On the 13th of April, Nyanga Matrics got an opportunity to attend the annual UCT Open Day.
This was an important excursion for the Grade 12s as they got to visit a highly regarded institution in their province and learn more about the different programs they can study, and the funding opportunities available to them for tertiary studies.
The learners had a good time, not only attending information sessions but observing experiments and other demonstrations, and also having fun around campus, as those who will soon be walking university campus grounds in less than a year.
Nkosinathi Kaziwa, a grade 12 had the following to say about the day:
I learnt more about the career that I want to pursue, and also learnt about new careers such as Audiology and Environmental and Geographical Science.’
We are excited to have our learners exposed to other career paths and options and know that this Open Day is the first of many eye-opening and informative Career Guidance sessions our learners will be exposed to throughout the year.
Saturday 20 April marked Nyanga’s first official parents’ meeting for 2013. The meeting started a little later than anticipated, as we waited for the parents to arrive, but soon, many of them did, and the meeting started in earnest.
Shuvai, the branch co-ordinator welcomed the parents and introduced the staff and tutors who were present, then handed over to Siphelele, the branch assistant, who then ran the meeting. Siphelele introduced the parents to IY and explained the tutoring program, since the majority of Nyanga’s learners this year are first time ikamvanites whose parents had not yet had a chance to learn about IY from staff members.
Key issues raised in the meeting include learners missing tutoring on account of bad weather, parents’ concerns about gangsterism and violence as impediments to learners attending and a plea to parents to collaborate with branch staff in monitoring attendance, communication and report collection.
Xola Booi, an ex-learner turned tutor, also got a chance to tell the parents about her experience at IkamvaYouth since 2010 when she joined the branch as a grade 10 learner, and received applause from the parents for sharing so clearly and expanding on issues parents were unclear on.
The morning ended on a high note, with staff meeting individual parents to discuss learners and other concerns, over light eats.
A successful parents’ meeting indeed!
This week IkamvaYouth, Equal Education and the South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) will host the annual Careers Indaba.
Businesses, NGOs, professionals, tertiary institutions and Further Education and Training colleges will run information stalls to grade 8-12 students from Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Makhaza, Strand, Kraaifontein, Masiphumelele and surrounding areas.
DATE: Friday, 19 April 2013
TIME: 13h00-17h00
VENUE: Zolani Centre, Sithandatu Avenue, Nyanga, 7750
ENTRY: free
Come wearing your school uniform!
Many learners face challenges when considering their tertiary studies. These challenges include insufficient access to information regarding academic and occupational options as well as affording the cost of further studies.
The Career Indaba provides assistance to learners making decisions about their future. Exhibitors will expose learners to a variety of careers paths and options. Learners will also have the opportunity to learn about scholarships and bursary programs that are available to them.
The programme will include workshops on CV writing, interviewing skills, personal development and study techniques.
For more information:
Marion Petersen
marion@ikamvayouth.org
m: 0798854388
t: 0214224306
Kate Wilkinson
kate@equaleducation.org.za
t: 0213870022
e: 0716824515
Lydia Wasilenko
lydia.eva@live.com
t: 0213870022
On the 12th of April 2013, IkamvaYouth KZN hosted its first Careers Indaba, at the Chesterville Youth Centre. The vision of the Career Indaba was to open up new opportunities for school learners, providing them with information regarding the various programs, resources and support structures that are available to them. By educating learners about the choices that are available to them, we sought to empower learners, allowing them to make informed decisions about their futures.
Learners from Umlazi and Chesterville schools flocked to the Centre, eager to learn about the vast opportunities open to them after they matriculate. Learners had an opportunity to visit various exhibiter stalls, as well as workshops presented by the Durban University of Technology, Varsity College, Eskom, and IkamvaYouth volunteers. Learners were asked about what they had gained/learned from having participated in this event, and if their career choices had changed in any way, this is what a few had to say:
“… when I chose to be a teacher I did not know about other careers, so now that I have learned I have many choices…” – Siphiwo Memela, Gr 9. Chesterville Extension Secondary
“… I wanted to become a lwayer, however looking at the subjects, needed, I changed it.” – Zamokuhle Shezi, Grade 12. Bonela Secondary
“Yes, I think it did and what caused it was the interesting technological and science things I saw from the Eskom team. It really drew a lot of my attention.” Zinhle Mvesa, Grade 11. KwaMathanda High
This event was made possible by the generous donation by Jeffares & Green, an environmental and environmental consulting company based just a few kilometres from the Centre. Jeffares & Green did not just splash money at the event, they actively participated by having representatives present the whole day, who spoke to learners about careers in the environmental management and engineering fields. It’s really fantastic to see the involvement of local businesses in community initiatives such as this.
Thanks also go to ABI, our Umlazi branch funders, who always step up to assist and participate in activities at both KZN branches. The generous supply of drinks and water went a long way in quenching the thirst of both learners and exhibiters on that hot day. We also had a computer donated by Capitec bank, which was raffled on the day.
David Moshoeshoe, a Grade 12 learner commented that the Careers Indaba “is a good initiative bringing information closer to people…”. For a first time effort in the province, I’d say the KZN team did an outstanding job, and we will definitely be back next year with an even bigger and better Careers Indaba. Watch this space!
This past weekend, Nyanga learners participated in an important workshop on fire awareness and safety. The workshop was conducted by the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue services, represented by Ms Nombeko Kopele. The learners gathered in their usual tutoring venue at Zolani Centre and learnt interesting and important realities about fire.
The workshop is very relevant to the learners because fire is a real part of many of their lives as some have had their homes destroyed by it. The workshop covered useful practices to engage in when working with fire, including how to handle live flame, such as candles and some lamps; first aid when someone has been subjected to burns and the reporting protocol when there is a fire. The learners got to see pictures of fires in a variety of settings, such as veld and mountain fires, fires in informal settlements and other kinds of buildings, and visually learnt about the kind of devastation fire can cause.
Ms Kopele divided the learners into different groups and the grade 11 and 12 session doubled up as a career guidance workshop, as she spoke to them about fire fighting as a career path that is open to them post Matric. The learners had many questions about the subject choices they should make in order to work in this field and also the benefits of being a fire-fighter. Ms Kopele was up to the task and answered all the questions posed to her. At the end of the workshop were 90 Ikamvanites well informed about fire safety and protocols.
A very special thank you to the City of Cape Town for delivering this important workshop to the Nyanganites.
Its 2013, we are all settling comfortably into the year. Already we’re headed towards the end of the first term, but that does not mean we do not need to get organised. Each learner is taught how to be responsible and keep tab of everything they do, one of our sponsors gave the learners a head start.
Our great sponsor Capitec realises that we all still need to keep our ducks in a row as we head into the rest of the year. As such, they have kindly donated awesome 2013 diaries to our Matriculants for the year 2013. We had a small diary hand-out this past Saturday as a way to inspire the younger grades to do well and get to matric as well.
The leaners themselves were very happy to receive the wonderful gifts from our valued sponsor; everyone needs a diary after all.
We would like to pass on our gratitude for the kind, and very welcome surprise from Capitec.
Lloyd Lungu