Saturday 20 April marked Nyanga’s first official parents’ meeting for 2013. The meeting started a little later than anticipated, as we waited for the parents to arrive, but soon, many of them did, and the meeting started in earnest.
Shuvai, the branch co-ordinator welcomed the parents and introduced the staff and tutors who were present, then handed over to Siphelele, the branch assistant, who then ran the meeting. Siphelele introduced the parents to IY and explained the tutoring program, since the majority of Nyanga’s learners this year are first time ikamvanites whose parents had not yet had a chance to learn about IY from staff members.
Key issues raised in the meeting include learners missing tutoring on account of bad weather, parents’ concerns about gangsterism and violence as impediments to learners attending and a plea to parents to collaborate with branch staff in monitoring attendance, communication and report collection.
Xola Booi, an ex-learner turned tutor, also got a chance to tell the parents about her experience at IkamvaYouth since 2010 when she joined the branch as a grade 10 learner, and received applause from the parents for sharing so clearly and expanding on issues parents were unclear on.
The morning ended on a high note, with staff meeting individual parents to discuss learners and other concerns, over light eats.
A successful parents’ meeting indeed!
IkamvaYouth is looking for an intern office assistant, to be based in our Cape Town office. The Intern will work closely with the National Administrator and Director, and will assist with office and organisational administration, logistics, event management and PR & Marketing.
This internship post would be best-suited to someone with excellent administration and writing skills who is interested in gaining high-level experience and insight into the inner workings of a fast-growing, high-impact national non-profit.
This internship opportunity is for 6 months – 1 year. The average week will vary, the ideal candidate will thrive in a changing environment and enjoy working independently with little supervision.
Duties include assisting with organisational administration and coordination. These duties are varied and likely to include (but not limited to):
- Overseeing and developing content for Ikamvayouth.org; Ikamvanitezone; social media (twitter, facebook,youtube, flickr & linkedin), dropbox
- Data entry
- Preparation for key provincial events throughout the year
- Event Coordination
- Researching/Compiling and writing articles for website/blog
Skills and qualities needed:
- Ability to take initiative, work with little supervision, be creative and deliver under pressure
- Organised and efficient; impeccable time management skills, data collection and reporting must be accurate
- Excellent writing and effective communication skills, both written and oral.
- A positive, friendly attitude, a passion for working with young people and a pro-active energy
- Must be adept at using computers (Excel, word, social media and internet, power-point) and able to work virtually (many discussions, meetings and document development occur collaboratively online);
Remuneration: R1200.
To apply please send a letter of motivation and CV to careers@ikamvayouth.org with the title ‘Internship’ in the subject line. Correspondence limited to shortlisted candidates only. Closing date 22 April 2013.
This week IkamvaYouth, Equal Education and the South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) will host the annual Careers Indaba.
Businesses, NGOs, professionals, tertiary institutions and Further Education and Training colleges will run information stalls to grade 8-12 students from Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Makhaza, Strand, Kraaifontein, Masiphumelele and surrounding areas.
DATE: Friday, 19 April 2013
TIME: 13h00-17h00
VENUE: Zolani Centre, Sithandatu Avenue, Nyanga, 7750
ENTRY: free
Come wearing your school uniform!
Many learners face challenges when considering their tertiary studies. These challenges include insufficient access to information regarding academic and occupational options as well as affording the cost of further studies.
The Career Indaba provides assistance to learners making decisions about their future. Exhibitors will expose learners to a variety of careers paths and options. Learners will also have the opportunity to learn about scholarships and bursary programs that are available to them.
The programme will include workshops on CV writing, interviewing skills, personal development and study techniques.
For more information:
Marion Petersen
marion@ikamvayouth.org
m: 0798854388
t: 0214224306
Kate Wilkinson
kate@equaleducation.org.za
t: 0213870022
e: 0716824515
Lydia Wasilenko
lydia.eva@live.com
t: 0213870022
On the 12th of April 2013, IkamvaYouth KZN hosted its first Careers Indaba, at the Chesterville Youth Centre. The vision of the Career Indaba was to open up new opportunities for school learners, providing them with information regarding the various programs, resources and support structures that are available to them. By educating learners about the choices that are available to them, we sought to empower learners, allowing them to make informed decisions about their futures.
Learners from Umlazi and Chesterville schools flocked to the Centre, eager to learn about the vast opportunities open to them after they matriculate. Learners had an opportunity to visit various exhibiter stalls, as well as workshops presented by the Durban University of Technology, Varsity College, Eskom, and IkamvaYouth volunteers. Learners were asked about what they had gained/learned from having participated in this event, and if their career choices had changed in any way, this is what a few had to say:
“… when I chose to be a teacher I did not know about other careers, so now that I have learned I have many choices…” – Siphiwo Memela, Gr 9. Chesterville Extension Secondary
“… I wanted to become a lwayer, however looking at the subjects, needed, I changed it.” – Zamokuhle Shezi, Grade 12. Bonela Secondary
“Yes, I think it did and what caused it was the interesting technological and science things I saw from the Eskom team. It really drew a lot of my attention.” Zinhle Mvesa, Grade 11. KwaMathanda High
This event was made possible by the generous donation by Jeffares & Green, an environmental and environmental consulting company based just a few kilometres from the Centre. Jeffares & Green did not just splash money at the event, they actively participated by having representatives present the whole day, who spoke to learners about careers in the environmental management and engineering fields. It’s really fantastic to see the involvement of local businesses in community initiatives such as this.
Thanks also go to ABI, our Umlazi branch funders, who always step up to assist and participate in activities at both KZN branches. The generous supply of drinks and water went a long way in quenching the thirst of both learners and exhibiters on that hot day. We also had a computer donated by Capitec bank, which was raffled on the day.
David Moshoeshoe, a Grade 12 learner commented that the Careers Indaba “is a good initiative bringing information closer to people…”. For a first time effort in the province, I’d say the KZN team did an outstanding job, and we will definitely be back next year with an even bigger and better Careers Indaba. Watch this space!
The Spirit of Youth programme is a one year learning experience for grade 11 learners from diverse backgrounds who see themselves as agents of positive change in South Arica. Spirit of Youth offers a platform for young people to grow a culture of volunteerism and to build a democratic society, In particular, Spirit of Youth facilitates the exploration of how challenges can be converted into opportunities. The programme includes activities that enable learners to dialogue with both leaders ad peers about the issues that concern them and about their future aspirations.
This is accomplished by creating and facilitating opportunities for participants to:
- Learn about their context- dialogue
- Develop a deeper understanding of themselves and SA’s complex challenges
- Channel energy into a positive direction
- Create an awareness of opportunities
- Foster a spirit of volunteerism
- Facilitate the creation of a vision for a better world
The Spirit of Youth programme was created in 2005 by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), THE Johannesburg based highly regarded ‘business school for businesses. GIBS has partnered in Cape Town for Grade 11 learners from diverse school in and around Cape Town. The Cape Town programme is offered over eight Saturday (8am to 4pm) between March and October from Tsiba’s pinelands based campus
The first programme was on the 23rd of March 2013, we sent in three learners from Masiphumele Branch, they had to arrive at the campus at 8am. We asked the learners to take down notes and observe everything which will be taking place.
FEED BACK FROM LEARNERS
Sivuyisiwe Mbede: On arrival we were introduced to the Spirit of Youth facilitators that we will be working with, we took a trip to the slave lodge where we were taught about our history and slavery, after the tour and lesson the motivational speaker, Mr Mbulelo Yedwa talked to us and encouraged us to always focus on the positive side of our lives and never dwell on the past, he also told us that in order to achieve your dreams and goals you must work hard, and if you think success comes easily you are fooling yourselves.
We went back to the Tsiba campus for lunch, when we got there others were already there eating fancy food, we were told to eat old bread and drink water, we all complained and voiced ourselves, demanding to be treated fairly and equally, seeing our reactions, they later told us that it was a game and a test they wanted to see our reactions, they wanted to see whether we will be able to cope under such circumstances, in the end we all ate the same fancy food.
We discussed the trip, the lesson and the game. “I learned a lot from the first programme ad I am looking forward to the next programme’
Jacqualine Ncube: I enjoyed the first programme we attended at the Tsiba campus, I was mostly impressed with Mr Mbulele Yedwa. Mr Mbulelo grew up in hardships, but he has managed to make a succsess of his life, he studied at UCT and UWC and passed his degrees with flying colors, and now he is a HR manager at Eskom and managing 105 people.
‘I want to share with my fellow Ikamvanites the quote Mr Ydwa lives by because they truly inspired me.
- Sometimes a problem isn’t a problem, but the way you see the problem is the problem
- The mind that holds the problem has the key to the solution
- A thought can become something
- In a life you can choose to be a better person or a bitter person
- Liberation first then education later
- I use my voice and the Invoice follows
This man truly inspired me, and I can wait to go back and learn more things which will benefit me in future
Zodidi Mtingane: We were Introduced to Tsiba and told what it is all about, we were then placed in different groups, I liked my groups facilitator, her name is Mr Kairen Peacock, they took us to the Iziko Museum to the slave lodge. Mr Mbulelo Yedwa the guest speaker, talked about his child hood ad how hard he worked to be the successful man that he is today, and also he motivated us the youth to work hard and be determined ad always tell ourselves that we can do anything we put our minds to.
Back to Tsiba we had lunch followed by a debate and a discussion about history, (slavery, and apartheid)
We went back to the hall and we informed about the next date of the programme, which I can’t wait to attend. Thank you Tsiba and IkamvaYouth!
Ikamva is really proud of these three leaners who attended the programme, from their feedback it shows that they had a good time and they left the progamme inspired and informed, and this is what we want from them, to make use of the programmes given to them.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE INFORMATION FROM THEIR NEXT PROGRAMME ATTENDANCE
So we wanted to do to these cooking classes with the Ikamva Youth students in Nyanga. We had a few things to contemplate before we got started.
Our background as students from Copenhagen is in global nutrition and health. The question we posed ourselves was: How do you teach about health and nutrition when you come from different cultures and different realities?
Health, what is considered healthy and what the health needs of different people are, is certainly determined by different contexts. In other words, we knew that we couldn’t waltz into Nyanga and tell students how to change their diets and dictate to them what ‘healthy’ is, since the term is so variable and there are other determinants such as household income which affect what people can afford to eat.
We therefore saw the cooking classes as an opportunity to explore and expose students to different cultures through food. In doing so we hoped to inspire students to broaden their awareness of food culture and ideas around health, simultaneously daring them to stay open minded and try things that seemed foreign to them.
In South Africa different types of foods and meals are associated with different groups of people. White people eat this, Black people eat that, Coloured people eat this and that, Indian people this and so on. By exposing students to different foods and cultural ideas we hoped to invite them to cross these cultural stereotypes and boundaries.
Many ideas. Is our line of thinking relevant? Should one expose students to foods and ingredients that they can’t buy in their immediate environment or can’t even afford?
We think ‘YES’. Exposure to the unfamiliar can assist us in becoming critical thinkers and developing empathy towards other cultures. Most importantly it also allows us to rethink and be critical of cultural stereotypes and fixed definitions of things. Overly idealistic? Perhaps 🙂
OK so we had an idea and an intention but how were we going to fund this baby? Jesper came up with the brilliant plan to do a fundraising charity event. A Yoga and Lunch charity event in Arderne Gardens, Claremont to be precise. After much planning and spreading the word, we pulled off the event together with the 16 Nyanga students.
The event took place on 17 March 2013 and we were overwhelmed by the support we received! Since we were teaching a yoga class, on the menu for the day was Indian food. We used ingredients such as asafetida (a spice) and ghee (clarified butter), which is at the heart of Indian cooking, in all the dishes me made. The food we prepared was inspired by an Indian woman, Sandhya, who has been making food for Western yoga students for many years in the south of India in Mysore, Karnataka.
The food was delicious and all the participants wanted the recipes and another homemade chapati to take home. The chapati ‘team‘ kicked butt and made those chapattis like pros – you guys rocked!
IMMENSE GRATITUDE
In the end we raised R6000 to put towards our cooking classes and we are simply delighted and blown away by the support that we have received.
A huge thank you to all the amazing people who supported our Yoga & Lunch fundraising event! Thank you to IkamvaYouth for the opportunity to work with the students, and thank you to the incredible students.
Thank you all a thousand times over :))
Jesper and Sharline
Lloyd Lungu