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
Township learners help each other achieve 82% pass rate, with 87% of those who passed eligible for tertiary study (51% bachelor and 36% diploma)
IkamvaYouth learners are celebrating great matric results; once again these township youth have achieved results that far surpass the national averages, showing that the odds can indeed be overcome. Matrics from nine branches across five provinces achieved an overall 82% pass rate, with 87% of those eligible for tertiary study (51% bachelor and 36% diploma).
The organisation is proud to achieve these results while scaling its reach; the class of 2014 (244 learners) saw a 63% growth in matric numbers from the previous year (153 learners). Two branches are celebrating excellent results for their inaugural matric cohorts: Joza in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, achieved an 85% pass with 89% of those eligible for tertiary, and Ikageng in the North West achieved an 84% pass with 95% of those eligible for tertiary studies. IkamvaYouth’s director Joy Olivier said: “I’d like to congratulate the ikamvanites on your incredible achievements. I would also like to thank all our staff, tutors, supporters and donors for the energy, commitment, love and support that makes this work possible.”
The class of 2014 are going on to study a range of important fields that will equip them with the skills they need to build South Africa, including medicine, speech and audiology, social work, biomedical science, town management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and information technology to name just a few!
IkamvaYouth’s work with the class of 2014 is far from over. While many of those who passed have already been accepted by the country’s top universities, there is still work to be done to ensure that none of the class of 2014 become NEETs (not in education, employment or training). Most of the learners who did not pass are eligible for supplementary exams, and IkamvaYouth will be supporting these learners to ensure that they are well-prepared to clear this hurdle on the way to securing post-school opportunities.
IkamvaYouth has maintained a matric pass rate of between 82 and 100% each year since 2005, and true credit for these results must go to the learners, volunteers, the staff, partner organisations and donors. “IkamvaYouth would like to shout out particular thanks to IkamvaYouth’s five largest donors in 2014: Amalgamated Beverage Industries, Omidyar Network, Capitec Bank, the Stars Foundation and the TK Foundation. Without these and all of the other wonderful donors, these results would not be possible. We hugely appreciate your support and are looking forward to continuing to working with you in the years to come,” said chairperson Leigh Meinert.
For more information about IkamvaYouth, please refer to our 2013 Annual Report.
If you would like to donate to IkamvaYouth, please do so via Given Gain or Global Giving or contact alex@ikamvayouth.org.
Hear from the Ikamvanites themselves:
Beauty Komone: “I grew up in an Ivory Park Township in a disadvantaged family of seven where no one including my three siblings (who are out of high school) have gotten into tertiary. Tutoring and other programmes that are run by IkamvaYouth have boosted my performance and the way I perceive life. I am now going to University to study IT.”
Benny Matlou: “IkamvaYouth is not just an educational organisation, it is also an organization of personal growth and empowerment, which takes youth through a journey of self-discovery where one gets to build their personal values and learn the importance of respect, loyalty, dedication and self-discipline. IkamvaYouth has truly lifted me off the ground to new and better heights.”
Jabulile Khoza: “IkamvaYouth went the extra mile by organising winter school, educational trips, career guidance events at the convenience of our branch. Another amazing thing that IkamvaYouth did for me, my life and my career was to link me with an amazing mentor who now is still awesome. It is a blessing and a huge privilege to be an Ikamvanite.”
Nokukhanya Mdlalose: “I would like to thank IkamvaYouth for helping me. Because of them I have achieved a bachelor pass and now have a chance to go to university.”
Mapule Molebatsi: “I joined IkamvaYouth in grade 10 and since then my marks have improved. I now have a bachelor pass and I know that if it was not for the help and encouragement of IkamvaYouth, I would have never gotten this far.”
Nereth Vuma: “IkamvaYouth gave me help that I couldn’t get anywhere else; they did it with willingness and encouragement. I am grateful for the help I have received from IkamvaYouth.”
Mrs Mpangane (Mother of Tiyiselani who achieved 7 distinctions): “Thank you IkamvaYouth, I hope you continue to do the same for other children this year, next year and many other years to come.”
Shelton Chadya (tutor): “I feel very, very happy because seeing these learners do better than we did, we can’t celebrate enough. Most of the learners are people that I tutored. Well done guys!”
Cheryl Nzama (IkamvaYouth Staff Member): “We are very excited about the results coming out of IkamvaYouth. The standards have been set and we hope that IkamvaYouth Mamelodi will achieve the same standards to give learners the best possible opportunities and education.”
Felicia Mpande (Grade 12 learner 2014): “IkamvaYouth assisted me greatly by exposing me to career workshops, computer literacy and creative expressions and has been a second home to me. Thank you for all the help you gave me.”
IkamvaYouth is very proud to announce that the average pass rate for its Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI) funded branches was 83%; smashing the national average of 75.8%. Of those who passed, 82% are eligible for tertiary education with 51% achieving a bachelor pass.
ABI and IkamvaYouth have a smart strategic partnership which has enabled IkamvaYouth to establish four branches (Umlazi in KZN, Ebony Park and Mamelodi in Gauteng, Ikageng in the North West Province). ABI’s staff have been actively involved in the branches; not only have they provided funding, but ABI employees have refurbished and upgraded branches and provided tutoring and mentoring to learners. “ABI has enabled IkamvaYouth to help disadvantaged learners get the best possible matric qualification so that they are well on the path to earning a dignified living,” says IkamvaYouth director, Joy Olivier.
One of the many examples of incredible achievement comes from Tiyiselani Mpangane, who joined the Ebony Park branch in 2012 as a grade 10 learner, when she was really struggling at school. Soon her results began to shoot up, and they didn’t stop! She got 6 distinctions, and has already been accepted to study medicine at UCT. This is an exceptional achievement: out of 200 first year UCT medical students, only ten are black. “I feel so proud, I feel so proud.. words can’t describe how excited I am for her, and I wish her and all these learners all the best in life”, says Nyasha Zvomuya, Branch Coordinator at Ebony Park, the most established of IkamvaYouth’s ABI-funded branches, where 91% of the class of 2014 have indicated that they want to return to IkamvaYouth to become volunteer tutors.
“IkamvaYouth is absolutely thrilled to have ABI’s support and looks forward to working with them in 2015 and beyond”, says Leigh Meinert, chairperson of IkamvaYouth.
“As we celebrate our fifth year with IkamvaYouth, I am thrilled that the sustained high performance of ‘Ikamvanites’ continue to ensure that ABI as a company remains committed to Education Development in our country. This partnership is worth every investment, especially since it gives more than just education but supplies a continued pool of inspired tutors that return to give back to IkamvaYouth. We are really proud of all ‘Ikamvanites’.” Tshidi Ramogase, Head of Corporate Affairs, ABI.
Lloyd Lungu