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.
“I would like to say thank you very much to The Answer Series for providing us with so much helpful workbooks”, Xolisile – grd 11
“Thanks a lot Answer Series, your generosity and kindness just made us even better IkamvaYouth” – Nomkhosi, grd 11
“I write this letter to thank the Answer Series books. I hope you will also help others. Your books are helping us a lot, please don’t change the way you are about African pupils” – Pontso, grd 11
“Thank you Answer Series for helping us with your great books; thank you again and again” – Phindile, grd10
“Thank you, The Answer Series for giving us these books, they are helping us a lot as it says our key to matric success this is appreciable and unforgettable, keep up the good work” – Bongiwe, grd 10.
IkamvaYouth Gauteng Learners could not hold back their enthusiasm as they received The Answer Series study materials which is enabling them to work independently and in small groups at a crucial time when a lot of teaching is being lost due to the Civil Servants strike.
Teacher strikes can have a negative influence on the end of the year results but resources like the Answer Series books help the learners ensure that they keep primed and ready for their exams.
Thank you to everyone at the Answer Series -IkamvaYouth Gauteng
XENOPHOBIA—’WHERE DO I STAND?’
IkamvaYouth screened Molly Blank’s thought provoking documentary “Where do I stand?” on xenophobia which prompted much reflective and introspective thoughts from Ikamvanites. Be sure to log on to our website IkamvaYouth for some of the responses from our Cape Town learners.
HIV/AIDS AWARENESS—VOLUNTARY TESTING & COUNSELLING
Ikamvanites learnt that taking charge of their futures also means taking charge of their health and specifically, take charge of their status. The first step is to test and KNOW YOUR STATUS. During the winter school personnel from New Start presented on the confidentiality and voluntary testing procedure followed by presentations and disclosure from the members of the Philani Support Group based at Ivory Park. More than a third of our learners and volunteers went and tested. The turnout exceeded our expectations and as a result New Start will be invited again later this year.
YOUTH DAY 2010
Ikamvanites marked Youth Day with a time of reflection by lighting candles for the victims of the past and the present. Ikamvanite Joe Manciya led the group through a multimedia commemoration of the events of Soweto in 1976 and brought these to our present consciousness as Ikamvanites asked themselves what we can do to shape our world.
SKYPE SESSION WITH BRAZILIAN YOUTH
World Cup Fever is of course global and there’s no country better acquainted with world cup soccer glory than Brazil which was just one of a number of topical conversations Ikamvanites had over Skype with CAJU, a Brazilian youth group keen to exchange life experiences and share in some world cup fever from across the Atlantic. Ikamvanites learnt that many of the social issues, dreams and ambitions of Brazilian youth are very similar to their own. As a special surprise, Ikamvaites also received Brazilian t-shirts from the Brazilian Embassy which went down a treat.
COMPUTER LITERACY TRAINING
IkamvaYouth’s Grade 10 learners with no previous experience of computers were introduced to the world of IT through Operation Fikelela, our context-specific introductory computer literacy training curriculum. The group will continue the lessons through the rest of the year.
Every Ikamvanite must leave school with a clear plan for the years ahead. For most this means accessing tertiary institutions, bursary opportunities, learnerships, or repeating their matric subjects to improve their marks. Each IkamvaYouth matriculant at the winter school had a one-on-one session identifying their goals for 2011 and how to get there. Allan Gray also presented their bursary scheme to the learners which we hope will serve as a motivating factor for the end of year exams. Ikamvanites also got a chance to tour wits with the Wits Volunteers.
Lloyd Lungu