On the 3rd to the 4th of April 2011 the Nyanga top attenders hiked Table Mountain and camped on top for the night
The Camp was organised by BEEP (Beyond Expectations Environment Project) which works with kids in disadvantaged areas and help in educating about their environment while simultaneously tackling the issues they face in their communities
The Camp was attendered by 16 learners from Grade 9 to 12, girls and boys who were so excitted as it was the first time for most of them
Many came back expressing the how much they have learnt and would love to make hiking their hobby
A Big thanx to John Raimondo one of our Gold donors for sponsoring this fun filled Adventure for our learners
The Masiphumelele Ikamvanites who attended 100% of tutoring sessions in the first term were rewarded with an amazing trip to the Cedarberg wilderness during the holidays.
On Thursday 7th April we set off, and after many, many twists, turns, bumps, and a couple of rather green and sick looking Ikamvanites we arrived at the idyllic Leopards Trust Camp in Maijtiesriver. Everywhere we looked we could see mountains, mountains…and…erm… that was about it! The beautiful scenary surrounded a secluded little camp; home to the Cape Leopard Trust.
We were welcomed by Elizabeth and Matthew who would be guiding us over the next few days. We arrived late and after the surprisingly quick erecting of tents we went on a small drive and walk to some amazing rock formations. As the sun was setting over the mountains and turning the sand stone a rich golden colour, everyone had a smile on their face.
The next day was somewhat more of a challenge. Awoken at 6am to the sounds of fighting baboons on the mountain behind us, we sent about the day which involved a gruelling hike to the Wolfberg Cracks. The 5 hour hike was testing at times, but the Ikamvanites rose to the challenge. They moaned, grimaced and perservered. When they arrived at the top of the spectacular rocks there were smiles, laughs and hugs all around.
The afternoon was spent sleeping, playing cards and reflecting on their amaizng accomplishment. The evening was spent dancing and singing around the fire with a lovely night sky gazing session under a full canopy of stars.
The wonderful thing about the camp is that it was educational as well. Whilst we walked and talked we also learnt. Elizabeth and Matthew are both trained teachers with a love and passion for the outdoors, animals and wildlife. We were shown skulls, rock art, leopard traps, taught how to track, how to identify different rock formations and plants, and even shown a plant that makes you smell nice! We saw insects, bugs, baboons, jennets, birds, and even Klipspringer.
The final day was ended in a swim in an isolated and beautiful river where we frolicked in the water as the sun set. Back to camp for a delicious meal prepared by the Ikamvanites and a evening spent lazing around the fire storytelling. The weekend was tiring but fantastic and as the learners got off the bus the only question was ‘When is the next one’.
Thank you to Peter and Allison for volunteering to come along and to all the learners who were amazing!
Sci-Bono – the largest science centre in Southern Africa, opened its arms and dug deep into their pockets to give Ikamvanites the unforgettable lessons of their lives. Free transport, tour to the centre, visit to Palaeo Sciences at Wits University and a goodies box to top it all, what more to ask for this season of goodwill.
Tour to the centre – What? Can you cycle a stationary bicycle to generate power enough to light your bulb, play your TV and radio, to switch on your fan and remember if you stop cycling then you invite load shedding into your seating room. I think South Africa can be the healthiest nation in the whole world; do you share the same sediments?
Survival of the fittest in the animal kingdom – watching a video on a big screen highlighting the co-existence between crocodiles and hippos in the dams, the hunters and the hunted, struggling for water and survival helped the children to empathise with other animals.
Bubbling maths concepts – Mrs Bubbles (the clown) took time out to teach maths in the funniest way ever imagined. If you think maths is hard and boring, think again or get hold of Mrs Bubbles’ manual for making maths teaching fun.
What’s in the bones – Traditional healers throw bones to read messages from the ancestors. Palaeontologists study bones to close the gaps within different stages of evolution and to answer questions of origin, because if we don’t know where we come from we will never know where we are going to. Vuyiswa and Alex took Ikamvanites through an exciting story of fossils and origins of human kind.
And the show goes on – trip to Sci-Bono inspired endless debates and discussions from the bus until IvoryPark.
This past Saturday the fifteen students that had the highest percentage of attendance had an excursion to watch Turn It Loose. Turn It Loose is one of the many great films that is now playing in the Nu Metro theater at the Waterfront in the Encounters Film Festival.
The film that we got to see was about the 2007 Red Bull B Boy Championship in Johannesburg. Turn It Loose told the story of five different break dancers that made there way to Johannesburg in 2007 to compete in the world championship of break dancing. Our learners loved watching this documentary as it was up beat and had great dancing. Turn It Loose will be playing again on the 28 of August if you are interested in watching this film.
EXCURSIONS
Ikamvanites visited the Sci Bono Discovery Centre based in New Town, Johannesburg. Ikamvanites were thrilled with scientific phenomena brought into life on their guided tour. They attended an intriguing public lecturer on the history of mathematics in Egypt and thoroughly enjoyed the Science of Soccer Exhibition.
Ikamvanites also enjoyed the opportunity to tour the Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI) depot in Midrand and were treated to a cinema style setup where refreshments were served and the story of Coca Cola was told to a riveted audience from the very beginnings (it’s hard to imagine life before Coca Cola). A chemical engineer and tour guide entertained with mesmerising facts and trivia and the day ended with a gift pack in hand and memories of an outstanding tour of the biggest Coca Cola plant in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kirstenbosch Excursion
by Nkosinathi Baartman
IKAMVA YOUTH managed to send 72 learners and five tutors to attend a workshop at Kisternbosch. Ikamvanites arrived at 10am at Kisternbosch and were welcomed by teachers who were going to help them for the day. Grade 10s did biomes programme and Grade 11s did programme comparing mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms while Grade 9s did programmes on wetlands and focusing on evolution.
Learners were very impressed about this opportunity and now they have a lot of information such as different types of plants and trees. The interesting part about that session was to know what is needed for having all the things around us as the human beings. Also the learners were showing an interest because they were challenged by teachers asking them questions about what they have taught them.
Learners showed respect and behaved very well and as a result Kirstenbosch has opened an invitation for IkamvaYouth to visit them next year. Tutor Ikamvanites were very involved while engaging with Kirstenbosch teachers and they also had fun while they can’t forget the beautiful Kisternbosh.
Iziko Annexe Trip
By Christopher Fan
The learners from IkamvaYouth Makhaza had the opportunity to attend a Drawing Workshop at the Iziko Annexe. Students had the opportunity to view and appreciate works of art created by fellow peers and learners their own age from different schools around the Western Cape. At the Annexe, basic drawing workshops are provided to all learners ever last Monday of the month. Our learners from Makhaza learned how to create works of art with basic materials. Using cardboard, paper, paint, and cardboard tubing, our learners were taught and assisted on making African trees such as the gum tree, baobab tree, and Italian Iron Pine, and many more. Tutors, Annexe Workers, and the learners had a wonderful time working together and using creativity to produce their own works of art.
Lloyd Lungu