Following the success of the matric camp in 2013, the WC team ran the second annual matric camp following directly on after the two weeks of winter school in July. This year saw 85 matrics from the Western Cape branches as well as from the Eastern Cape get together for a week getaway at the Rotary Glencairn camp site, for 5 days of intensive tutoring, academic workshops and exam practice.
The first day saw all the learners arriving at the site and participating energetic team-building exercises to help break the ice as learners started interacting more freely across the branches, working collectively to earn points for their various teams. True to ikamvanite culture, tutoring started in earnest from day one and the learners spent the rest of the afternoon working through past exam papers and Answer Series guides.
Throughout the camp learners have all managed to take part in a variety of activities aimed at preparing them for their final exams and tertiary studies. From intensive tutoring and exam practice to workshops around how to study effectively and evening self study times.
While the camp is a serious study boot camp, with tutoring happening from early in the morning until late into the night, the learners found the time to energise themselves through the terrible weather with an impromptu talent show where learners mixed things up between branches for an evening of singing, dancing, stand up comedy and drama. I’m convinced the next MC Solaar is in this group!
Sixolisiwe sibebosi , a volunteer said the following: ‘The matric camp was very productive to me. Firstly everything was well prepared, the kids were hungry to learn something and that gave me a lot of courage and it motivated me to make sure that I give all and make a change. IkamvaYouth changed my life and I also passed my matric because of IkamvaYouth and matric camp so it was a minor thing for me tor do, I wish I could do more.’
Bonke Sibunzana, a learner from Masi said the following, ‘what I liked about matric camp was how committed the tutors were. They encouraged us to use the tutoring time wisely. I also like how united we were as ikamvanites. We showed love and support for each other ‘, while Nobulali Swaartbooi from Nyanga said ‘Matric camp was a great experience. It was great learning with people from different schools and coming together with all our different ideas.’
This strongly echoes IY’s value of peer-to-peer sharing and IY is excited to witness the fruit of the Matric camp as the learners write their mock exams in September and final exams in November.
A very special thank you to Pick’n Pay Fish Hoek, for generously supplying camp catering, and ensuring that all our learners, volunteers and staff are well fed every day of the camp; Rotary for their beautiful camp sites and ERM for the donation of solar lamps for all our matric learners. This gives out learners going into their final exams the opportunity to study at home in the evenings, thanks ERM!
Good luck for the final exams IY 2014 Matric Class!
On the morning of Friday the 4th of July, the 5th day of our first ever annual winter school as the Mamelodi branch; was the day we took our learners and volunteers for an excursion at Freedom Park. The day started with the excited learners and tutors being ushered into the bus heading to Freedom Park.
Upon arrival everyone received wrist bands for entrance to Freedom Park. A tour guide, by the name of Gift; was assigned to us for the day and addressed everyone and set out the basic rules that had to be followed during the tour.
Freedom Park was established to capture human dignity, rights and freedom and reflects the sacrificial achievements of the nation. Learners were excited and willing to learn about their own history and understand the extent to which liberation was attained in South Africa.
The tour started with the ikamvanites visiting S’ikhumbuto, one of the elements in the Freedom Park, which includes a Wall of Names as a remembrance of the fallen heroes of the struggle, an Amphitheatre, an Eternal flame, a Gallery of leaders and a Sanctuary. The next element that was visited was Moshate; which functions as an exhibition space for designs of the various kingdoms in the South Africa landscape. Learners then visited Mveledzo which is a spiral path, Uitspanplek a space which showed the view of the scenic Pretoria CBD area, which also overlooks the Voortrekker Monument and UNISA University.
Amongst other wonderful elements the learners visited was Tiva, a large body of water, which symbolises peace, Sivivane which symbolises a resting place for those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle. The Sivivane includes a symbolic burial ground, which is surrounded by 11 boulders known as Leshaka; all these boulders were taken from all the 9 provinces around the country. What’s also included in Sivivane is a body of water at both entrances for baptism and drinking and Umlahlankosi trees.
During the tour, learners asked questions and were intrigued by the diverse cultures and history that South Africa holds. The highlight of the tour was when the ikamvanites visited IIhapo which told a story about the beginning of life in Africa and how it impacted the rest of the world and the Pan African archives.
It was definitely a day that changed the learner’s outlook on being an African and all that this country had to overcome in order to be as privileged as it is today.
One of our learners had this to say:”I will now be able to understand the history subject more in class because I visited Freedom Park. Thanks to IY for taking us to Freedom Park and to Freedom Park for the experience”- Grade 10 learner.
From IkamvaYouth Mamelodi, we say thank you to Freedom Park for having us 🙂!!!
Nyanga Winter School 2014 kicked off on a high note as 107 learners and 32 tutors congregated at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) for an unforgettable 2 weeks of intensive learning, revision and workshops.
Our Winter School opening ceremony was colourful, with learners, tutors and staff talking, singing and laying out the ground rules to govern our behaviour and engagement for the two weeks. Our host, Wandisile Mdepa, representing UWC welcomed the learners and encouraged them to work hard, pursue excellence and make the most of the opportunity afforded them by IkamvaYouth while they are still in school.
Workshops
During the two weeks, Nyanganites participated in 16 different workshops in a variety of interest streams, namely film, media, journalism, drama, business, finance, history, technology, engineering, the environment, life skills, and career guidance. All Nyanganites participated in compulsory workshops on social media, hosted by Mxit Reach, and an HIV/AIDS and TB session hosted by the SACTWU worker health program, after which there was voluntary HIV testing. The Jewish museum generously sponsored an afternoon educational tour of the museum, and the outing was one of the highlights of Winter School for many of the learners.
Tutoring
Nyanga tutors showed remarkable dedication to the learners as they tutored tirelessly for the 9 days, making recommendations for how best to help individual learners in the different areas covered. A record 16 ex-learners tutored at this Winter School, and their presence and stories inspired many Nyanganites and encouraged them in their aspirations to pass Matric and access tertiary education, in pursuit of a dignified living.
Here is what some Nyanganites had to say about this year’s Winter School:
‘I want to thank all the tutors for sacrificing their time to come and teach us what they know. It’s not easy to wake up so early everyday but you tutors have shown that you care about us and our education and we will work hard to make sure that we make you proud.’ Grade 11 learner.
‘I have learnt many things at Winter School, especially in the workshops. I learnt that it is not safe to put all my information on Facebook because there are dangerous people out there, and I must always be careful.’ Grade 10 learner.
Nyanga Winter School 2014 was definitely a success and this was possible because of the combined effort of everyone who planned it and our different partners who conducted workshops. Thank you to UWC for hosting us and to all our workshop facilitators. The full list of organisations, companies and individuals who conducted workshops is as follows:Cape Town Science Centre, Capitec Bank, Environmental Resource Management, Mxit Reach, IkamvaYouth Nyanga tutors, South African Astronomical Observatory, SACTWU Workers’ Health program, Safety Lab, SA Jewish museum, Save Our Seas, SunStep, Lufefekazi Jojo, Raldo Kruger, Sonwabile Dwangu, Tendekai Finos and Ziyanda Tshoki.
Thank you all for your contribution. IkamvaYouth Nyanga appreciates you very much and looks forward to a continued partnership with you.
IkamvaYouth Ivory Park and Ebony Park were invited to this year’s careers indaba. As we are an organization that has academics at heart; we accepted the invite and took along our grade 12s. We arrived at the career affair in the morning, with our volunteers and learners. We were given bags to put all our goodies in, books, pamphlets and all the essentials that one can use to enhance their career choices.
After the formalities, the fun began. Many exhibitors from different countries, institutions and also the SABC Education were there.
Exhibitors, like the University of Russia were there giving learners’ insight on the process of studying at their institutions and what their countries could provide for them and also the process of applying to the different institutions in Russia. The South African Defense Force was also there to answer and advices those who wanted to take a career in the defense force. Our volunteers also received an opportunity to talk to people from organizations like, Careers24,Chilli Adventures, Careers Focus and also the National Development Agency and it was clear that they were more than satisfied. Most of the international institutions such as the China Medical University, Southwest University, Education USA and Peking University of Health Science gave our learners opportunities to ask questions. Some were also displaying their power points, while others where explaining to Ikamvanites and other learners the opportunities that they countries can offer them. Bursary sponsors like the Anglo American, Eskom, Johannesburg Stock Market Exchange and Auditor General were also explaining to the brightest kids about their bursary selection process.
It was day filled with entertainment, excitement and information, fun was had by all.
On the 24th of May, ABI in partnership with the IkamvaYouth Mamelodi Branch planned an educational trip for our grade 11 learners to the University of Pretoria’s open day. The day started with the departure time being 7am, for early arrival. Breakfast was then served to everyone on the way to the university. The rules for the day were announced and learners were put into groups of five with the ABI volunteers and IkamvaYouth staff as group leaders. The aim of the day was for the learners to gather and understand as much information as possible. This open day was a new experience for all our grade 11 learners which proved to be a very eye opening and educational for them. A variety of information was pursued with unlimited eagerness; this meant that they asked a lot of questions regarding the courses and career fields the learners had interest in. Evidently, the aim of the trip was to encourage and make the learners aware of the paramount opportunities that are available to them. Amid the busyness of the day, learners took the time to ask and gather information displayed by the university regarding the extra mural activities that it offers to its students, this ranges from karate, choir’s, Tuks FM and the different sports offered by the university. Overall the open day was well organised, well received by our learners. Every course in all faculties that the university offers was exhibited diligently. Below are two testaments from two of our grade 11 learners, Keitshepile and Thabiso, who shared their experience of the Open day.
“The Open day at the University of Pretoria was fascinating and interesting to say the least. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and became motivated to apply early to the university in 2015. I will make it into the BComm programme and that can only be done by making sure that I pull up my socks & work hard at school. It won’t be easy but I am prepared to do the work. I did not know the various opportunities that I can choose from in the BComm field, the field I aim to pursue. The University offers a lot of extra mural-activities that I would love to participate in, such as soccer and karate. Overall the experience was amazing because I got to know and understand what a university looks like and what it takes to be part of one. I would like to thank Ikamvayouth and ABI for taking us there and allowing us to gather the information we need about the careers we intend to pursue.” Keitshepile Ofentse Mokgoshi – Ikamvanite
“We, the learners were invited to the University of Pretoria Open Day whereby the aim was to gather information about career guidance and academic support. Learners from different backgrounds and schools came together to know more about the courses offered and the marks one needs to get to be accepted into the courses they wish to study. Amongst all the career guidance talks and tours, there was also a bursary competition opened to the all grade 12 learners who wished to study at the University of Pretoria in 2015. There were many other tours and group sessions that were offered to provide clearer details of how the university works. We, the grade 11s were asked to come so that we can be aware of what it takes to study at the University of Pretoria in 2016. This was a great experience because most of the grade 11s don’t really think about post school opportunities and applying at a university but this open day came at a great time to know more regarding careers and other academic opportunities.” Thabiso Tsotsetsi – Ikamvanite
We would like to thank our branch funder ABI for organising and handling logistics for the day. A knowledgeable experience was had by all the ikamvanites that attended.
On the 6th of May, IkamvaYouth Ebony Park branch was invited to The Wits NGO Fair at Wits University campus organized by The Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach (WCCO). The Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach are formally known as the volunteer programme that provides students with an organized approach to community service. IkamvaYouth and many other organizations were invited to interact with the Wits community to exhibit their projects and also inform on how the Wits community can get involve in their projects.
The day started with organizations putting their gazebo’s and stands for students to come and learn about their projects/products. IkamvaYouth Ebony Park Branch staff members and intern, Thandeka Raphakga, took this opportunity to showcase what IkamvaYouth is all about to the Wits Community and also strengthens the relationship they already have with the Wits Community.
The day went on with students asking how can they get involve with IkamvaYouth, what programs does the organization offer, and what are the benefits involved in being a volunteer. Lots of students were eager to join the organization. It came as a surprise to see how people value voluntary work, as one of the students said “Voluntary work is part of a human’s responsibility to give back to the community and it also goes with passion for doing good things to society”. The Wits NGO Fair was a good platform for NGOs to introduce their respective organizations to the students and inform them about the importance of volunteering and also the opportunities involved with volunteering.
The massage is that, volunteering contributes meaningfully to the community while gaining leadership and interpersonal skills.
Lloyd Lungu