratulations on winning the Driver of Change award! This is a HUGE achievement that will definitely help to take IY to the next level”. – Leigh Meinert.
In concluding, congratulations have been received from Desmond Tutu HIV-AIDS Foundation, Nedbank Corporate Social Responsibility, Brendan Cox and most notably Rosy Motene (Tsekgo Motene) former generations actress.
Lloyd Lungu