The fifteen people who’re ensuring that hundreds of South African youth pull themselves and others out of poverty through education finally got to work together in person. For an entire week!
Being an IY natcom member isn’t easy. It’s a huge amount of responsibility, with high expectations and the pressure to make every cent stretch further than most people would think possible. One of the ways in which we run a low-cost, high-impact model with national reach is by leveraging technology, and our national team works from townships and cities across the country, connecting via Skype, email, gchat, google docs and the ikamvanitezone. Connectivity challenges at many branches make our online meetings difficult, and we often find ourselves trying to have big conversations and make important decisions with distracting background noise, calls dropping, and participants either unable to hear or be heard.
So the 18th September marked the day that many natcom members got to meet their colleagues in person for the first time. And eish but did we maximise that face-to-face time all week!
Mignon Lotz-Keyser from Peer Power generously volunteered her time, skills and expertise to facilitate our conversations, from vision & values right through to the action-item-to-do list for ensuring that this vision is realised. Key strategic partners Capitec, the Learning Trust and iKapaData joined us at points during the week, and our chairperson Leigh Meinert took leave from her day job as MD of TSiBA to provide valuable input over two days. Dennis Clark, our accountant, joined for the Thursday evening braai and Friday Finance Day, where we spoke about improving our financial tracking and reporting processes and presented the first round of proposed branch budgets for 2012.
We’d parked many big decisions for the week which meant long conversation, dialogue and debate which often stretched late into the evening. The chunky issues we grappled with were themes within this overarching one: “How do we grow, expand our reach, improve our professionalism and operate sustainably without negatively impacting our organisational culture and losing our soul?” We realised that our organisation is at another growth phase, whereby the need for more structures and procedures has presented itself to a group of social entrepreneurs who value democratic decision making, independence and autonomy, and hold views as strong as their performance is high.
Thankfully this small group of people who’re changing the world are smart, committed, and work wonderfully well together. The culmination of beautifully diverse yet unifying views and ideas, expressed in the inspirational setting of Goedgedacht farm, resulted in a strong, thoughtful plan for our next steps and leaps forward.
Read the full report, or simply get an overview of what it’s all building towards from our co-created vision for the next five years:
Our culture of responsibility is creating a ripple effect of thriving individuals and communities. Our intergenerational ikamvanites provide access to quality education in inspirational spaces everywhere. We are an integrated network driving change by paying it forward.
From Left to Right, Back row: Dennis Clark (Accountant), Nombuyiselo Dziba (Nyanga coordinator), Modjadji Selowe (Ivory Park assistant), Liesel Bakker (Makhaza coordinator), Zoe Mann (Natcom project manager & Masi assistant), Phillip Mcelu (Makhaza Supplementary Tutoring Head, MathsYesWeCan project manager and fieldworker for IkamvaYouth Evaluation), Mignon Lotz-Keyser (Facilitator), Joy Olivier (Director)
From Left to Right, Front row: Andrew Barrett’s shadow (Gauteng coordinator), Sbonelo Cele (Cato Manor assistant), Nico Commeignes (Masi coordinator), Asanda Nanise (Nyanga assistant), Joe Manciya (Ivory Park coordinator), Thobile Mthembu (Cato Manor coordinator), Zukile Keswa (Makhaza coordinator) and Zamo Shongwe (National coordinator)
Last Wednesday 80 Ikamvanites had the chance to come face to face with a NASA astonaught – Dr Catherine Coleman, and to learn first hand about her experiences living and working in space. They were shown what life is like at zero gravity, see what the earth looks like from space and learn about the skills needed to become an astonaught. It was an amazing opportunity for our Ikamvanites to be a part of the Living Maths World Space Week event.
They even had an opportunity to talk to her and take a few pictures..
As is becoming a tradition at all IkamvaYouth branches around the country, the Ivory Park Winter School was once again a roaring success. Special thanks to African Bank for helping fund the winter school programme. Click on the image below to download the full report.
As the rain poured down, there was a fear spreading amongst us that no one was going to turn up; left with an empty library with rain tapping depressingly at the windows…
Thankfully, our fears were completely unfounded. More than 2500 students braved the weather and came to the Harare Library on Friday afternoon to explore their post-matric choices. The majority of students were Grade 12s but there were also a large number of Grade 11s, some Grade 10s and even some Grade 8s. It was great to see the younger learners beginning to think about their futures from a young age.
The queue to sign up for the workshops delivered by Jean Alfeld, Sizwe Matoti and Lindela Mjenxane
IkamvaYouth’s founding motto is one of future oriented thinking and pro-activity. The Careers Indaba is a fundamental step in fostering this mind set in the youth of South Africa. It is challenging to dream of a better future and to aspire to goals without knowing the realities of these goals and the opportunities that are available.
Universities, companies, and NGOs from all over Cape Town attended the fair. They did not merely provide factual information about careers and studying opportunities, but they also conversed with these young people and delivered a message of hope and possibility. This message is crucial for youth who are the victims of poor education systems and who live in a community plagued by poverty and all its products:
‘Academic failure is a consequence of the beliefs that students hold about themselves and about their ability to have control over their environments’ (G. Hutt & F. Pajares)
IkamvaYouth focuses on changing the mindset of youth, to think beyond their immediate circumstances and to believe in themselves and the possibilities that their futures hold.
When interviewed by The Sowetan reporter on Friday both Equal Education and IkamvaYouth agreed that this event is vital for youth in township schools and must be expanded. Tsepo Khanye, (NSFAS representative) also agreed: ‘This is a fantastic event and is well patronised. We need to make this bigger and longer, we need to get more youth exposed to it. Next year we should partner and hold something at Oliver Thambo hall to build on this success.’ Lets hope!
It was inspiring to see that there was appreciation for the event, both from exhibitors as well as students. Many learners commented at how much they had gained from the experience. An un-named Grade 12 from Mfuleni High School commented that ‘I have so much to think about now. About my future and about how I can get there’. More events of this nature are needed to make more youth believe that there are accessible and obtainable options for their futures.
Equal Education was the partner on this event and produced amazing publicity materials and helped to organize the day. IkamvaYouth is hugely appreciative to Ntshadi Mofokeng and her team for making it happen! A huge thank you to Lulama Langeni from the Harare Library for letting us take over her space for the whole day!
Following the devastating fire in Masiphumelele on 2 May which destroyed over 1000 homes, ikamvanites have been juggling their schoolwork and IkamvaYouth tutoring and winter schools with having to rebuild their homes and recover after losing all their posessions.
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Thankfully, the Masi branch has garnered support from many numerous donors, including Foschini, Masi Corp and a number of individuals (including Alex, Andy Sudermann, Philipp Schmidt, Charlotte and Tim Sun). The positive effect of these investments enabled the ikamvanites to replace their stationery, schoolbooks and uniforms, and build and better insulate their homes.
The improvements have allowed homes to be functional again and a certain amount of normality is returning to these learners lives. The first stage of this project has ensured that each learner has adequate shelter in which to live and to study.
The ikamvanites and their families send out the following thanks:
“Hi all, I just want to thank you for helping me. Often I’ve been told not to get my hopes up but now I know that I can get them up because there are people like you. You’ve shown me that I can hope to someone. Guys I don’t know what to say really because you’ve done a lot for me and my family, so all I can say is ‘Thanks’ and I appreciate everything because we could not have rebuilt my room without your help. I just so wish that I can see and than you face to face or to be able to give back to you one day!” Sandiswa Bani
“I write this letters just to show appreciation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. What you did for me and others was a good thing and by writing this letter I am showing my never fading gratitude. I now have a safe and warm home because of you. Thank you so much. They say a hand that gives is blessed. The same kindness will be shown to you.” Zintle Nyaniso (Grade 10 Ikamvanite)
I Aphiwe from IkamvaYouth just wanted to show my appreciation a big big thank you for what you guys have done for me. You give me everything I needed and I am so happy for these things that you give me. Really really thank you you guys inspired me to make a lot easier for me. Don’t give up with what you are doing. Keep on doing it. You will make a difference to South Africa. It will take long, but don’t get tired we need you.
My name is Khanya Gutyana. I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me for all of us Ikamvanites affected by the fire. You helped us a lot. Some of us didn’t know where to start. Even our parents didn’t know how to begin rebuilding our lives. But you helped us. Thank you so much guys, we appreciate everything you have done for us.
Hi. I write this letter to say thank you very much. You have helped us so much. I always say to bless a person that helps others. You have shown care, love in what you have done for Ikamvanites in Masiphumelele. It makes me realise that there are people who care and people who make me feel special. Sihle Nini (Grade 10 Ikamvanite)
I am writing this letter to say thank you for the money that you gave to us. It will help us a lot and also we appreciate the work that you are doing for us because it means a lot and shows me that people care. Avile Mabengu (Grade 11)
Mothers of the Nation.
While men go to work, they stay home with five children and seven month’s pregnant, they move up and down the whole day looking after the children and the whole house because their love is splendid, courageous and unconditional.
They carry a human being in their bodies for 9 months. They bring pure love and happiness to each and every moving skeleton they see in the street.
These are the mothers of the nation, women who care for the nation; their intention in this world is to bring joy, peace, happiness and inspiration. They are the ones who change the world, they give birth to doctors, engineers and presidents but their abilities were never recognised.
They are like candles in a room with lights, and those candles were never allowed to shine because the light’s brightness was strong. They were put under a shadow of darkness where no light could shine, but today they are the best seas in all oceans, they are the stars that shine in the sky. They walk with pride and dignity pulling their shoulders up and saying “I am in control.” These are the mothers of the nation, women who care about the nation.
Their big hearts are being celebrated all over the world. Women who care for the nation like the late Mama Albertina Sisulu, women who fought for the nation, women like Oprah Winfrey, women who care for the nation. Those are the mothers of the nation; those are the stars that shine in the night.
The world is so blessed to have my mother, your mother, your granny, my aunty because those are the mothers of the nation, women who care for the nation.
– Dieketso Boshego (Grade 11). IkamvaYouth Ivory Park.
Lloyd Lungu