Nyanga Strategic Planning Weekend

Nyanga Strategic Planning Weekend

 

The Nyanga Branch on the 26 March 2011 held its very own independent SPW which was attended by learners and tutors from the Nyanga Branch and visited by Joy and Zoe

This has been a very excitting weekend for the Nyanga Branch as it was two days of planning the year and reflecting on the succeses and acheivements we have had, the memebers took time to know each other better and share reasons why they are part of Ikamva Youth

On the 26th we discussed issues that the branch is facing and reasons for those issues, where we broke into groups and had to come up with solutions and ways to make the Nyanga Branch meet everyones needs as best as possible

As it was our very first SPW as a branch we had the time to really focus on branch specific issues and realise that all IY branches have common and individual issues facing each branch,the day was dedicated to addressing themes that came up in our group discussions

The following day we dedicated the day to planning and putting dates for all actions to be taken, we spent the last day of the weekend setting realistic goals and deadlines so that this year  we meet our  goals, seeing that we have more capacity than any other years

To find the spw report press here:

The weekend has been a very fruitful weekend and has left the Nyanganites ready to take this year by STORM!!!

The IkamvaYouth Foodie Auction was a massive success!

The IkamvaYouth Foodie Auction was a massive success!

 

Thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders the IkamvaYouth Foodie Auction raised R48,150 for IkamvaYouth’s holiday programmes.

 

Those who were at The Book Lounge on Thursday 24th March, and those who have seen the documentary about IkamvaYouth, or seen their work in action will realise the effect these programmes have on township youth. To raise R48,150 toward the holiday programmes is a great contribution to these programmes. 

At 6pm the wonderful store on Roeland Street started filling up. With bidders perusing the lots downstairs, whilst umming and ahhing, and making strategic bids in the silent auction. Upstairs was where the action took place. After a small talk from Ikamvanite and board member Thobela Bixa and brief screening of the IkamvaYouth film, everyone was ready for the live auction to commence!

Rob Van Vuuren joined the party and seemed to persuade, coax, and even force people to part with their hard earned cash, with promises of karma and a great sex life! It seemed to do the trick. The generosity of bidders was astounding; hands being thrust in the air repeatedly and simultaneously, in a crazy modern dance. 

Conrad Hicks stood in shock as his iron pan crept up and up to reach a total of R2100. The Soceiti Bistro 3 day package shot up to R4400, and Queen of Tarts promise of a cake became entangled in an intense bidding war, resulting in a monumental bid of R2600.

It was a brilliant night, with just the right amount of fun and frivolity and all for a great cause. The total amount raised on the night was R48,150, which will contribute to 3 June/JulyWinter School’s at the Western Cape branches, reaching approximately 300 learners with career guidance, tutoring, excursions, workshops, and general new and exciting activities.

Huge thanks to the people who made the Foodie Auction happen: Carrington Broeman, Steffie Roehrs and Zoe Mann. And to Rob for volunteering to prise money from peoples purses!

On behalf of the learners, the staff and the volunteers who helped with the auction we thank all who attended, and all the donors for making the IkamvaYouth Foodie Auction a real success. 

Please see the YuppieChef coverage of this event at  http://www.spatula.co.za/ikamvayouth-foodieauction/ 

Ivory Park’s Strategic Planning Weekend Report

Ivory Park’s Strategic Planning Weekend Report

The Ivory Park branch of IkamvaYouth held our very first (inaugural) Strategic Planning Weekend (SPW) recently with a view to getting to know each other better and planning the rest of the year ahead. The weekend was an excellent opportunity for volunteers, tutors and learner representatives to explore a little deeper what it means to be an Ikamvanite and how to make sure that the values we say we represent spill over into our actions.

Download the full report here.

For many the weekend was an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into the IkamvaYouth goals and the core mission to use the opportunuties created by education to help township school learners help themselves and others out of poverty. The co-founder of IkamvaYouth, Joy Olivier, came up from Cape Town to lead a number of the workshops around how we make sure we maintain the low cost high impact model of IkamvaYouth.

The two biggest highlights of the weekend included the election of the Ivory Park Branch Committee for 2011 and this was capped off with a visit from the Minister of Basic Education Ms. Angie Motshekga.

More photos of the weekend are up on our facebook page, you can visit www.facebook.com/IkamvaYouthGauteng.

Please do LIKE us on our facebook page if you haven’t done so already.

Minister of Basic Education visits Ivory Park Strategic Planning Weekend

Minister of Basic Education visits Ivory Park Strategic Planning Weekend

 

The Minister of Basic Education Ms Angie Motshekga visited our Strategic Planning Weekend and sat in on one our group discussion sessions.

Ms Motshekga praised all the IkamvaYouth volunteers around the country who give back so selflessly to the community and who carry the desire to improve the circumstances of our IkamvaYouth learners. In light of the recently launched Bill of Responsibilities, Ms Motshekga said she is greatly encouraged by organisations like IkamvaYouth who are making a real and valuable contribution to our society.

Ms Motshekga left “impressed” and “inspired” and promised to continue the conversation. We now look forward to the future with greater confidence and the promise of greater coollaboration.

 

More photos available www.facebook.com/IkamvaYouthGauteng. 

Strategic Planning Weekend KZN

Strategic Planning Weekend KZN

On the weekend of the 5th and 6th of March IYKZN hosted it`s first SPW. This was an honour especially due to the presence of Joy Olivier. The two days were very productive. Team spirit was high and energy was immense.

Over the two days the KZN Team of IkamvaNites discussed everything that the organization is  planning for the learners in 2011. From new Branches to Branch comm members. The weekend started out as a normal tutoring Saturday, but after the lessons, than the really fun stuff began. First we discussed the fundamental issues to be covered in the SPW. Things like getting all the volunteers to fully understand what IY is and what it`s values are, what it stands for and it`s glorious and sometimes challenging history.

We went on to discuss the various Branch comm codes(a minor change was made) and elect Commitee members. Many great ideas were brought up in this beautiful meeting. Ideas for the winter school programme, to improve productivity and boost creativity.

All In all,strategic_planning_weekend.pdf the weekend was amazing, the list of things we achieved was just overwhelming. The most interesting bit was when one of the learner reps confessed to believing that the tutors are heartless monsters, (lol) now she understands that they are very nice people who just want to help her. (lol too cute if you ask  me :*) )

In conclusion, i would like to declare that IYKZN this year is aiming very high ( especially since we are opening a new branch with a 20-computer computer lab in Chesterville , in the words of Khona WHOOP WHOOP LOL ) and if the energy of the SPW is consistent we will achieve loads.

IkamvaYouth KZN : LIFT AS YOU RISE . . .

SPW Minutes spw_kzn.pdf_.pdf

Nashua Titans Visit IkamvaYouth Ivory Park

Nashua Titans Visit IkamvaYouth Ivory Park

Cricket fever was at an all time high at the Ivory Park IkamvaYouth Centre as Neotel launched the Community Internet Cafe in partnership with our friends at Siyakhula. Ikamvanites participated in the festivites and were joined by the Nashua Titans’s Jacques Rudolph, Roelof van der Merwe, Henry Davids, Farhaan Behardien, Heino Kuhn, Ethy Mbhalati, David Wiese and the Bizhub Team Cyclists’ Lynn Torp, Catherine Williamson and Yolandi du Toit to celebrate the event.

A massive thank you to Neotel for an awesome day and the excitement of which was reflected in the response from the community to Neotel’s generous donation of computers, printers, scanners and internet access to the centre and people of Ebony Park and Ivory Park. Our friends at the Siyakhula Computer School aim to inspire students to broaden their knowledge and increase their chances of entry into the working world and this will be all the more easier with the installation of 10 computers, unlimited access to the web, as well as computer lessons so that Siyakhula remains a place of hope and inspiration.

The Nashua Titans themselves also got a chance to “test-drive” the internet café and were taught a thing or two by some of the local community members who have been attending the computer courses on offer at Siyakhula. They then proceeded to take on the Ikamvanites  in a 10 minute aside soccer games, mingling with each other amid a lots of physical activity.

Also in attendance was Carol Manana of SABC Sport, Giant LeapMedi-IQand the favorites of the day Akhumzi and Cindy of Yo-TV who stole the show as everybody wanted a piece of them. Be sure to watch the Big Breakfast show on SABC 1 on Saturday 12th..

One of SA’s top 5 cyclists, Yolandi du Toit was impressed by what she experienced,

“This is not just some passing campaign, this is here to stay, improve people’s lives and truly make a difference […] the people of Ebony Park and Ivory Park have secured an opportunity to better their education and skills.”

Considering the day was dedicated to education and enhancing one’s skills, the sports celebrities were given a chance to showcase their skills and expertise with workspace specialists, Giant Leap who kindly donated nearly 100 soccer balls. These were put to good use by the players and community members in the keenly contested sporting challenges. Alongside this were other fun fitness activities hosted by leading sports equipment suppliers, Medi IQ with hurdles, hoola-hooping and bouncing balls. Titans captain, Jacques Rudolph had the following to say:

“I think that the set up here is fantastic and that the people of Ebony Park and Ivory Park are both fortunate and grateful for all that they have on their doorstep. I encourage other corporates to get involved in their local communities, as it is actually very easy to make a significant difference.”

In her address to the community, Pumi Sithole of Neotel expressed their desire as an organisation to bring about change and positively influence the next generation of leaders. Furthermore, Neotel also donated an overhead projector and screen to the centre in addition to the centre’s current internet café.

“If we can begin by making a positive impact on the development of each community – no matter how big or small that development is, the prospects for this country will be unlimited”, affirmed Pumi.

It’s another goal scored for Siyakhula, IkamvaYouth and Neotel with the successful internet empowerment of the surrounding community! You can be sure that the Ikamvanites will benefit tremendously from the internet now readily avaialble to them

More photos of the day are available to view here.

Written in part by Caroline Malan from MSCSPORTS.


Lloyd Lungu

031 909 3590
lloyd@ikamvayouth.org
2525 Ngcede Grove, Umlazi AA Library, 4031

Lloyd is a self-disciplined and highly goal-driven Industrial Psychology Honours graduate. He is currently a Master's candidate completing his second year of M.Com in Industrial Psychology at the University of the Free State. Lloyd joined IkamvaYouth as a learner in 2012, after matriculating he came back and volunteered as a tutor for the duration of his undergraduate studies at UKZN. He later worked as an Intern in the Chesterville branch. His passion for youth empowerment and inclusion has grown enormously through his time and experience gained within IkamvaYouth and has inspired him to provide career guidance to young township people. He is currently working at the Umlazi Branch as a Branch Assistant.