The Ivory Park branch team is very excited and motivated after securing a new tutoring venue and office at Kaalfontein Secondary School. Venue instability has threatened the branch’s existence for very long, following a short notice eviction from the Ivory Park Youth Centre in December 2013. This was due to political controversies raised by the Greater Midrand Youth Council (GMYC) management committee leading to imposition of threats that could compromise the safety and security of IkamvaYouth staff, volunteers and learners.
The branch was then temporarily housed at the Ivory Park Community Stadium where space issues were still not entirely solved as learners were studying crowded in a very small hall that was also shared with Churches. The Ivory Park branch staff was also temporarily accommodated at the Ebony Park branch in a small and unsafe office. The staff would travel to the tutoring venue for every tutoring sessions. The conditions at the stadium did not allow learners to makeup days or come study at any times as tutoring was restricted to only 3 days a week as per the agreed MOU. The venue also made it difficult for staff to invite or meet with stakeholders as well as to track, meet and help the grade 12 learners with applications. Learners could not benefit from resources like photocopying, internet and full support from staff due to these conditions.
Moving to Kaalfontein Secondary and securing enough space for tutoring and office has opened up unlimited opportunities that include opening up of a computer lab that will benefit Ikamvanites and the school from 2015. Communicating and meeting stakeholders would be more convenient, all learners will benefit from the programme equally, being able to access the required support to ensure improved pass marks and success at matric level, and recruiting and retaining volunteers would be manageable with a stable venue.
I would like to acknowledge the interventions made by our stakeholders, to mention Kaalfontein School Principal and the SGB, TziChi as well as the IkamvaYouth team for playing a significant role in making this venue possible despite all challenges faced.
One small step for IkamvaYouth, one giant leap for Vision 2030!
A month ago IY was joined by three employees from SAP an international software solutions company. They were on a social sabbatical with IkamvaYouth and had accepted the mission of restructuring and revolutionising the Ikamvanite Zone. I can safely say mission accomplished!
It is hard to arrive in a strange country, be introduced to a team of people, dumped in an office, and be given a task with a vague objective and set of deliverables, in a context you don’t understand. Yet the SAP rose to the challenge! It is also hard for an organisation to welcome a team, determine what they are able to do and then direct them effectively to do this within a short time period. Yet IY rose to the challenge!
Marise Sfier, Marc Bernard, Zoe Mann, Yolana Xu, Zukile Keswa
This month has been a true reminder that collaboration can be a beautiful way to work. The SAP team brought with them their exceptional knowledge of software applications, technology, data analysis, design thinking, marketing, and web development. Without which the Zone redesign could not have been realised. However, without IkamvaYouth’s depth of contextual understanding the SAP team would not have been able to apply their expertise. Such an understanding is invaluable, but often taken for granted.
Within this short time they were able to conduct a design thinking workshop to determine the users and roles on the Zone, create a detailed website specification document, build a Drupal 7 back-ended prototype, create a comprehensive project plan going forward and put in place a go to market communication plan. Just a few bits and pieces!
Design Thinking Workshop
Although there is a lot of work still to be done. I am grateful for the SAP team for progressing IkamvaYouth further towards the realisation of the Zone. The vision of the site is to create an online resource hub and learning environment to inspire, enable and support individuals, organisations, learners, volunteers and IY staff to take the future into their own hands and make Vision 2030 a reality.
The new website will be launched at the beginning of next year – watch this space!
In the meantime if you are interested to find out more about the Zone or Vision 2030 please contact zoe@ikamvayouth.org
I.Y is all set for Mafikeng…….! Through negotiations with the Department of Education and Sports Development and funding partnership from ABI, we can finally reveal Danville Secondary as the host school.
The organizations eleventh branch nationally and the second one for the N.W province will start operating early 2015.This exciting announcement, made at the recent matrics prayer meeting,on the 23rd October 2014, is the culmination of hard work and dedication from all stakeholders.
Attended by ranking government officials, learners from local schools, parents, teachers and members of the community. The MEC challenged the current matrics to outperform the 2013 group, saying ““Parents and teachers have done their part, and it’s up to learners to do theirs. We trust and believe in you”.Interfaith leaders prayed for learners, showering them with strength to face even the most difficult papers.
The next steps is finding an experienced high level Branch Co-ordinator for Mafikeng, a social entrepreneur ready to take the ropes and fill the branch with learners and tutors. If you think you are ready to join the hardworking, high flying, dedicated, achieving against the odds and somewhat crazy IY team,click here;https://ikamvayouth.org.www518.jnb1.host-h.net/blog/2014/10/24/branch-coordinators-ikageng-and-mafikeng
Students from North West should look out for posters inviting them to contribute to their communities by tutoring on Saturdays. Volunteer tutors gain a wealth of experience in an office environment, learn project management skills, facilitate workshops and its’ a great opportunity to find balance and fulfillment within your community…………. Sign up for this awesome opportunity….!!!!
FROM LEFT: MR.D Huma- Ikamva Youth North West District Coordinator, MR. H Motara – District Director, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Ms.L Rampete -QLTC Provincial Coordinator, MR. B Monale -District Director,Ngaka Modiri Molema District and Ms. Z Shongwe – Ikamva Youth National Coordinator
Zanele Mashele, one of the grade 12 learners at IkamvaYouth Makhaza branch, was selected out of 3 other learners, who were previously interviewed, to be the recipient of the Varsity College Bursary. She was invited to attend the awarding event on Wednesday the 15th of October 2014. Being accompanied by her mother and the Makhaza Branch Coordinator, Zukile Keswa. The event kicked off at 10:00 am and among the guests at the event was MISS SA 2014, Rolene Strauss, who awarded Zanele Mashele the bursary. The bursary was said to cover the tuition fees, books and all study material for the entire duration of her undergraduate degree.
Reflecting on this whole event, Zanele said, “I never believed that opportunities like these are given to ordinary township girls like me. I never thought that such an opportunity exists for me. To all young people who would like to further their studies I would say, if you do not have the means to further your studies, there are many opportunities out there and you should try and find out about the opportunities. Money and circumstances should not stop you from having dreams and reaching for them. Stay positive and keep believing in yourself, know that you too can achieve great things.”
Zanele’s mother was filled with unspeakable joy when she saw her daughter receiving the bursary, it was indeed a milestone in this young lady’s life. The young lady’s dreams have now materialized, she will be doing her BCom in Financial Management at Varsity College in 2015.
We congratulate Zanele Mashele on receiving this bursary.
Zanele was also mentioned on Miss SA 2014’s facebook page.
![Makhaza learners attend ReThink Leadership Un[convention]al](https://www.wordpress.ikamvayouth.org/wp-content/uploads/migrated/imagecache/scale_480/10269384_10152290885146901_89011521188412849_n_0.jpg)
On the early morning of Saturday, 11th October 2014, 40 grade 8 & 9 learners departed from Makhaza to attend the annual ReThink Leadership Un[convetion]al workshop. The IY masterminds arrived at District 6 Museum at 08:00 am.
They were welcomed with a healthy and delicious breakfast before their fun filled day kicked off. The registration period was from 08:30 – 09:00 am after which the workshop started with some ceative activities and introduction.
The purpose of the Un[convention]al workshop was to engage high school learners from different backgrounds to share ideas on how to tackle issues that face their communities.
The young and dynamic minds were energized to think out of the box to bring forth unparalleled suggestions as courses of action.
One of the grade 9 learners, Tania Siswana said, “I learnt a lot of interesting things at the ReThink Leadership Un[convention]al. I learnt how to make a chair out of tyres and how to make a lot of other things from material that you would not think of. I understood how travelling the world could be beneficial to me . It was great, it was fun, it was exciting, it was inspirational and yet educating. I will never forget what they taught us about the 3 C’s which are be CURIOUS, be COURAGEOUS and to COMMUNICATE.”
The young minds were really inspired to be involved in constructive dialogue and meeting youth that they would not normally engage in conversations with.
A huge thank you to the Rethink Leadership team for such an amazing day and inviting the Ikamvanites.
Finding a proper venue for the Ivory Park branch with an office, computer lab and tutoring space has been a greater challenge for the past 2 years. For the past 9 months tutoring has been happening at a local stadium, with learners crowded in a single room where they could not access learning materials research, printing and photocopying facilities.
Securing a proper venue in a township that is very populated and political like Ivory Park has been a very challenging task which took team work, commitment and dedication by the Ivory Park superheroes to accomplish. The branch has successfully signed a 3 year venue MOU with Kaalfontein Secondary School.
We give much credit to the principal of Kaalfontein Secondary Mr KG Maduma and the school SGB for accommodating IkamvaYouth in such a time of need. On Saturday the 18th smiles erupted on every learner’s face as they walked their way into the new tutoring space.
Lloyd Lungu