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PRESS RELEASE: IkamvaYouth celebrates 2013 matric results

IkamvaYouth celebrates 2013 matric results – 89% pass, 94% eligible for tertiary

Hailed as the class that has achieved the highest pass rate since the birth of the democratic government in 1994, 2012’s matriculants across South Africa achieved a pass rate of 78.2%.

With an 89% matric pass rate – 64% receiving a bachelor pass and a further 30% qualifying for diploma study – and 70 distinctions amongst its 154 matriculants, IkamvaYouth, an organisation that enables learners from poor communities to improve their marks, is proud that their class of 2013 has made a substantial contribution to the record.

The organisation’s director, Joy Olivier, is “simply thrilled” with the learners’ achievements. “IkamvaYouth is continuing to improve on its results while scaling”, she says. “With 60 more matrics than last year, we’ve managed to not only meet last year’s pass result, but more than double the number of bachelor passes achieved. This is very encouraging as we work towards achieving Vision 2030; which has every learner in South Africa reaching and passing matric, and then going on to access the post-school opportunities that set them on the path to earning a dignified living.”In 2013 seven branches had matriculants, with both Ivory Park (in Gauteng) and Umlazi (in KZN) producing their first matric cohort. IkamvaYouth’s Ivory Park branch marked this milestone with a jaw-dropping 100% pass mark, with 83% achieving a bachelors pass. Ivory Park branch ‘s top pupil, scored three distinctions in his final year of high school for Maths, Physical Science and Accounting.

Abongile Jojozi, from Chris Hani Secondary School, a learner at the Makhaza branch, said that aside from improving his results and achieving a whopping four distinctions, in Mathematics, Xhosa, Economics and Life Orientation, and narrowly missing out on distinctions in the rest of his subjects, the organisation taught him leadership and commitment.

“I knew I would get distinctions in Maths and Life Orientation because they are stuff that I practice everyday, I wanted to get good results but I was shocked at some of the results I got and I was even recognised as the top learner at my school.”

He plans to do a BSc at UCT, and is looking forward to volunteering as an IkamvaYouth tutor.

In congratulating the class of 2013, national co-ordinator Zamo Shongwe noted that “Ikamvanites have responded to the challenge to improve the pass rate in townships by showing that with extra work and focus, it can be done. We look forward to learners returning as tutors to give a hand up to other learners going through their paces at branches”

This has all been made possible by corporate, in-kind and individual donors who have invested in township youth and the spirit of IkamvaYouth: ABI, Capitec Bank, the TK Foundation, African Bank, Empower, the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund, DGMT, the Raimondo family trust, the Learning Trust, the Potter foundation, GDF Suez, ABSA; the many in-kind donors that avail space (municipal libraries, schools, community centres and universities) and learning resources (the Answer Series, Fundza) and countless other organisations, companies and individuals. It is thanks to these and many others, and the hundreds of committed volunteers, that IkamvaYouth is able to offer programmes in tutoring, career guidance and mentoring, computer literacy and lifeskills education. IkamvaYouth equips learners (the Ikamvanites) from disadvantaged communities with the knowledge, skills, networks and resources to access tertiary education and/or employment opportunities once they matriculate. IkamvaYouth aims to increase the collective skill level of the population, to grow the national knowledge base, and to replicate success in more communities.

The IkamvaYouth model draws from a large and growing pool of volunteers made up of students (from nearby universities) and local professionals. The organisation’s sustainability is driven by ex-learners who gain entrance to tertiary institutions and return to tutor. More than half of the volunteers at longer-established branches are ex-learners. Ikamvavanites are thus driving change as they develop from beneficiaries into benefactors.

BREAKDOWN OF IKAMVAYOUTH 2013 MATRIC RESULTS:

GAUTENG

Ivory Park (first matric cohort!): 100% pass, 83% bachelor, 17% diploma, 12 distinctions

Ebony Park: 94% pass, 62% bachelor, 34% diploma, 16 distinctions

KWAZULU-NATAL

Chesterville: 82% pass; 44% bachelor, 48% diploma, 23 distinctions

Umlazi (first matric cohort): 83% pass; 40% bachelor, 47% diploma, 3 distinctions

WESTERN CAPE

Makhaza: 83% pass; 64% bachelor, 28% diploma, 12 distinctions

Nyanga: 93% pass; 85% bachelor, 15% diploma, 3 distinctions

Masi: 89% pass; 88% bachelor, 1 distinction

MORE ABOUT IKAMVAYOUTH

IkamvaYouth is a non-profit organisation (established in 2003) that provides a volunteer driven, low cost and highly effective model of after-school tutoring and mentorship in resource-poor communities. It has branches in five provinces in South Africa: in Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Masiphumelele in the Western Cape, Ivory Park and Ebony Park in Gauteng, Chesterville and Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal, Joza in the Eastern Cape, and Ikageng in the North West Province.

IkamvaYouth recently received the highly prestigious international STARS Impact Award for Education in Africa.

IkamvaYouth received this award while mindful of their Vision 2030, which sees all learners who start grade 1 in 2018, attaining a matric pass or the equivalent, and accessing the post school opportunities that set them on the path to earning a dignified living.

Issued by IkamvaYouth

For More Information Contact:

Media & Communication: Lorelle Bell, lorelle@ikamvayouth.org, 082 5201545

Director: Joy Olivier, joy@ikamvayouth.org

National Coordinator: Zamo Shongwe, zamo@ikamvayouth.org, 084 885 0004

Eye screening for Nyanganites

On the 11^th and 12^th of October 2013, Masibonisane visited the Nyanga branch and conducted eye screening for Nyanganites.

The visit was a result of the Nyanga branch committee’s request that learners get their eyes tested, since some learners struggle with their eyesight, leading to difficulty in reading. 29 learners were screened, of whom 8 will get spectacles, generously organized by Masibonisane.

Masibonisane works with previously disadvantaged children all over South Africa, enhancing education through sight. The organisation does this by providing access to optometric evaluation, identifying special needs and referring and/or providing suitable eyewear to participants. This collaboration with Masibonisane resonates with IY’s Vision 2030, which will be achieved through, amongst other means, collaboration with partner organisations, to ensure that 1 million learners reach and pass Matric by 2030.

IY Nyanga offers a very special thank you to the Masibonisane team for providing this essential service to ikamvanites.

Ikamvanites participate in Annual Coastal Cleanup

On the 21^st of September, ikamvanites in the Western Cape participated in the annual Coastal Cleanup, hosted by ERM.

The learners from Masi, Makhaza and Nyanga braved the slight chill and went out to pick up litter from surrounding beaches. The occasion provided an opportunity for ikamvanites to meet, get to know one another and have fun whilst taking care of their environment.

A huge thank you to ERM for hosting the ikamvanites again this year.

Safety lab safe-talk with Nyanganites

Following recent incidences of gang-related violence around the Nyanga community, Nyanganites reached out to partner organisation Safety Lab, for a safe-talk workshop at Zolani Centre.

The Lab’s representatives had a full afternoon talking to the 35 Nyanganites in Grades 9 and 10. Neo from The Lab spoke to the learners about his experiences growing up in the same circumstances as the learners, and how he sought to keep himself safe during his school years. The learners were full of questions and asked the Safety Lab team how they can handle intimidation by bullies and gang members at school and in the community. Neo and Lindile were up to the tasks and shared personal stories together with their expert knowledge as safety ambassadors in the community.

Sinobom Ngubombi in Grade 10 said the following: ‘the workshop was excellent. I enjoyed it. Bhut’ Neo told us about his life and I am inspired by his story. ‘

Thank you Safety Lab for your work with IY Nyanga!

IY Nyanga participates in Career Expo

On the 18^th of September IY Nyanga participated in a Career Expo organized by the Department of Social Development. The event took place at Ikhwezi Community Centre in Gugulethu and was attended by over 150 unemployed youth and other community members.

The Nyanga team hosted a table and got a 2minute slot to talk about IY, our work and the need for community members to get involved. There was a good response from the people present and we even had a parent who wanted to sign up her child currently doing Grade 4!

The occasion also provided an opportunity to mingle with organisations doing similar and complementary work in the community, and the team made useful acquaintances with superheroes from all over Nyanga and surrounding areas.

Thank you to Charlotte Abels from DSD, for inviting and accommodating IY Nyanga. The future is in all our hands.

Nyanga Gr 11s treated to great workshop

This September holiday, Nyanganites have been privileged to participate in a history workshop conducted by Andrea Sanke at Zolani Centre. The workshop, aptly titled ‘Our history, our world’ has taken the group of 12 through more than 50years of world history in just 6 days. From North America, to Eastern Europe and South Africa, the workshop has covered such topics as the World Wars, the War on Terror, and Julius Malema. The learners have enjoyed learning about different historical figures and events, researching people and asking questions. The workshop will culminate in an in-class presentation where each learner presents on their chosen historical figure.

Workshop facilitator, Andrea said that the workshop will impart research, English and presentation skills to the learners, in addition to learning a bit more about the world around them.

Thank you Andrea for taking the time to enrich the minds of Nyanganites!