The experience with Zoe-Life and their ICS volunteers was amazing and educational to both tutors and learners that were involved in the workshop. We were taught different types of bullying; emotional bullying; physical bullying; cyber bullying; and also sexual bullying. IkamvaYouth learners were engaged on an educational game that dealt with the use of drugs and alcohol, and how it can affect your life, people around you and your body and mind.
Learners got an opportunity to ask questions pertaining to their lives or what they are currently facing. The ICS crew delivered in terms of reaching out to the IkamvaYouth learners, helping them in understanding what bullying is, the effects that it has; what drugs are and how they can destroy your life; what alcohol is, and how it can harm one’s life. They ran another workshop covering issues around HIV and AIDS and these workshops really made an impact on the Ikamvanites and we are grateful as IkamvaYouth Chesterville.
As can be seen in our
Annual Report 2014 was the year of growth for us: our matric class was 63% bigger than the previous year, we reached over 1,700 learners and we opened our tenth branch. But let’s not forget why we are here, for most of South Africa’s children, the only way out of poverty is through education. Ikamvanites (IkamvaYouth learners) continue to prove that anyone and everyone – irrespective of the school one attends and the socio-economic status of one’s parents can achieve his dreams and escape poverty.
Please read more in our 2014 annual report about the innovation of our model, why we need more Ikamvanites, hear from the Ikamvanites themselves and why our three largest donors of 2014 (Omidyar Network, Amalgamated Beverage Industries and Capitec Foundation) continue to support us.
It is thanks to these donors and many others that we have been able to achieve the results that we have over the last 12 years. South Africa’s future rests on the success of our children. IkamvaYouth is fundraising to reach even more of South Africa’s children in 2016 and needs your support. Please contact me if you would like to discuss supporting IkamvaYouth or find out more about us.
Friday 24 April 2015 marked the kick start of a much anticipated annual strategic planning weekend for 2015 at the Chesterville branch. The day boasted with a positive attendance of excited new and old tutors, learner representatives from grade 9 to grade 12, as well as staff.
The first day of SPW is usually not so intense with activities and information. It started off smoothly with everyone creating nametags for themselves and a brief introduction from each person accompanied by an ice breaker to make everyone feel welcome. The learners felt a bit anxious, but after the introduction session they were at ease and ready for the weekend ahead.
The day continued to unfold by setting of the ground rules and expectations of the whole weekend from everyone present. The purpose of the SPW was also outlined by Thandazo the branch coordinator so that the importance of the event is clearly understood. The creation of an ikamvayouth timeline and the branches important events that have happened over the years allowed for a perfect transition into identifying the challenges and successes as well as burning issues that were going to be the center of discussion during the SPW as a whole.
Tea and delicious muffins on arrival of Day 2 gave everyone the fire to get started and energized for the day. After a recap of the previous day, the Ikamvayouth values were outlined and discussed in order for everyone to have a better understanding of what IY is about and what the organisation is built upon. The KZN district coordinator, Thabisile Seme gave a brief overview of the different committees within Ikamvayouth as an organisation and an introduction to the portfolios that each branch have.
New portfolio heads were elected and the rest of the audience had to allocate themselves into a portfolio, where each portfolio was discussed along with all its successes, challenges and plans for the year ahead.
The day wouldn’t be complete without lunch being served. Everyone was treated to mouth-watering lunch and by the end of the day the room was filled with tutors and learners ready for a successful year at Ikamvayouth.
To view more pictures of the day, click here.
The main tutoring hall at the IkamvaYouth Chesterville branch was packed to the brim as we had our open day and prize giving ceremony. Amongst our guests were the parents, current Ikamvanites, aspiring Ikamvanites, our local librarian, and our dedicated tutors as well as staff from both the KZN branches of Umlazi and Chesterville. The guests were eager to know more about IkamvaYouth and to celebrate those Ikamvanites who performed well in the programme for the year 2014.
Our learners also participated in the programme, with two of our matric learners Lindokuhle Mbili and Lipuma Thabethe being our MC’s for the day. The speakers of the day were Thandazo Mkhize (Chesterville Branch Co-ordinator), and Zandile Dlamini (Chesterville Branch Assistant) who gave an overview of what IY is about as a whole.
Thankfully, IY has many talented learners some of which were able to provide us with entertainment for the day with poetry and rhythmic rap music. We also had speakers from different walks of life. One of our past learners, Andiswa Tshabalala, from the class of 2014 was one of our speakers, she gave a very heartfelt speech about her experience at IY as well as where she is currently in life and her studies. Our other special guest Mzwandile Majola, a librarian from the local library spoke very well about the importance of reading and also encouraged the learners to read and visit the library more often for information.
Speeches were not the only items on the program. Our special Prize Giving ceremony had to be the highlight of the day. Led by N’thabiseng Zwane, branch assistant at the Umlazi branch, certificates as well as prize gifts were awarded to learners that achieved 90% and above on attendance as platinum attendance, 75% and above as Gold attendance while others received certificates for successfully completing the operation fikelela programme in 2014. It would’ve been a shame to honor the learners and leave behind our tutors, so the most dedicated tutor of the year was also awarded with a certificate of appreciation, which went Nokukhanya Ngcobo who also delivered a lovely speech on behalf of the tutors.
In closing, S’bonelo Cele, branch coordinator at the Umlazi branch, gave us a closing remark and vote of thanks speech to everyone who availed themselves for the event and more especially to our special guests, who were given a small gift as a token of our appreciation.
The main tutoring hall at the IkamvaYouth Chesterville branch was packed to the brim as we had our open day and prize giving ceremony. Amongst our guests were the parents, current Ikamvanites, aspiring Ikamvanites, our local librarian, and our dedicated tutors as well as staff from both the KZN branches of Umlazi and Chesterville. The guests were eager to know more about IkamvaYouth and to celebrate those Ikamvanites who performed well in the programme for the year 2014.
Our learners also participated in the programme, with two of our matric learners Lindokuhle Mbili and Lipuma Thabethe being our MC’s for the day. The speakers of the day were Thandazo Mkhize (Chesterville Branch Co-ordinator), and Zandile Dlamini (Chesterville Branch Assistant) who gave an overview of what IY is about as a whole.
Thankfully, IY has many talented learners some of which were able to provide us with entertainment for the day with poetry and rhythmic rap music. We also had speakers from different walks of life. One of our past learners, Andiswa Tshabalala, from the class of 2014 was one of our speakers, she gave a very heartfelt speech about her experience at IY as well as where she is currently in life and her studies. Our other special guest Mzwandile Majola, a librarian from the local library spoke very well about the importance of reading and also encouraged the learners to read and visit the library more often for information.
Speeches were not the only items on the program. Our special Prize Giving ceremony had to be the highlight of the day. Led by N’thabiseng Zwane, branch assistant at the Umlazi branch, certificates as well as prize gifts were awarded to learners that achieved 75% and above on attendance as green attendance, 90% and above as Gold attendance while others received certificates for successfully completing the operation fikelela programme in 2014. It would’ve been a shame to honor the learners and leave behind our tutors, so the most dedicated tutor of the year was also awarded with a certificate of appreciation, which went Nokukhanya Ngcobo who also delivered a lovely speech on behalf of the tutors.
In closing, S’bonelo Cele, branch coordinator at the Umlazi branch, gave us a closing remark and vote of thanks speech to everyone who availed themselves for the event and more especially to our special guests, who were given a small gift as a token of our appreciation.
One seldom finds the time to spend with nature, especially on a Monday morning. IkamvaYouth KZN Matric learners, staff and a few volunteers spent their Monday morning, 19th January 2015, embracing nature and its life lessons at the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve and Wilderness Leadership School in Yellowood Park, Durban.
Before the trail walk began everyone was instructed to switch off their cellphones or any other device that might connect them to the outside world. This was simply done to ensure that everyone becomes fully immersed with life in the wild and does not get to miss out on anything important.
Our trail walk throughout the nature reserve was led by tour guides who have years of everyday experience of the wildlife. Along the trail we spotted a variety of wild animals, but not wild enough to eat us, thankfully. The animals seen at the nature reserve ranged from the Red and Grey Dykes, Springboks, Zebras, and although we were told to look out for snakes, we did not come across any. Some animals could not be seen but heard, such as the Purple Crested Lourie and the Sombre Bulbul birds. A lot was also learnt about the different trees we saw including our very own national tree the Yellowood, and the importance of treating natural habitats including the animals in order to survive in the wild and preserve nature.
After a lengthy walk of more than two hours, everyone was treated to delicious lunch which was sponsored by ABI. Visiting the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve was a good exemplar of just how life’s lessons can also be learnt from outside the classroom and that nature also has a few stories to tell.
A lot can be said about the experience and lessons one gained from visiting the nature reserve, this is what some of the learners had to say about the trip:
“What I learnt is that respect is the most important thing in life,”-Slindile Ngubane
“It was my first time going Yellowood Parkand it was a great day. And I saw different types of animals like Zebra’s, snakes and chickens.” – Nobuhle Zulu
“…along the way we saw a Yellowood tree, our tour guide told us why the place was called Yellowood Park. He said because the Yellowood tree was the most available tree in that place.” – Anele Vezi
Lloyd Lungu