On the 23rd of January 2015, the IkamvaYouth Ivory Park branch entered into partnership with Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa (CAFSA), which would see the Ivory Park branch and its host, Kaalfontein Secondary School benefit from development initiatives offered through CAFSA.
Among the things proposed to CAFSA through a partnership proposal drafted by IkamvaYouth were a mobile office and computer lab to be donated and stationed at Kaalfontein Secondary to benefit IkamvaYouth staff, volunteers, learners and the school, help with setting up of a library for the school and also to benefit Ikamvanites, painting and renovations on toilets and classrooms, paving and landscaping, office assets and stationary, volunteer mentors and tutors, learning aids, uniforms and sports equipment.
On the 3rd of March 2015 the Ivory Park branch and Kaalfontein secondary received a donation of stationary which was fairly shared between the two partners. Many thanks to CAFSA for the support given to IkamvaYouth in form of donation in stationary items listed below.
Item Quantity
Pens 29
Erasers 48 (12×4 cases)
Pencils 192 (28×8 cases)
Gule stick 9 (3×3 packs)
Oxford Dictionaries 2
Prestick 1 pack
Chalks 1 box
Exam pads 40
Mathematical Instruments 51 sets
Permanent Markers 12
A4 Ultra Office paper 1 pack (5×500 sheets)
Pencil Sharpener 1
In addition to the donations, CAFSA also invited Mentors from Shell JHB EVW Project who came on 3 March 2015 to mentor all grade 11 learners at Kaalfontein Secondary School. The Ivory Park branch coordinator (Clemence Msindo) was afforded a chance to liaise with Mrs Ntobeko Mogadime who is Shell SA’ Social Investment Manager for a possibility of having full time mentors from Shell SA for IkamvaYouth learners.
Many thanks to Elyjoy Ikunyua, Business Development Manager and Nandi Ngubeni, Client Support Officer at Charities Aid Foundation, for bringing this development initiative to IkamvaYouth and its partner, Kaalfontein Secondary School. “I am so honered to have hosted IkamvaYouth at my school, and now my school is benefiting through IkamvaYouth. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with IkamvaYouth and great thanks to CAF and Shell SA for making this happen”, says Mr K.G Maduma, the Principal of Kaalfontein Secondary School.
It’s not often that our volunteer tutors get the opportunity to attend skills workshops that have been arranged exclusively for them. The Shell Volunteer Day, on the 4th of March 2015, was therefore a much appreciated occasion, where employees from the company took time out from their day, to spend with our Ikamvanites, sharing vital skills for entering the job market. This event was organized and made possible by the Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa (CAF SA). During the workshop, facilitated by Nandi Ngubeni from CAF SA, Ikamvanites gained important knowledge about how to write CVs and cover letters, how to conduct oneself in an interview, and basic professionalism tips such as telephone etiquette.
Here’s what some of them had to say about the experience:
“Thank you very much for a great educational fun filled morning guys. I really enjoyed being around you, learning about you and what you do and hearing different views of the world at work really enjoyed the company and the advice of my team Prudence ,Snazo, and Shakira had lots of fun. I learnt a lot as well and got some tips too. I received good feedback and constructive criticism which will help me when I write my cover letter and CV. I loved the mock interview the most as it kept me on my toes and I got to expand the knowledge I already know. Thank you for taking time out of your busy days to come I received a great deal of motivation.”
~Nokukhanya Ngcobo
“Firstly, I would like to appreciate Shell for the workshop we benefited a lot,we have learnt the tips of how to apply using emails, Sunday Times, employment agencies and how to write a cv and cover letter. And what is expected of us when we go to an interview. They also did mock-interviews with us practically, and learnt that when I am at the interview, I must get straight to the point, and to be myself.”
~Gciniwe Zulu
“I would like to send a special Thank You to the CAF and SHELL people for uniting and spending some quality time with us. I appreciated each and every moment, we had fun with those 30 second cards, i learned a lot especially on how to to a Cover Letter, (An Enormous THANK YOU to the kind and beautiful lady who was helping me with it). Thanks to the IKAMVA YOUTH for having me, Thanks to the lady who organised and Thanks to everyone who made yesterday special.”
~Sfundo Mthembu
“To the CAF and SHELL thank you very much 4 such amazing thing u did for me, I never thought of the importance of a covering letter before. Today I have a better understanding of the important of covering letter and a CV. Guys what you did for me is good, keep it up and pass it to other because a lot of people lose their dream jobs because of the covering letter. To you all of the people from CAF and SHELL I THANK YOU N I SALUTE YOU”
~Gugu Shabalala
It wasn’t just important skills that were shared on this day, Shell also donated some much needed stationery and learning materials to the Chesterville branch! I would like to take this opportunity to thank CAF SA and Shell for the generous support. It really is through partnerships with dedicated, like-minded organisations and companies that we can make Vision 2030 a reality.
Towards the end of last year, IkamvaYouth embarked on an exciting and learning filled pilot programme with the Western Cape Government to implement the IY model in 2 high schools in the province with 8 volunteers. It is through the experiences and learnings in this pilot that the reach has expanded to 8 high schools, just under 800 learners and implemented with 35 volunteers to deliver high-impact after-school tutoring programmes in secondary schools in the Western Cape while developing the skills and proficiencies of young leaders.
The Year Beyond programme is adding value to the school’s MOD Centres by increasing the range of after-school activities to include an academic arm. The programme, working with grades 8-10 in each school includes IkamvaYouth model tutoring and tech-assisted English and Maths tuition through FunDza and Olico respectively.
The project will attract just under 800 learners who are all eager to take their futures into their own hands. They are supported in this after-school space by a fantastic bunch of change makers who come from all walks of life but share a passion for youth and development. These young graduates are paying-it-forward by volunteering their time to serve as role models for these aspiring learners.
These volunteers have just completed 2 weeks of intensive IkamvaYouth training where they received in depth tutor and tech assisted programme training, visited branches, participated in conflict resolution workshops, spent time in their schools and met MOD centre coaches, all while developing their teams; identifying and honing the leadership skills needed to work in their school and with their learners. They are now recruiting learners and building strong relationships in their schools to ensure the success of the programme through school and parent buy-in.
The involvement of numerous organisations, departments and people has produced an exciting collaborative approach to youth development. IkamvaYouth is a value based organisation and one of the core principles is peer-to-peer support and collaboration. To see this happening on a large scale with governmental involvement is a huge step for IkamvaYouth in reaching its 2030 vision. It is hoped that this form of government – non-government partnership can become a model for operation in order to reach more learners with high-quality after-school programmes across the country.
Vision 2030 was conceived by IkamvaYouth in 2012, which is the vision to see every grade 1 learner who starts school in 2018 to matriculate or the equivalent by 2030, and to access a post-school opportunity of their choice that sets them on the path to earn a dignified living. This is an audacious goal and one that requires many hands and minds.
The Year Beyond programme offers an opportunity to engage in true collaboration towards a common goal. It is hoped that this is the first of many partnerships that will open the doors of after-school programmes to young people all across the country.
For more information about Year Beyond, IkamvaYouth and how we can work together to enable more learners to achieve their dreams please contact liesel@ikamvayouth.org or zukile@ikamvayouth.org
The 2013 IkamvaYouth Annual Report highlights the remarkable achievements that we have made in 2013 by enabling disadvantaged youth to pull themselves and each other out of poverty with education.You can view the full annual report here but here are some of the highlights from 2013:
- 92% of our learners passed their matric (including supplementary exams); 62% achieved a bachelor pass (compared to 30.6% nationally) and 90% of our learners accessed a post school opportunity (tertiary, learnership or employment);
- The first survey of IkamvaYouth’s alumni was conducted. The findings were more encouraging than we could have hoped: IkamvaYouth learners are almost half as likely to drop out of tertiary studies, four times more likely to graduate and are three times less likely to not be in education or employment than the average South African young person.
- IkamvaYouth WON the Stars Award which exists to reward outstanding local organisations improving the lives of children in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. IkamvaYouth WON in the category of Education in Africa and the Middle East.
Thank you for taking the future into your hands, and to holding ours. Let’s keep reaching for the stars together.
©Neo Ntsoma/Majority World
If you are having trouble with the link please click on the below link:
ikamvayouth_annual_report_2013.pdf
I.Y is all set for Mafikeng…….! Through negotiations with the Department of Education and Sports Development and funding partnership from ABI, we can finally reveal Danville Secondary as the host school.
The organizations eleventh branch nationally and the second one for the N.W province will start operating early 2015.This exciting announcement, made at the recent matrics prayer meeting,on the 23rd October 2014, is the culmination of hard work and dedication from all stakeholders.
Attended by ranking government officials, learners from local schools, parents, teachers and members of the community. The MEC challenged the current matrics to outperform the 2013 group, saying ““Parents and teachers have done their part, and it’s up to learners to do theirs. We trust and believe in you”.Interfaith leaders prayed for learners, showering them with strength to face even the most difficult papers.
The next steps is finding an experienced high level Branch Co-ordinator for Mafikeng, a social entrepreneur ready to take the ropes and fill the branch with learners and tutors. If you think you are ready to join the hardworking, high flying, dedicated, achieving against the odds and somewhat crazy IY team,click here;https://ikamvayouth.org.www518.jnb1.host-h.net/blog/2014/10/24/branch-coordinators-ikageng-and-mafikeng
Students from North West should look out for posters inviting them to contribute to their communities by tutoring on Saturdays. Volunteer tutors gain a wealth of experience in an office environment, learn project management skills, facilitate workshops and its’ a great opportunity to find balance and fulfillment within your community…………. Sign up for this awesome opportunity….!!!!
FROM LEFT: MR.D Huma- Ikamva Youth North West District Coordinator, MR. H Motara – District Director, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Ms.L Rampete -QLTC Provincial Coordinator, MR. B Monale -District Director,Ngaka Modiri Molema District and Ms. Z Shongwe – Ikamva Youth National Coordinator
![Makhaza learners attend ReThink Leadership Un[convention]al](https://www.wordpress.ikamvayouth.org/wp-content/uploads/migrated/imagecache/scale_480/10269384_10152290885146901_89011521188412849_n_0.jpg)
On the early morning of Saturday, 11th October 2014, 40 grade 8 & 9 learners departed from Makhaza to attend the annual ReThink Leadership Un[convetion]al workshop. The IY masterminds arrived at District 6 Museum at 08:00 am.
They were welcomed with a healthy and delicious breakfast before their fun filled day kicked off. The registration period was from 08:30 – 09:00 am after which the workshop started with some ceative activities and introduction.
The purpose of the Un[convention]al workshop was to engage high school learners from different backgrounds to share ideas on how to tackle issues that face their communities.
The young and dynamic minds were energized to think out of the box to bring forth unparalleled suggestions as courses of action.
One of the grade 9 learners, Tania Siswana said, “I learnt a lot of interesting things at the ReThink Leadership Un[convention]al. I learnt how to make a chair out of tyres and how to make a lot of other things from material that you would not think of. I understood how travelling the world could be beneficial to me . It was great, it was fun, it was exciting, it was inspirational and yet educating. I will never forget what they taught us about the 3 C’s which are be CURIOUS, be COURAGEOUS and to COMMUNICATE.”
The young minds were really inspired to be involved in constructive dialogue and meeting youth that they would not normally engage in conversations with.
A huge thank you to the Rethink Leadership team for such an amazing day and inviting the Ikamvanites.
Lloyd Lungu