Masiphumelele | IkamvaYouth

DA DA DAAAAA…introducing IkamvaYouth Masiphumelele!

The IkmavaYouth Open Day was held on the 22nd of January and was a great chance for new Ikamvanites to meet, understand, and be inspired by IkamvaYouth. The staff were there to welcome them and older Ikamvanites were there to assist learners in their applications. Some of our tutors were also on hand to offer assistance and to get to know the new Ikamvanites. We also have some new tutors this year, so this served as an introduction for them; Alex and Jordan from California and Masibhumelele from Masi.

After the initial lamentations about the length and impossibility of the form, they settled down and it was clear that it became an enjoyable and rewarding process for many. The Ikamvanites then got to see the documentary about IkamvaYouth ‘Flying Colours’, which demonstrated the worth of working hard and highlighted IkamvaYouth’s core value of commitment. The learners came out of the cinema room with inspired smiles…and hopefully inspired minds!

This new motivation was also thanks to Simphiwe, our art genius who attained a place at Michaelis Art school, starting this week. He delivered a speech to the eager Ikamvanites explaining the importance of hardwork and following your dreams!

Many of the new, fresh faced applicants are the friends, siblings or cousins of current Ikamvanites which demonstrates the value of IkamvaYouth for these young people. We hope the new Ikamvanites will look up to the ‘oldies’ and in turn they will set a great example.

Interviews were held the following Saturday and ‘Last Chance Interviews’ took place on Monday 1st February. We have now selected all the Ikamvanites for this year, so our totals are; Grade 12 = 20; Grade 11 =17, Grade10 =14, Grade 9 = 8, Grade 8 =15. We are beginning 2011 with 74 learners. This includes a group of 6 students who will participate in a pilot English feeder programme, that will develop basic English skills so these learners can access the mainstream tutoring sessions by the end of the term.

We are excited to get going with some hardcore learning! We received many applications, and have even started a waiting list for next term. We hope that the Ikamvanites that we selected prove us right in their determination and commitment. Lets GO!

The Philosophy Masters of Masi!

Polly Saul came flying in to Masi 3 months ago to engage Ikamvanites in philosophy. With the assistance of Zoe Mann they delivered a course on the love of thought. Pondering expressions and inquisitive questions became the order of the day for the 11 participants on Thrusday afternoons. The sessions encouraged the learners to discuss questions, develop concepts and delve deeper into subjects they have never before given the time to.

The discussions were enthralling. Questions like; ‘what is certain in life?’; ‘What is evil?’; And ‘If we have a choice are we free?’ were generated throughout the last few months. As well as heated discussions about the Information Bill, Zuma’s many wives, and the value of culture in today’s society. A mind-blowing amount was discussed and many topics and ideas arose. Along with this many quotes were posed to the learners to get their philosophical juices bubbling in their minds. The favourite seemed to be ‘Nobody can be made to feel inferior without their permission’.

It has no doubt broadened their minds and started to provoke philosophical questions in everyday life. Their participation has improved their English skills, self-esteem, vocabulary, and the sense of self-belief is through the roof. We hope that we can continue this programme next year with a new group to crack open more young minds!

When learning meets acting

Saturday the 18th of September 2010 was dedicated to a 3 hours cleanup on Long Beach in Noordhoek.

12 learners from the Masiphumelele branch, fully equipped with yellow bags, have been tracking abandoned rubbishes from human activities. Last year, they counted 3 600 different types of objects. Among those items they all found products that humans denigrated to put into a bin.

From glass bottles to heaters, passing through cotton buds, or lollipop sticks, plastic bags, wood logs, are the daily life of migratory and local birds.