The beginning of each year at IkamvaYouth is always an exciting time for IkamvaYouth branches across the country as we usher the previous year’s Matrics into post-school opportunities, welcome new learners and tutors and together decide on the goals and outcomes of the New Year. On the 14th of March 2015, Gauteng branches namely Ebony Park and Ivory Park held its annual Strategic Planning Weekend (SPW). Staff members, learners and volunteers came together to spend the entire day discussing how Ebonites and Ivonites can make 2015 a good year for Gauteng branches.
The day started with introductions and a fun ice breaker from a wonderful tutor, Mr Welsh Dube, to energize attendees for the day. A total number of 52 excluding staff members attended 2015 Strategic Planning Workshop. Both branches outlined the rules and expectation for day and agreed that everyone should follow them. Mrs Zvomuya, Branch Coordinator for Ebony Park, gave a brief presentation on why should you volunteer and also introduced IkamvaYouth to the new volunteers and learners who were present. She emphasizes the need to volunteer as many employers would only consider someone who had volunteered before.
Both branches decided to have a motivation and testimonial from one of IkamvaYouth’s longest serving tutor, Mr. Percyval Mabizela, on his stay and experience hear at IY. He mentioned that he doesn’t regret waking up early in the morning on a Saturday to come and share his experience with learners from different communities and also mention that education is an important tool that a person can treasure. Speaking on behalf of the tutors, he mentioned that tutors/volunteers should be proud with their involvement with IkamvaYouth and the learners themselves.
On looking back to 2014, branch com members gave a brief feedback about their portfolios on challenges and successes they had the previous year. IkamvaYouth Ebony and Ivory Park has seven Branch Com portfolios namely, Volunteer Coordinator, Tutoring Coordinator, Mentoring, Media, Image and Expression, Career Guidance, Computer Literacy, and Discipline (Branches decided to add this to list as a portfolio). During the feedback sessions learners, tutors and staff members grouped themselves to discuss the Branch Com portfolios and how can they make them better for 2015. The focus was now shifted to the year ahead and branches set targets to achieve within a specific time frame.
The last item on the agenda was tutor training and staff members had to facilitate this session. Staff members were each given a group to facilitate tutor training. Roles plays and general discussions were implemented during tutor training sessions, whereby tutors and learners were put to the test to see if they understand how Ikamvayouth model works. Volunteers went through what is expected of them and how to conduct themselves when they interact with learners. Learners also went through their expectations.
The day ended with some encouraging words from Mrs Zvomuya by saying “it was a great event, thanks to everyone who participated it was a very productive meeting.”
Miss Mosiane had this to say “it was a well-planned event, the turnout was great and I was pleased with the way learners behaved throughout the event.”
IkamvaYouth rocking 2015!!!!
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
The Ikageng branch held its first ever Strategic Planning Workshop (SPW) on the 26th April 2014. The SPW was hosted at Lemon Blossom Guest House’s conference center in Potchefstroom. In attendance were tutors, learner representatives, the district coordinator- Mr Patrick Mashanda, a visiting tutor from Ebony Park branch- Mr Shelton Chadya and Mr Sello Seitlholo- the Ikageng branch ambassador to North-West University participated with the branch staff in this event.
The day started with a testimonial speech by Mr Chadya followed by a motivational speech from Mr Seitlholo. The branch coordinator, Ms Tshadinyana Phetoe, gave an orientation to the volunteers about IkamvaYouth, its establishment, and the different programmes implemented at IY. The branch’s highlights were presented by the branch assistant- Mr Clemence Msindo. Mr Mashanda addressed the volunteers on the importance of volunteering and emphasized on the value of volunteers at IkamvaYouth. Ms Mary Mothae, a former tutor at Ivory Park, presented the tutor training, and Ms Noposi Majavu, the branch’s intern addressed on learner behavior and expectations. More pressing issues including discipline and dress code as well as commitment were discussed and action points to aliviate these issues were agreed upon. The team was divided into small groups in order to discuss the branch challenges, which were later presented to the whole team. The team brainstormed possible and potential solutions to branch challenges collectively with tutors and learners effectively and efficiently participating in all brainstorming activities.
After a long day of hard work and fun, elections were run for the branch committee. The portfolios which were filled were for head of tutoring; media image and expression; life skills and extramural activities; computer skills; mentoring and career guidance; discipline and library facilities. The election of the BranchCom marked yet another milestone opportunity for tutors to engage more in branch activities and have a voice on critical decisions of the branch. The branch staff is very excited of the newly elected branch com and hope to have a more functional branch going forward.
