On the 3rd to the 4th of April 2011 the Nyanga top attenders hiked Table Mountain and camped on top for the night
The Camp was organised by BEEP (Beyond Expectations Environment Project) which works with kids in disadvantaged areas and help in educating about their environment while simultaneously tackling the issues they face in their communities
The Camp was attendered by 16 learners from Grade 9 to 12, girls and boys who were so excitted as it was the first time for most of them
Many came back expressing the how much they have learnt and would love to make hiking their hobby
A Big thanx to John Raimondo one of our Gold donors for sponsoring this fun filled Adventure for our learners
The Masiphumelele Ikamvanites who attended 100% of tutoring sessions in the first term were rewarded with an amazing trip to the Cedarberg wilderness during the holidays.
On Thursday 7th April we set off, and after many, many twists, turns, bumps, and a couple of rather green and sick looking Ikamvanites we arrived at the idyllic Leopards Trust Camp in Maijtiesriver. Everywhere we looked we could see mountains, mountains…and…erm… that was about it! The beautiful scenary surrounded a secluded little camp; home to the Cape Leopard Trust.
We were welcomed by Elizabeth and Matthew who would be guiding us over the next few days. We arrived late and after the surprisingly quick erecting of tents we went on a small drive and walk to some amazing rock formations. As the sun was setting over the mountains and turning the sand stone a rich golden colour, everyone had a smile on their face.
The next day was somewhat more of a challenge. Awoken at 6am to the sounds of fighting baboons on the mountain behind us, we sent about the day which involved a gruelling hike to the Wolfberg Cracks. The 5 hour hike was testing at times, but the Ikamvanites rose to the challenge. They moaned, grimaced and perservered. When they arrived at the top of the spectacular rocks there were smiles, laughs and hugs all around.
The afternoon was spent sleeping, playing cards and reflecting on their amaizng accomplishment. The evening was spent dancing and singing around the fire with a lovely night sky gazing session under a full canopy of stars.
The wonderful thing about the camp is that it was educational as well. Whilst we walked and talked we also learnt. Elizabeth and Matthew are both trained teachers with a love and passion for the outdoors, animals and wildlife. We were shown skulls, rock art, leopard traps, taught how to track, how to identify different rock formations and plants, and even shown a plant that makes you smell nice! We saw insects, bugs, baboons, jennets, birds, and even Klipspringer.
The final day was ended in a swim in an isolated and beautiful river where we frolicked in the water as the sun set. Back to camp for a delicious meal prepared by the Ikamvanites and a evening spent lazing around the fire storytelling. The weekend was tiring but fantastic and as the learners got off the bus the only question was ‘When is the next one’.
Thank you to Peter and Allison for volunteering to come along and to all the learners who were amazing!
The Nyanga Branch on the 26 March 2011 held its very own independent SPW which was attended by learners and tutors from the Nyanga Branch and visited by Joy and Zoe
This has been a very excitting weekend for the Nyanga Branch as it was two days of planning the year and reflecting on the succeses and acheivements we have had, the memebers took time to know each other better and share reasons why they are part of Ikamva Youth
On the 26th we discussed issues that the branch is facing and reasons for those issues, where we broke into groups and had to come up with solutions and ways to make the Nyanga Branch meet everyones needs as best as possible
As it was our very first SPW as a branch we had the time to really focus on branch specific issues and realise that all IY branches have common and individual issues facing each branch,the day was dedicated to addressing themes that came up in our group discussions
The following day we dedicated the day to planning and putting dates for all actions to be taken, we spent the last day of the weekend setting realistic goals and deadlines so that this year we meet our goals, seeing that we have more capacity than any other years
To find the spw report press here:
The weekend has been a very fruitful weekend and has left the Nyanganites ready to take this year by STORM!!!
Thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders the IkamvaYouth Foodie Auction raised R48,150 for IkamvaYouth’s holiday programmes.
Those who were at The Book Lounge on Thursday 24th March, and those who have seen the documentary about IkamvaYouth, or seen their work in action will realise the effect these programmes have on township youth. To raise R48,150 toward the holiday programmes is a great contribution to these programmes.
At 6pm the wonderful store on Roeland Street started filling up. With bidders perusing the lots downstairs, whilst umming and ahhing, and making strategic bids in the silent auction. Upstairs was where the action took place. After a small talk from Ikamvanite and board member Thobela Bixa and brief screening of the IkamvaYouth film, everyone was ready for the live auction to commence!
Rob Van Vuuren joined the party and seemed to persuade, coax, and even force people to part with their hard earned cash, with promises of karma and a great sex life! It seemed to do the trick. The generosity of bidders was astounding; hands being thrust in the air repeatedly and simultaneously, in a crazy modern dance.
Conrad Hicks stood in shock as his iron pan crept up and up to reach a total of R2100. The Soceiti Bistro 3 day package shot up to R4400, and Queen of Tarts promise of a cake became entangled in an intense bidding war, resulting in a monumental bid of R2600.
It was a brilliant night, with just the right amount of fun and frivolity and all for a great cause. The total amount raised on the night was R48,150, which will contribute to 3 June/JulyWinter School’s at the Western Cape branches, reaching approximately 300 learners with career guidance, tutoring, excursions, workshops, and general new and exciting activities.
Huge thanks to the people who made the Foodie Auction happen: Carrington Broeman, Steffie Roehrs and Zoe Mann. And to Rob for volunteering to prise money from peoples purses!
On behalf of the learners, the staff and the volunteers who helped with the auction we thank all who attended, and all the donors for making the IkamvaYouth Foodie Auction a real success.
Please see the YuppieChef coverage of this event at http://www.spatula.co.za/ikamvayouth-foodie–auction/
The Minister of Basic Education Ms Angie Motshekga visited our Strategic Planning Weekend and sat in on one our group discussion sessions.
Ms Motshekga praised all the IkamvaYouth volunteers around the country who give back so selflessly to the community and who carry the desire to improve the circumstances of our IkamvaYouth learners. In light of the recently launched Bill of Responsibilities, Ms Motshekga said she is greatly encouraged by organisations like IkamvaYouth who are making a real and valuable contribution to our society.
Ms Motshekga left “impressed” and “inspired” and promised to continue the conversation. We now look forward to the future with greater confidence and the promise of greater coollaboration.
More photos available www.facebook.com/IkamvaYouthGauteng.
The Ivory Park branch of IkamvaYouth held our very first (inaugural) Strategic Planning Weekend (SPW) recently with a view to getting to know each other better and planning the rest of the year ahead. The weekend was an excellent opportunity for volunteers, tutors and learner representatives to explore a little deeper what it means to be an Ikamvanite and how to make sure that the values we say we represent spill over into our actions.
Download the full report here.
For many the weekend was an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into the IkamvaYouth goals and the core mission to use the opportunuties created by education to help township school learners help themselves and others out of poverty. The co-founder of IkamvaYouth, Joy Olivier, came up from Cape Town to lead a number of the workshops around how we make sure we maintain the low cost high impact model of IkamvaYouth.
The two biggest highlights of the weekend included the election of the Ivory Park Branch Committee for 2011 and this was capped off with a visit from the Minister of Basic Education Ms. Angie Motshekga.
More photos of the weekend are up on our facebook page, you can visit www.facebook.com/IkamvaYouthGauteng.
Please do LIKE us on our facebook page if you haven’t done so already.
Lloyd Lungu