Nyanga’s 2013 Winter School got off to a great start, with 75 learners hosted by TSiBA! The Nyanganites have had a great first week of tutoring, workshops, excursions, team building and all-round fun.
Ms Lindelwa Hanjana, our TSiBA host welcomed us warmly and said the following: ‘’Of course we want IkamvaYouth here. We want young people to learn and we are glad to have the learners at TSiBA for the Winter School program.’’
In the first week, learners had a variety of workshops, led by a huge range of workshop facilitators
HR and money workshops by Capitec bank
Capitec Bank delighted the learners by showing up for their workshops with a sound system, and a colourful set-up and décor arrangement. Learners were ushered into the workshop venue to the sound of contemporary music, but soon the workshop started and the learners learnt about CV writing and other job-related skills that they will Their second session included all the grades and the team spoke to the learners about using, saving and investing money wisely. Learners got prizes for a variety of things, including, but not limited to great participation, good listening and giving good answers to questions posed.
Suzelda Windvoel, a Grade 10 learner said the following after the workshop: ‘ I really liked the money skills workshop. It showed me that I must be clever with my money and buy things I need; not waste it on things I want.’
Creative expression workshop by Nelisa Ngqulana
Nelisa Ngqulana, our Head of MIE, ran creative expression workshops with learners, where they learnt how to write poems and express themselves creatively. It was difficult for the learners at first, but with time, each learner got to write something. At the end of the session, the group read all the poems and voted on the top 3, which got the honour of appearing in our first issue of IkamvaYouth News, Nyanga upcoming magazine, being run by the Media, Image and Expression portfolio.
Media workshops by Reel Lives
In the first week, the group taking media and journalism workshops went through workshops covering a wide variety of issues that young people face in their everyday lives. The facilitators used the ikamvanites’ Reel Lives videos from 2012 as starting points and the bases of the discussions. The discussion touched on interesting, yet sensitive topics such as motherhood, fatherhood, family, gangsterism, culture, and homosexuality. The learners who made the videos were available for question and answer sections and the workshops were very emotional, as learners identified with the whole range of issues covered by their peers’ documentaries.
One of the learners had this to say, after one of the sessions: ‘It is very emotional to see this film because it deals with things that are already happening in our lives.’
Life skills by Nebulas
Rayne Moses of Nebulas spoke to learners about skateboarding and using your interests in a positive way. After sharing the story of his process towards starting a skateboarding organisation, he asked the learners to give their reasons for attending Winter School. The learners opened up to the facilitators and spoke about some of the difficulties they face, and the dreams they have, which will help them overcome those difficulties.
Rayne closed off the session with words of encouragement to the learners and encouraged them to stick to their dreams and what they believe in, because these things will come to pass, if they work towards it and do not get discouraged by obstacles.
Entrepreneurship and business by Silulo
Luvuyo Rani ran a workshop on Entrepreneurship and Business with a group of learners, who were very touched by what he said. He quickly enabled the learners to identify with him by telling them the story of his upbringing, which, like all our learners, was in the townships. He spoke about his journey growing up and eventually starting his own business, which is now a big enterprise in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
The learners’ appreciation of this workshop is perhaps captured best by Mr Rani’s words at the end of the workshop, where he said that, ‘The vote of thanks I received from (a learner) touched me very much. I am happy and I feel that I made a real difference just talking to them about where I’ve come from.’
History and Social Justice by the Jewish museum
Nyanganites also went on excursion at the Jewish museum and the learners were very excited to have an off-site workshop. Our host, Tamara Guinsberg welcomed the group warmly and in smaller groups, the learners got a tour of the museum. The group learnt about the Holocaust, the history of the Jewish people and the richness of Jewish culture, and the facilitators juxtaposed it all with contemporary issues of xenophobia and other discrimination that happens in a South African context, which the learners can relate to. This workshop was a very rich and enriching experience for the learners and on of our volunteers noted the following: ‘this workshop shouldn’t just be for some learners. I learnt so much and I think everyone can learn a lot from this experience. For the coming years we should make it a workshop that every learner participates in.’
Marine Conservation by Save our Seas
Although Cape Town is a coastal city, the marine world is somewhat removed from the everyday reality of our learners and a workshop by Save Our Seas brought this home. Paul and Zanele from the Shark Centre ran an awesome workshop on sharks and their importance in the marine and therefore world eco-system. To kick off the session, Paul asked the learners what they knew about sharks and all answers mentioned sharks as dangerous predators that bite and eat people, and should therefore be feared. The Save our Seas team then debunked the shark and explained how sharks live, breed, what they eat and revealed the number of people who are actually bitten by sharks each year, which is much less than what people believe.
Our learners got the opportunity to view and touch shark skeletons, teeth, skins, eggs and other shark-bits and came away from the workshop more knowledgeable about the world in the deep blue sea.
Life Skills by Inspired Inc.
One can never have enough life-coaching, and Bradley van Reenen from Inspired Inc proved this as he ran an exciting life coaching workshop with our learners. This workshop covered identity, goal setting and dreams and before long, even the quietest learners were embracing their vulnerability and sharing their deep-seated dreams and life goals with fellow Nyanganites. It was a very touching session and learners encouraged one another, and got encouragement from Bradley, who assured and reassured them of their ability to rise up to the levels they have set for themselves. The session ended off with each learner writing down their dreams as a reminder for themselves, each day, until they fulfill those dreams.
SAAO
Our Technology and Engineering stream got a chance to work with their hands and make telescopes under the guidance of Cedric from the SAAO. Using simple apparatus, namely cardboard, paper, glue, pins and lenses, the learners made telescopes and before the afternoon was out, they were outside, trying out their new telescopes and engaging in some daylight star-gazing!
Team building, by IY tutors
It has been an event-filled and exciting weekend for learners, tutors and staff members and by the end of the first week, everyone was feeling the strain of the early mornings, the morning cold and the buzz of activity that has been week 1 of Winter School. To give the learners a break and to foster good relationships among the different grades, we had a team-building exercise on Friday afternoon, where the learners got into groups made up of the different grades, and each had a tutor facilitating.
It was rewarding and sweet to witness the learners affirming one another, talking about the things they liked about each other and then sharing the things they are proud of in themselves, that they wish others knew about them.
A huge thank you to all our partners for the workshops, and for putting up with our venue changes, our excited learners, and our busy staff and volunteers. A huge thank you to TSiBA for accommodating us in our large numbers, and finally, thank you to our volunteers and learners for the energy, the commitment and the passion for education, which is the reason why we are here. To week 2 and beyond!
If you would like to come by and see what we up to please contact:
Shuvai – 079 885 4372
shuvai@ikamvayouth.org
On Tuesday afternoon, in the plush settings of the Emoyeni Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg, the Mail and Guardian launched their annual 200 Young South Africans special edition – and for the third year in a row, an Ikamvanite was on the list!
The event was filled with some of SA’s best and brightest young people, dressed up to the nines. Champage flowed, MC Loyiso Gola cracked jokes, and much networking was had by all. But the real highlight was seeing our amazing Gauteng District Coordinator Patrick Mashanda get some of the recognition he so richly deserves. Patrick has been changing the lives of young men and women in South Africa since long before he joined IkamvaYouth, and his impact is only going to grow from here.
Patrick can be found on page 43 of the Mail and Guardian supplement, in the education section. Grab yourself a copy, and be inspired!
IkamvaYouth equips learners from disadvantaged communities with the knowledge, skills, networks and resources to access tertiary education and/or employment opportunities once they matriculate. It is a great place for youth that are aiming high in life, who wish to reach great things in future. However, learners who suffer from personal or emotional problems are less likely to succeed academically, stay in school, and develop a love of learning. Some of the Ikamvanites reported a lot of challenges that they experience in their daily lives and requested for assistance.
Ikageng Branch joined forces with Family And Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA) to address personal and emotional challenges experienced by Ikamvanites. FAMSA is an organization that aims to empower people to reconstruct, build and maintain a sound quality of life. The purpose of the collaboration is to provide Ikamvanites with support to help them succeed socially, emotionally, and academically. FAMSA committed to provide individual counseling, support groups as well as interactive workshops. The ultimate goal is to promote academic success, enhance health, and prevent behavioral problems.
On the 06 of June 2013 Ikageng Branch held an interactive discussion session with the FAMSA team, lead by Ms Rhulani. The session involved a discussion about common issues facing township youths; risky behaviors and unhealthy choices. Ikageng learners reported a lot of challenges experienced by the youth in the Ikageng Township. Ms Rhulani thereafter introduced the concept of a support group as a group that presents information, provides comfort, teaches coping skills, helps reduce anxiety, and provides a place for people to share common concerns and emotional support. Ikamvanites were keen on partaking in the group.
FAMSA volunteered to run workshops during Winter School. They will run workshops within an allocated activity stream. They requested the branch to prepare topics for the workshops, FAMSA suggested topics such as:
- Life Skills
- Self Growth & Development
- Relationship Workshop
- Conflict Management and Problem Solving Techniques
- Emotional Intelligence
- Time Management
- Self Awareness and Awareness of others
- HIV awareness and prevention programs
The interactive workshops will include the use of training tools such as charts, role plays, group discussions and sometimes video footage, the aim is to empower young people in the decisions they will have to make both in the present and in the future.
A very special thank you to FAMSA for joining forces with IkamvaYouth in addressing learners’ social and emotional needs and connect such supports to stronger academic achievement.
In order to comply with the Health & Safety Regulations, on the 1st of June 2013, IkamvaYouth’s Ikageng Branch participated in a Fire Safety Awareness workshop. The workshop provided employees, learners as well as the volunteers with essential knowledge about fire safety, how to prevent fire from starting as well as what actions to take if fire does break out.
The workshop was conducted by the Shakaneng Skills Provider Emergency Service, represented by the Training Coordinator Mr. Mahlangu. The Ikamvanites gathered in their usual tutoring venue at Thembalidanisi School and learnt interesting and important realities about fire.
The workshop covered useful practices to engage in when working with fire, including how to handle live flame, first aid when someone has been subjected to burns and the reporting protocol when there is fire. Ikamvanites had an opportunity to practice extinguishing live fire using fire extinguishers.
Mr. Mahlangu further enlightened us on various career paths within the fire and rescue fields, ranging from administration, management, medical to paramedical and firefighting and pointed out that there are lots of skills shortages in this career field. Ikamvanites had many questions about the subject choices required in order to work in this field and also the benefits of being a fire-fighter.
The session was very interactive and the Ikamvanites were able to simulate scenarios, like rolling on the ground when you catch fire, and were shown charts of what to do. All the Ikamvanites were told where their closest fire station is and were instructed to call 10177 or 0184627219 in case of a fire or any other emergency.
We would like to thank the Shakaneng Emergency Service and everyone that assisted with this workshop. We look forward to the firefighter training.
Knowledge is power and Information is liberating!!!
The results of matric supplementary exams are out, and IkamvaYouth is proud to report an amazing overall 94% matric pass for the class of 2012! Even more impressive is that an incredible 90% of these passes are of either Bachelor or Diploma quality.
IkamvaYouth is proud of our learners, and especially those who were undeterred by the blow of failing the first time round. “Second chances don’t always mean a happy ending. This was the chance for supplemental learners to end their Matric on the right note. They all grabbed the opportunity and made it happen,” says Makhaza branch coordinator Zukile Keswa.
And Ikamvanites aren’t passing by choosing easy subjects. IkamvaYouth matriculants are almost twice as likely to achieve a pass including pure Mathematics (45%) and Physical Sciences (37%) as their school peers (24% of whom pass Maths and 22% Science).
Matric is just the beginning of lifelong learning, and over 73% of all IkamvaYouth’s 2012 matrics have accessed tertiary education this year and are now studying further at Certificate, Diploma or Degree level. More than half of these young men and women, 43% of our whole matric cohort, have enrolled at Universities or Universities of Technology.
Our supplementary writers have secured placements too, through their grit and determination.
“I was not happy to see other Ikamvanites going to varsity. I was angry at myself for failing. One of the things that kept me going was the support I got from IkamvaYouth and other 2012 matriculants. They were helping. I am now studying mechanical engineering at Northlink College. At least now I am also a student like other Ikamvanites,” says Anele Sololo.
Most of our learners’ parents and guardians are unemployed, or working as domestic workers, cleaners or labourers. Ikamvanites are on the path to greatly improving their families’ circumstances as they enter fields of study including Chemistry, Accounting, Teaching, Engineering and IT.
“Looking back to my family’s financial instability, I thought I wasn’t going to reach university… Then a week later, I received an email notifying me that I have been given 90% bursary towards my tuition to study this course, with the accommodation paid for. I was really overwhelmed, I couldn’t believe it,” wrote Talent Chinogureyi, who matriculated at our Chesterville branch and is now studying a B.Com in Politics, Philosophy & Economics at St Augustine College.
Another 20% of the IkamvaYouth class of 2012 – most of those who did not access tertiary education – are now in learnerships or employment. And 2% are returning to school this year, to upgrade their matric results.
That brings our post-school placements for the class of 2012 to 96% – a brilliant result considering that nationally, almost 42% of South Africans aged 18-24 are not in employment, education or training.
The weekend of 4th May 2013 saw the Chesterville branch having its 2nd term parents meeting. With the branch having a learner number of more than 130 leaners, we had anticipated a high number of parents to come in for the meeting. However that was not the case with the team having exhausted all methods in trying to get the parents to attend the meeting that still lead to less than the desired number attending.
The meeting started off by parents being introduced to the IY model by us playing the Funeka video for them. After that an open discussion was held to better explain to them the specifics and how IY greatly impacts their children. Many parents that had attended the meeting were parents of learners that had recently joined the program and they showed gratitude towards the programme.
The meeting agenda addressed attendance, report collection, careers indaba 2013 and winter school and the importance of every learner attending the two week holiday programme. Discussions regarding tertiary applications for the matriculants were also addressed in the meeting. Emphasize was placed on how parents need to play a huge role in ensuring that their child has applied for university or any other equivalent opportunity, to also be aware of the cost implications that come with registrations and tertiary fees. Alternatives are provided by IkamvaYouth however parents also need to be armed with knowledge and know the different resources/services that are provided for post matrics.
One parents said that her child in grade 11 initially was not a high achieving child however ever since they joined IY she has seen improvement with regards to her attitude and school work.
Overall from the parent’s perspective, it seems we are impacting the learners greatly and if these learners continue to stay in the programme greater things are sure to come. That can only be achieved through collaborative efforts between the parents and the branch.
Lloyd Lungu