IkamvaYouth KZN Careers Indaba 2014
On the 25th of April 2014 IkamvaYouth KZN hosted their second Annual Careers Indaba. The event, which saw learners and members of the public walk through the doors throughout the day, was hosted in the Chesterville community hall.
Learners from Umlazi arriving
The vision of the Careers Indaba was to open up new opportunities for youth, providing them with information regarding the various programs, resources and support structures that are available to them. By educating people about the choices that are available to them, we sought to empower them, allowing them to make informed decisions about their futures.
This year’s list of exhibitors included eThekwini Municipality, ABI, CAO, Department of Labour, DUT, Training Force, Servest Group, Piece of Cake Events, Container, Career Planet and Libraries, ASN Teambuilding
There were also a number of interactive workshops on offer on the day, covering topics such as Entrepreneurial Skills, Career Decision-making, Leadership, as well as career choices available at institutions such as UKZN and DUT. These workshops were offered by UKZN, DUT and Gugu, who is a drug counsellor in Chesterville also gave the learners a career motivation workshop.
Learners also had the opportunity to hear from a number of guest speakers throughout the day, who all offered valuable advice about making career, as well as general life choices. Among these speakers, were the local councillor Mam Jabu Jabu Mbongwa, social development manager of the Cator Manor Area Based Management Khanyi Msweli and Brandon Hiemand from Career Planet.
DUT representative Mduduzi giving the Careers workshop
The day ended off with some excitement, as prizes, including t-shirts donated by Varsity College and delicious cup-cakes donated by Piece of Cake Events were awarded. Container, a small, youth-run business created quite a stir with a contest they ran, where volunteers were invited to devour a giant burger in 2 minute! This lead to them being recognised by Nosihle Mthethwa, from ABI, pledged an amazing R10 000 worth of support to see this business continue to grow. IkamvaYouth held a raffle draw for an MTN Stepper Android cellphone, which was won by Tanya Chiyambiro From the Chesterville branch.
Cellphone winner Tanya pictured with IkamvaYouth Staff member Thandazo
Learners at the Container stand
Learners felt that the day was informative, a lot of them reporting that they learnt things that they were not aware of before. Here is what a few learners had to say:
“… learnt that if we work together as isizwe sabamnyama (the black nation) we can make big things ezi valuable and special for izizukulwane ezizayo this was unexpected for real” – Zama Mpanza from Mzwamandla high school
“I Learned that you can apply for whatever you like, it’s just that you will have to do it on time because there are so many young people out there who want to study so have to do it on time ngayalezeli ,imbila yaswela usmila ngakho lokho” (Zulu proverb – meaning even the Hyrax did not get a tail due to procrastination) – Lindo Mbili
Volunteers and exhibitors also felt the day went well. With some exhibitors saying they had not anticipated the number of learners coming through the doors on the day.
“The day was okay. The thing here is the choice is from the individual, it’s their call to make. We can all do as much to inform them about what is available for them and how they are going to benefit we can only hope that they take advice and take advantage of the services we offer them” – Nokuthula from Harambe
Learners getting application advice from CAO rep
We would like to thank the Cator Manor ABM, our main sponsors for this event, for their support (financially and in-kind) in ensuring the success of this event. A special thanks goes to all the exhibitors, guest speakers, and workshop facilitators, as well as learners (as well as principals who allowed them to attend the event), who participated enthusiastically throughout the day. We would also like to thank our in-kind sponsors of this event, include the Playhouse Company (who donated production tickets for our volunteers), Unilever (who donated the gifts for our exhibitors & workshop facilitators), as well as ABI, who provided drinks on the day. Last, but not least, we would like to thank all the volunteers, some of whom were organised by the local counsillor’s office, for all their hard work throughout the day. It was a truly great event and we are looking to hosting a bigger and better event in the future.
Spw 2014 Umlazi
Saturday and Sunday the 29th and 30th of March saw Umlazi host it’s second ever Strategic planning weekend. The Branch staff was joined by the District coordinator, 4 learner reps and 20 volunteers for the weekend.
Volunteers and Learners reps at SPW
Saturday kicked off with a fun ice-breaker to get everyones blood and minds going. Straight from there we went into the expectations and ground rules for the weekend for everyone to follow.
It was not long before we had covered the timeline of the organisation and got into the more strategic work we had set out to do on the weekend.
Volunteers and learners in groups during Values discussion
The team broke off into 5 groups and each group discussed one of the 5 values of IkamvaYouth. Time was spent in the group to discuss and following that, we then discussed the values as a big group. Once we all finished the values discussion we moved on to reflect on the previous year.
We looked at some of the successes that the branch celebrated and some the challenges that we faced as a branch in the year 2013.
Group discussion
What followed was an introduction to each of the 5 portfolios that IkamvaYouth offers to learners. During the time the groups discussed what the aim of each portfolio is, what were the challenges and successes in 2013 and also the roles of branch com at the branch. After that we had a presentation from each group on what they had discussed. The last part of the day were nominations for the portfolio heads voting to take place on day 2.
Circle of trust
Day 2 began with the branch coordinator giving feedback on portfolio activities from 2013. What the targets were and which were met which were not, also why some of the targets were not met. A brief budget talk was also on the cards before the team split into groups once again to do planning for 2014 targets. Once the targets were done, the groups then presented to us what each portfolio had come up with for the year.
Phumla Nyaba (Head of Life Skills and health)
This was the last part of the day. The day came to a close after we had all agreed to discuss any further matters at the next branch com meeting to be held at the branch. A big thank you to everyone who was able to attend the SPW.
Saturday the 25th of January 2014 saw the Umlazi branch host their annual Open day at the Umlazi AA library. The event started with a wonderful song from one of the learners at the branch. S’bonelo (Branch Coordinators) and N’thabiseng (Branch Assistant) proceeded to welcome the people and presented a PowerPoint based presentation. The presentation gave an overview of IkamvaYouth, the work IkamvaYouth does and the geographical reach of the organisation.
Staff and volunteers Open Day 2014
It also featured highlights of activities in the Umlazi branch from 2013. The presentation included the matric pass rate and the requirements for learners who join IkamvaYouth to keep their place in the programmes offered. The matric class of 2013 was celebrated with a visual tribute compiled by N’thabiseng.
IkamvaYouth Learner Zekhethelo Ngcobo reciting her touching poem
The video was followed by a performance from one of the learners who recited a poem about IkamvaYouth and the impact it has on learners. A testimonial from an ex-matric learner gave prospective learners a insight into the kind of impact being an Ikamvanite can have on one’s life. This was followed by a brief talk from a current volunteer tutor who spoke of his experience and what he feels is needed to be a successful Ikamvanite.
Ms Phumelele Kunene, from MUT gave a brief talk on the relationship IkamvaYouth Umlazi has with Mangosuthu University of Technology. She also motivated the learners in terms of their future choices in life.
We were blessed by the presence of ABI Soul Ambassadors (pictured below) who were accompanied by Samukelo Nkosi the Corporate Social Investment Coordinator-KZN for ABI.
Before everyone was served refreshments, courtesy of ABI, a surprise performance by Msizi (a local poet) brought the day to a close on a very high note.
The Soul Ambassadors (Wonder Mzobe,Patience Simela, and Nokwethemba Mpisi) with Thabisile Seme and S’bonelo Cele
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
2013 was a big year for IY, and it is with great pride (and relief!) that we can report, once again, our matrics’ excellent achievements. It is thanks to the superheroes who work or volunteer at IY, and those who support and enable this amazing team of people, that IY continues to deliver while growing significantly.
Overall, we achieved an 89% matric pass, and incredibly, 94% of these passes are diploma (30%) or bachelor passes (64%). With sixty more matrics than last year; two brand new branches established; a comprehensive survey of our alumni completed and all that went into our big ten year bash; the ikamvanites really pushed ourselves in our tenth year. And while having our work recognised by many accolades (including the STARS Impact award) is a great affirmation of all we put in, nothing makes it feel more worthwhile than sharing the excitement and joy with our learners as they celebrate the beginning of their shining bright futures.
But (as always at IY), there’s more to come. We still have two big hurdles to clear: the supplementary exams in march (all learners who failed and many of those who fell just short of the diploma or bachelor passes they were aiming for will be spending the coming weeks back with their books), and the all-important post-school placements. The next few weeks involve a lot of time on the phones and in queues at tertiary institutions, as we aim to ensure that all our learners enroll in the post-school opportunities that will set them on their career paths.
Our results by branch and province are as follows:
Gauteng
Ivory Park (first matric cohort!): 100% pass; 17% diploma & 83% bachelor
Ebony Park: 94% pass; 34% diploma & 62% bachelor
KZN
Chesterville: 82% pass; 48% diploma & 44% bachelor
Umlazi (first matric cohort): 83% pass; 47% diploma & 40% bachelor
Western Cape
Makhaza: 83% pass; 28% diploma & 64% bachelor
Nyanga: 93% pass; 15% diploma & 85% bachelor
Masi: 89% pass; 88% bachelor
Well done to everyone who made this happen!
On Wednesday 31 July the Umlazi branch had a visit from DUT journalism students. The visit was for a documentary video shoot for their school project. It was really a simple task for them, come in and take photos and footage of the session and document what happens and how it happens.
The 2 students (2nd year Journalism undergrads Cassandra Zungu and Thobele Nzama) Heard about IkamvaYouth from one of their fellow student and volunteer here at IkamvaYouth , Mxolisi Tanzi. Upon hearing about the programme they decided to profile it for their media planning assignment. They came in and took photos and video footage of the tutoring session. They then interviewed the branch coordinator, one of the volunteer tutors and one of the learners.
They were very polite and were very cautious as to not disturb the actual tutoring session. They asked basic questions like how IkamvaYouth was formed, when? How long have we been in Umlazi? How exactly do people join? They commented that the programme is a very good initiative as education in the township really does need a boost at times. The documentary, once completed will be uploaded to YouTube and we can then share it with our fellow Ikamvanites.
Lloyd Lungu