Nyanga’s 2013 Winter School got off to a great start, with 75 learners hosted by TSiBA! The Nyanganites have had a great first week of tutoring, workshops, excursions, team building and all-round fun.
Ms Lindelwa Hanjana, our TSiBA host welcomed us warmly and said the following: ‘’Of course we want IkamvaYouth here. We want young people to learn and we are glad to have the learners at TSiBA for the Winter School program.’’
In the first week, learners had a variety of workshops, led by a huge range of workshop facilitators
HR and money workshops by Capitec bank
Capitec Bank delighted the learners by showing up for their workshops with a sound system, and a colourful set-up and décor arrangement. Learners were ushered into the workshop venue to the sound of contemporary music, but soon the workshop started and the learners learnt about CV writing and other job-related skills that they will Their second session included all the grades and the team spoke to the learners about using, saving and investing money wisely. Learners got prizes for a variety of things, including, but not limited to great participation, good listening and giving good answers to questions posed.
Suzelda Windvoel, a Grade 10 learner said the following after the workshop: ‘ I really liked the money skills workshop. It showed me that I must be clever with my money and buy things I need; not waste it on things I want.’
Creative expression workshop by Nelisa Ngqulana
Nelisa Ngqulana, our Head of MIE, ran creative expression workshops with learners, where they learnt how to write poems and express themselves creatively. It was difficult for the learners at first, but with time, each learner got to write something. At the end of the session, the group read all the poems and voted on the top 3, which got the honour of appearing in our first issue of IkamvaYouth News, Nyanga upcoming magazine, being run by the Media, Image and Expression portfolio.
Media workshops by Reel Lives
In the first week, the group taking media and journalism workshops went through workshops covering a wide variety of issues that young people face in their everyday lives. The facilitators used the ikamvanites’ Reel Lives videos from 2012 as starting points and the bases of the discussions. The discussion touched on interesting, yet sensitive topics such as motherhood, fatherhood, family, gangsterism, culture, and homosexuality. The learners who made the videos were available for question and answer sections and the workshops were very emotional, as learners identified with the whole range of issues covered by their peers’ documentaries.
One of the learners had this to say, after one of the sessions: ‘It is very emotional to see this film because it deals with things that are already happening in our lives.’
Life skills by Nebulas
Rayne Moses of Nebulas spoke to learners about skateboarding and using your interests in a positive way. After sharing the story of his process towards starting a skateboarding organisation, he asked the learners to give their reasons for attending Winter School. The learners opened up to the facilitators and spoke about some of the difficulties they face, and the dreams they have, which will help them overcome those difficulties.
Rayne closed off the session with words of encouragement to the learners and encouraged them to stick to their dreams and what they believe in, because these things will come to pass, if they work towards it and do not get discouraged by obstacles.
Entrepreneurship and business by Silulo
Luvuyo Rani ran a workshop on Entrepreneurship and Business with a group of learners, who were very touched by what he said. He quickly enabled the learners to identify with him by telling them the story of his upbringing, which, like all our learners, was in the townships. He spoke about his journey growing up and eventually starting his own business, which is now a big enterprise in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
The learners’ appreciation of this workshop is perhaps captured best by Mr Rani’s words at the end of the workshop, where he said that, ‘The vote of thanks I received from (a learner) touched me very much. I am happy and I feel that I made a real difference just talking to them about where I’ve come from.’
History and Social Justice by the Jewish museum
Nyanganites also went on excursion at the Jewish museum and the learners were very excited to have an off-site workshop. Our host, Tamara Guinsberg welcomed the group warmly and in smaller groups, the learners got a tour of the museum. The group learnt about the Holocaust, the history of the Jewish people and the richness of Jewish culture, and the facilitators juxtaposed it all with contemporary issues of xenophobia and other discrimination that happens in a South African context, which the learners can relate to. This workshop was a very rich and enriching experience for the learners and on of our volunteers noted the following: ‘this workshop shouldn’t just be for some learners. I learnt so much and I think everyone can learn a lot from this experience. For the coming years we should make it a workshop that every learner participates in.’
Marine Conservation by Save our Seas
Although Cape Town is a coastal city, the marine world is somewhat removed from the everyday reality of our learners and a workshop by Save Our Seas brought this home. Paul and Zanele from the Shark Centre ran an awesome workshop on sharks and their importance in the marine and therefore world eco-system. To kick off the session, Paul asked the learners what they knew about sharks and all answers mentioned sharks as dangerous predators that bite and eat people, and should therefore be feared. The Save our Seas team then debunked the shark and explained how sharks live, breed, what they eat and revealed the number of people who are actually bitten by sharks each year, which is much less than what people believe.
Our learners got the opportunity to view and touch shark skeletons, teeth, skins, eggs and other shark-bits and came away from the workshop more knowledgeable about the world in the deep blue sea.
Life Skills by Inspired Inc.
One can never have enough life-coaching, and Bradley van Reenen from Inspired Inc proved this as he ran an exciting life coaching workshop with our learners. This workshop covered identity, goal setting and dreams and before long, even the quietest learners were embracing their vulnerability and sharing their deep-seated dreams and life goals with fellow Nyanganites. It was a very touching session and learners encouraged one another, and got encouragement from Bradley, who assured and reassured them of their ability to rise up to the levels they have set for themselves. The session ended off with each learner writing down their dreams as a reminder for themselves, each day, until they fulfill those dreams.
SAAO
Our Technology and Engineering stream got a chance to work with their hands and make telescopes under the guidance of Cedric from the SAAO. Using simple apparatus, namely cardboard, paper, glue, pins and lenses, the learners made telescopes and before the afternoon was out, they were outside, trying out their new telescopes and engaging in some daylight star-gazing!
Team building, by IY tutors
It has been an event-filled and exciting weekend for learners, tutors and staff members and by the end of the first week, everyone was feeling the strain of the early mornings, the morning cold and the buzz of activity that has been week 1 of Winter School. To give the learners a break and to foster good relationships among the different grades, we had a team-building exercise on Friday afternoon, where the learners got into groups made up of the different grades, and each had a tutor facilitating.
It was rewarding and sweet to witness the learners affirming one another, talking about the things they liked about each other and then sharing the things they are proud of in themselves, that they wish others knew about them.
A huge thank you to all our partners for the workshops, and for putting up with our venue changes, our excited learners, and our busy staff and volunteers. A huge thank you to TSiBA for accommodating us in our large numbers, and finally, thank you to our volunteers and learners for the energy, the commitment and the passion for education, which is the reason why we are here. To week 2 and beyond!
If you would like to come by and see what we up to please contact:
Shuvai – 079 885 4372
shuvai@ikamvayouth.org
Today was the first day of winter school, the day all the learners, tutors and volunteers were waiting for! You could see the excitement on the faces of everyone that arrived at Upper Campus on Monday. This week the learners are based in the Arts Block on Upper Campus at UCT. We have a lot of international volunteers helping us this year from all over the world – Hong Kong, India, Canada, the Netherlands, China, as well as many ex matrics from 2012 coming back as first time tutors.
One of our grade 8 learners said, “ I loved coming to UCT with my friends this morning – we had a great time in the bus. Seeing these amazing buildings and the campus motivates me to get great marks and get a degree in Science from UCT – I’m se excited for winter school!”
Thi week we have various workshops happening, one of the very contentious ones were when students were divided into two groups and were asked to debate for/against on topics like HIV Testing, legalisation of drugs and life imprisonment. I was surprised to hear some of the issues that learners brought up, showing the knowledge and reasoning skills they posses.
Other workshops this week are centred around various subjects – Science and Technology, Media and Journalism, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Helath and Life Skills and Creative Expression. On Monday I was in the Entrepreneurship workshop that was held by Justin, an Entrepreneur and a manager of a Consulting company. He said, “I am very excited about lecturing to these students today. I had a similar childhood and did not come from a wealthy family. A lot of these students may end up being future entrepreneurs like me. Its just a push, confidence and awareness they need.”
Capitec bank provided a morning workshop where learners were exposed to the skills that the employers look for in applicants and career guidance was provided with resume writing and interview skills. Andrea Sanke is running history workshop for the 2 weeks which is was very interesting to the learners. This week she was lecturing on the different government styles in different parts of the world. She told the students about the importance of knowing about history, different cultures and how they have shaped the world we live in. One of the learners said, “I feel that I know so much more about Africa now and the struggle some countries went through including South Africa to be what it is today.” This week Reel Lives are also providing workshops – they are using media to support education, empowerment and social change. Learners got the opportunity to watch videos that were made by other Ikamvanites.
This is just a taste of what has happened at the beginning of last week, we are so excited for what is to come!
If you are interested in seeing what we are up to please contact:
Zukile – 079 885 4364
Zukile@ikamvayouth.org
The results of matric supplementary exams are out, and IkamvaYouth is proud to report an amazing overall 94% matric pass for the class of 2012! Even more impressive is that an incredible 90% of these passes are of either Bachelor or Diploma quality.
IkamvaYouth is proud of our learners, and especially those who were undeterred by the blow of failing the first time round. “Second chances don’t always mean a happy ending. This was the chance for supplemental learners to end their Matric on the right note. They all grabbed the opportunity and made it happen,” says Makhaza branch coordinator Zukile Keswa.
And Ikamvanites aren’t passing by choosing easy subjects. IkamvaYouth matriculants are almost twice as likely to achieve a pass including pure Mathematics (45%) and Physical Sciences (37%) as their school peers (24% of whom pass Maths and 22% Science).
Matric is just the beginning of lifelong learning, and over 73% of all IkamvaYouth’s 2012 matrics have accessed tertiary education this year and are now studying further at Certificate, Diploma or Degree level. More than half of these young men and women, 43% of our whole matric cohort, have enrolled at Universities or Universities of Technology.
Our supplementary writers have secured placements too, through their grit and determination.
“I was not happy to see other Ikamvanites going to varsity. I was angry at myself for failing. One of the things that kept me going was the support I got from IkamvaYouth and other 2012 matriculants. They were helping. I am now studying mechanical engineering at Northlink College. At least now I am also a student like other Ikamvanites,” says Anele Sololo.
Most of our learners’ parents and guardians are unemployed, or working as domestic workers, cleaners or labourers. Ikamvanites are on the path to greatly improving their families’ circumstances as they enter fields of study including Chemistry, Accounting, Teaching, Engineering and IT.
“Looking back to my family’s financial instability, I thought I wasn’t going to reach university… Then a week later, I received an email notifying me that I have been given 90% bursary towards my tuition to study this course, with the accommodation paid for. I was really overwhelmed, I couldn’t believe it,” wrote Talent Chinogureyi, who matriculated at our Chesterville branch and is now studying a B.Com in Politics, Philosophy & Economics at St Augustine College.
Another 20% of the IkamvaYouth class of 2012 – most of those who did not access tertiary education – are now in learnerships or employment. And 2% are returning to school this year, to upgrade their matric results.
That brings our post-school placements for the class of 2012 to 96% – a brilliant result considering that nationally, almost 42% of South Africans aged 18-24 are not in employment, education or training.
2010 is when it all began, I was one of those “weird” boys from the township with dreams as big as the Taj Mahal and go on forever like the Eiffel Tower. Obviously this was considered quite unorthodox in a typical township, where each day is survival and a battle to refuse a “blunt” or any other drug offered kindly.
I went to Chesterville Ext. Secondary a school situated in a place known as one of the crime hotspots. Ikamva Youth came in just when I needed the drive to push and keep going. I had just started a new subject package. Science and Mathematics were proving not to be child’s play and then I joined Ikamva Youth just when I thought Physics was for dummies that had no social life, to my surprise I found myself actually enjoying studying with other learners and working with a tutor was much more relaxing than staring at an old teacher with a stern look. South Africans were celebrating the FIFA world cup being hosted in their own country but I was celebrating more than that, I was also meeting new people both learners and tutors who would tell of their stories as varsity students.
From grade 10 to grade 12 I was always the highest in Hospitality class and this was only possible because of the resources provided by IY like unlimited internet access which would allow me to do my research every time I had an assignment or a project. I also excelled remarkably on almost all my subjects.
Now I’m in varsity studying Language Practice and I’m now also a tutor for IY, I also hold the title of portfolio head for Media Image and Expression. From the days I was a learner to today God knows it has not been a ride in the park neither has it been marshmallows and honey muffins. Being an Ikamvanites means you should be a goal orientated and determined learner, the kind of person who always dares to dream without forgetting you’re an individual and you were made to stand out! The future is our hands.
This years Careers Indaba, organised in partnership with Equal Education and SAEP, saw nearly 1000 leaners come though the doors of the Zolani Centre, all coming to gain valuable exposure to organisations, workshops and other important resources.
The aim on the Indaba is to provide learners with information that will assist them in making informed decisions; a fundamental step in fostering a mind set in the youth of South Africa of pro-active future orientated thinking. 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.
The annual Careers Indaba is a chance for leaners to obtain information on where to continue their studies, start working; find out about on the job training, as well as alternatives to studying through volunteer programs or internships. It gives them a chance to investigate their options and talk directly to the people who are able to guide them in the right direction. In addition Career Planet and Kayin from SAEP also offered workshops on CV building, interview techniques and personal development. Skills that are needed wherever your path takes you.
While protests on the freeway kept a few exhibitors away, it didn’t damper the spirit of the learners who came, and a few had this to say,
Kuhle, “I learnt that I have to be confident and choose a career that will require my talents and abilities.”
Zasipho, “I have learnt about my career, where to study, how and where to apply for bursaries and how to be successful in future.”
Ludwe, “I have learnt that even if you come from a poor family you can get a bursary and go further with your education.”
Sikelelwa, “I have learnt that education is your ticket to success and you have to have dreams in order to succeed. Everything you do is all about knowing what you truly want out of life.
Ngeke, “That you must know what you want and understand your chosen career. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of it.”
Anathi, “I have learnt that there are many opportunities for youth out there so there’s no excuse of not having money or being poor.”
Nosiphiwo, “I learnt that in order for me to achieve my dream career I need to focus on my studies so that I can get better results at the end of the year.”
The day would not have been possible without our amazing partnership with Equal Education and SAEP – big up to them!
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!
Lloyd Lungu