During the term, we conducted a few educational workshops for both learners and tutors for their personal and professional development.
On the 25th of March, Zoe Mann (Community Coordinator) facilitated a tutor training workshop with the Ikageng volunteers. The session was also attended by two members from one of our partner organisations – Rutanang Book Club. The workshop was aimed at replicating the IY model in all branches and ascertain the delivery of quality tutoring by IYs volunteers.
- Stress Management and Self-Empowerment Workshop
Facilitated by Mr Rajen Moodley, a member of Life Eternal Trust that practises Sahaja Yoga, our grade 9 to 12 learners attended a Stress Management and Self-Empowerment course. The workshop aimed at motivating the learners to help prepare them for improving their level of performance and to maintain their academic excellence in the next examination period, and beyond.
On Saturday the 1st of April, the Ikageng branch hosted a successful strategic planning day. Joined by the branch’s volunteers, together with the staff members, the branch focused on the specific steps necessary to bring quality tutoring into clear focus. The day started with revisiting the IY tutoring model, a refresher on IY Mission and Value. Thereafter, the participants reflected on the first term’s activities, brainstormed, as a result we developed an action plan on improved way of delivering the programmes to our learners.
- Alumni Profile: Meet Isac Sithole from our 2016 Matric Cohort
Initially enrolled in the IY programme in 2013 as a Grade 9 learner. Isac Sithole was the Ikageng top achieving learner from our 2016 matric cohort. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Physics at North West University. With his high degree of commitment, Isac has returned to IY as a volunteer. He remarked that the transition from school to university brings a range of new experiences and some of the most exciting social aspects, but most of all it is the moment for one to work harder as it is the start of their career.
- Meet the newest member to the Ikageng team: Lerato Makale
Lerato started as one of our first Ikageng learners in 2013 and returned to the branch as a volunteer Tutor. She joined the team as an intern in [date] as part of her tertiary programme requirements. The organisation remain in awe of Lerato’s dedication and her ongoing commitment towards our programme. Below are words from Lerato sharing why she chose to join IY and her experience so far.
The reason why I chose Ikamva Youth was not only to get experience as my qualification needs me to get my Diploma but to also be able to give back to IY as I was a learner before. My experience with IY has been great, not only have I learned a lot about the company, but most importantly my Internship has effected self-discovery especially my abilities and interests
Overall term 1 was a great success and looking forward to more fun ahead of us!
On Saturday the 11th of March, the Nyanga branch had a strategic planning day. The aim of this day was to plan for the year. The event was attended by the newly elected and eager Branch Committee. The group of learners, tutors and staff travelled to the Cape Town Company’s Gardens for the day. The idea was to have a relaxed picnic-style planning day out in the sun.
In true Ikamvanite style, the day started off with an ice-breaker. The agenda for the day included explaining the purpose of the Branch Committee; going through the Nyanga branch strategic goals for 2017; strategic planning for 2017 and assigning roles and responsibilities. The group was split into two in order to draft a monthly plan of branch events for the duration of 2017. The groups then came together to merge their calendars, this calendar will be used by the branch for the duration of the year.
After a full afternoon of planning, the group headed out to a ‘secret’ location for a late lunch. It was a great way to end off the day.
The Nyanga branch looks forward to all the great events we have planned for 2017!
[Nyanga Branch Committee 2017]
[Strategic Planning in action]
[Strategic Planning in action]
[The Branch Committee enjoys lunch]
If you ever wondered what drives IkamvaYouth branches for the whole year, then you should listen up…
Take a little bit of inspiration, add to that some coaching and a lavish dose of planning, then you have the ultimate recipe to run a branch for the entire year. The 27th of February 2016 was the day Makhaza decided to try out that recipe…..once again!
09:00am sharp, parents, learners and mentors came together to launch the mentoring programme for the 2016 Matric cohort. Highly expectant and excited to meet one another, you could tell they were a bit anxious about the day. Tamara Stelman, Mentoring Coordinator from UCT, started off by thoroughly explaining to the attendees, what the programme was about; what is expected from each party and what she is hoping will be achieved by the end of the mentoring year. She then moved on to pairing the learners with their mentors, you could really see from the faces of the learners and parents, that they were more than impressed with the profiles of their mentors. We were off to a good start, the learners were inspired!
Following that, was a workshop session that included a one-on-one session for further introduction; signing of the mentorship agreement and the sharing of goals,fears and expectations for the year. During the workshop session, Busiswa Dayimani, Branch Coordinator, had a brief meeting with the parents about their expectations for their children, what is required of the parents and the planning that they must do to prepare for the following year. In that meeting a parent, who is a teacher at one of the schools in Makhaza, stood up and voiced what she thought of IkamvaYouth. She said, “I have been watching IkamvaYouth for a period of time now and i want to commend the work that you are doing in this community, you are definitely bringing about a good change in our learners!” Whoop whoop, go team IY! Before you could take it all in, the event came to a halt.
Immediately after that, it was Strategic Planning time! This is where the branch committee, a committee that consists of staff, tutors and learners, gets to set targets for the year, decide on structure that works bests for all members and gets ideas flowing on how to make Makhaza a better branch. The programme for the day kicked off with some really colourful and interesting looking name tags. Yanga Totyi, Branch Assistant, lead this team of Superheroes in discussions in which the team delved into the objectives of the 2016 committee; dissected the responsibilities of each portfolio; set targets for each portfolio and engaged in discussion on the quality of results at the branch and how improvements can be made. All work and no play makes a Branch com dull, hence Lungile Simakade, Branch Intern, shook things up with a few games and icebreakers in between discussions.
Phew! What a day! It is in events like these that the engine of IkamvaYouth branches is oiled and if you would like to get involved in any way…as a mentor or a tutor, please check this LINK out!
Someone once said, “The world is changing, BE ON THE TRANSITION TEAM!”
Friday 24 April 2015 marked the kick start of a much anticipated annual strategic planning weekend for 2015 at the Chesterville branch. The day boasted with a positive attendance of excited new and old tutors, learner representatives from grade 9 to grade 12, as well as staff.
The first day of SPW is usually not so intense with activities and information. It started off smoothly with everyone creating nametags for themselves and a brief introduction from each person accompanied by an ice breaker to make everyone feel welcome. The learners felt a bit anxious, but after the introduction session they were at ease and ready for the weekend ahead.
The day continued to unfold by setting of the ground rules and expectations of the whole weekend from everyone present. The purpose of the SPW was also outlined by Thandazo the branch coordinator so that the importance of the event is clearly understood. The creation of an ikamvayouth timeline and the branches important events that have happened over the years allowed for a perfect transition into identifying the challenges and successes as well as burning issues that were going to be the center of discussion during the SPW as a whole.
Tea and delicious muffins on arrival of Day 2 gave everyone the fire to get started and energized for the day. After a recap of the previous day, the Ikamvayouth values were outlined and discussed in order for everyone to have a better understanding of what IY is about and what the organisation is built upon. The KZN district coordinator, Thabisile Seme gave a brief overview of the different committees within Ikamvayouth as an organisation and an introduction to the portfolios that each branch have.
New portfolio heads were elected and the rest of the audience had to allocate themselves into a portfolio, where each portfolio was discussed along with all its successes, challenges and plans for the year ahead.
The day wouldn’t be complete without lunch being served. Everyone was treated to mouth-watering lunch and by the end of the day the room was filled with tutors and learners ready for a successful year at Ikamvayouth.
To view more pictures of the day, click here.
Alan W. Watts once said, “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join
the dance.” This proved to be true when the staff, volunteers and learners of IkamvaYouth Makhaza came together to bring the 5 IkamvaYouth values into life, strategizing and planning for the year 2015/2016.
The weekend of 28th and 29th March was set aside for vital decision making, planning, dissecting of challenges, effective solution bringing and evaluation of the branch successes. About 30 individuals consisting of learners, tutors and staff filled the board room of Desmond Tutu hall, looking all expectant for serious conversations.
The facilitator for the weekend was, Busiswa Dayimani, Makhaza Branch Coordinator. Introductions began with the group using adjectives starting with the first letter of their names to introduce themselves, a few laughs were shared as some of the names proved to be special in their own right. Zondikazi Mtonjeni, a grade 9 learner found it most challenging saying she would have to get back to the group later.
Each person was given a task to write down 4 wishes and 4 worries that would be read throughout the weekend. This activity proved to be special as it made people feel closer to each other. We are not all that different, the wishes and worries are a testimony to that. “I worry about being uneducated and living in poverty”- anonymous from the group.
To get everyone in the same climate of thinking the missions statement and values of the organisation were reintroduced. The group was given a chance to share what the values mean to them and ways to instill the IY culture in each and every person in the programme.
Energy and passion seemed to be trend of the weekend, as the 30 tirelessly engaged in discussion, filled out flipcharts with wisdom and carried out presentation after presentation. The one discussion that stood out was the speaking of English in all IY sessions. The learners were in full support and coming up with ways in which it can be fun for everyone. It has been recognised as a necessity in their advancement in the language and studies. Indeed, collaboration and peer-to-peer support, integrity and openness were demonstrated in these discussions.
Our special guest on Saturday, was Dr. Chloe Buire, a researcher from the University of Durham. She shared her thoughts on the need for social change and commended IkamvaYouth’s successful contribution to the cause. She is currently working on her research titled “You Citizen,” that aims to show a reflection of what citizenships means to the youth of South Africa.
As the weekend approached its end, targets for the year were set, a branch committee was elected and a constitution was drafted and accepted by the group.
As the group shared their reflections of the weekend, it was unanimously agreed upon that the weekend was informative, eye opening, thought provoking and quite a few perspectives were altered for the better. “I never thought engaging with adults would be this much fun” said a beaming Yamkela, grade 8, who is our youngest branch com member.
“I don’t wish for us to separate. I want us to remain like the family were are, supporting each other and being crazy for change” – One wish from the group.
SPW Blog Umlazi
On the 1st and 2nd of April 2015 Umlazi held its 4th annual Strategic Planning. The two day event is used to come up with strategic plans for the rest of the year at the branch. The event was attended by 17 tutors and learner reps.
On day one the group covered the timeline of the organisation and the Umlazi branch. This activity serves to show tutors and learners how the organisation and branch has grown over the years into what we see today.
Following this we did an exercise to highlight we exist and what the burning issues are at the branch. This was done in groups and followed by feedback discussions with the rest of the group, then a short break.
The values of the organisation were then discussed in separate groups. Each group had to feedback on what the value means and how it should show up at the branch. Before lunch we further discussed the values as a big group to flesh them out.
After the break each portfolio was then introduced and discussed by the small groups. This time they went in more details to talk about what works and doesn’t work at the branch (as per portfolio). Portfolio groups then asked to present the issues the branch had and on day the issues were tackled and ideas came up with solutions.
The proposed ideas were then presented to the group and targets were set from them. The group closed off the day with elaborate discussion of the targets and the people responsible for each one. The portfolio heads were then selected for the various portfolios and Lunch was delivered to end of the session. That brought our Strategic planning to a close.
Lloyd Lungu