Ikageng branch formed their first Branch Com during this year’s SPW in April. One of the mandates for this year’s Branch Com was to ensure that the branch implements all the programmes forming part of the IY Model. To ensure this, Branch Com members heading these programmes were to ensure that they plan and execute different activities for their portfolios during the course of the year. Following this, a Media Committee was formed during Winter School, under the Media, Image and Expression Portfolio. The Media Committee was formed by learners who were interested to take care of the media coverage of the Winter School. The Committee produced photos, video recordings and written reports of all activities and events during the Winter School.
From this initiative, the branch saw a need to develop the skills and further empower and guide them to broader career and recreational opportunities. The branch approached one of the producer at the local radio station- Ms Kgalalelo Sennano, to guide and provide support to these talented Ikamavanites. After just one meeting with her, Ms Kgalalelo enthusiastically agreed to facilitate a series of workshops for our Media Committee. These workshops aims to:
- Provide knowledge and information
- Encourage them to explore career opportunities in media
- Use media to address the social issues faced both by the community and youth in general
- Use media as an educational resource as well as a tool for expression.
Our Media Workshops run over 11 Saturdays, starting from the 13th of September 2014 to the 6th of December 2014. With these workshops, we hope to build more fruitful relationships with the radio station and other local media houses to empower our youth and give back to our community.hipp
The Ikageng branch held a Grade 12 learners and parent meeting on the 30th August 2014 at our tutoring venue, Thembalidansi Primary School. The aim of the meeting was to discuss Grade 12 learner challenges and jointly formulate solutions to address their issues.
Our learners mentioned the a lack of clarity of the role of the parent with applications curriculum gaps created chapters not thoroughly covered at school, learner time management, low self-esteem due to personal circumstances as part of the challenges they are faced with. The parents, learners, tutors and staff discussed the challenges and some of the solutions were the following;
– Parents understand they need to part of each decision made by learners, from choosing careers to retrieving reports from schools. The branch will introduce motivational video “ice breakers” every Saturday to keep learners motivated…..WATCH THIS SPACE..!!!
We held an Interview with one of our Ikamvanite parents: M.s S.M Makale , parent of Lerato Makale- 2014 IY Matriculant, to understand her views of the Grade 12 learners and parents meeting.
Q: How does it feel knowing that you child is part of the first group of Ikageng matrics?
A: I am happy that my daughter is part of Ikamva Youth, there is an improvement in her school ethic and I will give her more support.
Q : Todays meeting, your thoughts..?
A : Well..as tutors, you guys are doing a great job and your presence is a motivation to our children to excel in schoolwork. As parents, we should take initiative and interest in our children’s studies, by supporting them in whichever way we can.
Ikamva youth winter school talent show 2014
“Appreciation can make a day even change a life and a tiny drop of chemical makes an enormous difference.” Unknown
IY believes in making learning fun and providing a friendly environment of learning. We acknowledge that in order for the youth to excel at school, they also need to lead balanced lives in order to function well. Thus we give learners a platform to show case and embrace their artistic skills and talents during the annual winter school programme.
This year it was no exception, the Winter School’s Talent Show was filled with talented presentations in genres ranging from dance, singing, acapella & beat box, poetry, rap, drama to a mix of all these. The acts were both entertaining and educational as they covered themes such as teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, rape, issues of sexuality & making informed choices and motivation. These were presented with all sorts of props such as face paints and furnitures. The show was well received, and Ikamvanites were excited about this opportunity. Mr Sipho Dee, from the branch’s sponsor- ABI, was also part of the audience.
The tutors also participated by assisting the leaners choreography and to put these acts together. The panel of judges consisted of tutors and were evaluated the acts based on originality, choice of act, presentation, talent, appropriate costume, audience reception and entertainment value. The participants were awarded for best performed act, best dance performance, best male singer, best female singer and best spoken word (poetry and rap genre) performance.
IkamvaYouth are partnering with the Western Cape government and Action Volunteers Africa (AVA) in an exciting new project to implement high-impact after-school programmes in secondary schools in the Western Cape while developing the skills and proficiencies of young leaders. Today saw Helen Zille and Ministers of Cultural Affairs and Sport and WCED launch the Year Beyond programme.
Helen Zille meets the MOD Centre teams at this mornings press conference
The Year Beyond project will improve the after-school programmes offered through the school’s MOD Centres by increasing the range of after-school activities. The programme will include IkamvaYouth model tutoring, tech-assisted English and Maths tuition through Fundza and Siyavula respectively, and practical clubs that will introduce robotics, coding, and media.
The project has attracted applications from over 100 grade 8/9s in just 2 schools who are all eager to take their futures into their own hands. They are supported in this after-school space by a fantastic bunch of change makers who hail from all walks of life but share a passion for youth and development. These young graduates are paying-it-forward by volunteering their time to serve as role models for these aspiring learners.
The launch of the Year Beyond programme
The involvement of numerous organisations, departments and people has produced an exciting collaborative approach to youth development and one that IkamvaYouth wholeheartedly supports. IkamvaYouth is a value based organisation and one of the core principles is peer-to-peer support and collaboration. To see this happening on a large scale with governmental involvement is a huge step for IkamvaYouth as an educational non-profit. It is hoped that this form of government – non-government partnership can become a model for operation in order to reach more learners with high-quality after-school programmes.
Vision 2030 was conceived by IkamvaYouth in 2012, which is the vision to see every grade 1 learner who starts school in 2018 to matriculate or the equivalent by 2030, and to access a post-school opportunity of their choice that sets them on the path to earn a dignified living. This is an audacious goal and one that requires many hands and minds.
The Year Beyond project offers an opportunity to engage in true collaboration towards a common goal. It is hoped that this is the first of many partnerships that will open the doors of after-school programmes to young people all across the country.
For more information on the Year Beyond project, IkamvaYouth and how we can work together to enable more learners to achieve their dreams please contact zoe@ikamvayouth.org or alex@ikamvayouth.org
Convincing young people to trust each other is not an easy task. Making them see each other as heroes and and future leaders takes time but when it happens many doors of opportunities open. Sometimes they do things because they’re are told to, some do beacuse they believe. Yet you push until everyone sings the same song. You practise the song until everyone is comfortable and falls inlove with it.
This has been the case with the Joza Ikamvanites not understanding the importance of peer to peer. It took exam time for our grade 12’s to believe and see the importance of peer to peer. They didn’t take any special pills all they had to do was sit and help each other out. The Joza grade 12’s are now confident they will achieve bachelor passes at the end of the year.
All it takes is preparation,patience and perseverance.
Ikamva lisezandleni zakho.
The Ikamvanites teamed up with Science Spaza, for a hip-hop competition in celebration of National Science Week at the Bat Centre. A group of 40 Ikamvanites were selected to participate and show off their talents in preparing Hip-hop songs as they worked with Rooted Souls, Science spaza and Dr Sphamandla from UKZN Westville.
Ikamvanites learning about the formation of Crystals
Dr Sphamandla, as a science lecturer from UKZN, taught the learners about crystals, how they were formed as well as what you can possible use crystals for.. The learners were divided into 7 groups to prepare their songs. One of the Umlazi Groups had already prepared a song to sing at the Bat Center and performed it for the Science Spaza team. After these awesome performances, Rooted Souls ,and science spaza Team along with Dr Sphamandla were assisting the learners with their rhymes, grammar and if they were sticking to science for their performances on Saturday.
Learners Preparing thier songs
Ikamvanites performing thier song “Suffering Acids”
Just before lunch as the learners were still at it, IFANI, the SAMA award winning Hip Hop Artist walked in and the learners were over the moon excited. The learners then got an opportunity to sit down and ask him a couple of questions about where he comes from, his inspirations behind his music as well as what he studied. Ifani is not just a musician he is also a computer scientist, who worked as an engineer for 4years. His love for music started at a very young age and he is finally pursuing it.
Ifani Performing at the BAT Centre
The 7 groups were ready to dazzle the judges with their performances. The judges were Hillary from Science Spaza, Dr.Sphamandla and Ifani. The judges were looking for rhythm, energy and does your song get the message across about crystals. Parents, friends and fellow ikamvanites arrived to support the performing groups .
One of the competing groups performing
In the end we had a winner the ladies that called themselves the fourth Harmony from Chesterville Secondary in grade 11. The ladies received Science Spaza t-Shirts as well as Ifani’s latest Album. The event will be broadcast on Hectic NINE-9 during national science week from the 2nd of August till the 9th of August 2014
The whole event was a success IkamvaYouth is grateful for such an opportunity that Science Spaza provided for the Ikamvanites. We surely hope to work again with them soon.
Lloyd Lungu