IkamvaYouth has partnered with organisations providing after-school tutoring in various communities within the Western Cape and Gauteng. Through the Community Collaboration Programme (CCP) we provide programmatic support and training to organisations with the aim of building a sector of effective after-school programmes.
In January we announced that CCP class of 2018 achieved a whopping 90.4% matric pass rate with 81% eligible for tertiary. We are now even more excited to announce that we have achieved a placement rate of 79%:
- 64% of the class of 2018 has been placed into post-school opportunities
- 55% are studying at a university or college
- 6% are in employment
- 3% are in learnerships and short term training
- 15% are improving their matric results through supplementary/ upgrading programmes
- 21% are currently considered not in education, employment, or training (NEETs)
Out of 210 learners supported by the twelve organisations through CCP, 114 accessed tertiary institutions across South Africa. Furthermore, our matric learner numbers increased by a hundred learners in CCP, resulting in a 4% increase in placements since 2017. This highlights the growth and impact of IkamvaYouth’s Community Collaboration Programme in continuously creating a collaborative learning space to implement structured and effective programmes which benefit our learners in accessing various post-school opportunities.
In addition to the academic support provided to learners, our partners also assist with preparing our future leaders for life after matric by sharing available opportunities and platforms such as job portals. This is to ensure that Ikamvanites are aware of all possibilities, that they are equipped with adequate information to assist them in making informed decisions about their future.
One learner from Phakamani Young Minds Academy (PYMA) in Gauteng, Soweto had the following to share:
“I joined PYMA in 2017 because I was struggling with my grades. I would attend every afternoon class so that I could be helped with subjects like Mathematics, Physical Science and Geography because I was struggling in them. The academy was so helpful because it made my grades improve and I was supported to apply at various institutions. This year I will be attending at South West TVET College to study an Electrical engineering course. When I got my confirmation letter from the institution early February I was thrilled and will be starting in the second trimester.
My favourite quote is I Will Persist Until I Succeed because it motivates me to never give up, no matter what obstacles I may come across in my life. What lead me to succeed in my matric year is that I always had support from my family and most of all PYMA because it would enforce pressure on me that I must study very hard if I want to achieve my goals and it also implemented extra lessons for myself and others learners so that we can have enough time to study and understand what we were being taught. For that, I would love to give a warm thanks to PYMA for always being my pillar of strength in the two years I spent being their learner.”
We look forward to more excellence in 2019.
Each year, IkamvaYouth supports learners to ensure they not only pass matric, but also access post-school opportunities that can lead to them earning a dignified living. These opportunities include tertiary and other training opportunities, learnerships, and employment. In January, we were excited to announce a pass rate of 82% for the class of 2018, with 69.3% eligible for tertiary.
With the dust of the matric pass celebrations having settled, IkamvaYouth is proud to announce a placement rate of 77.7%:
- 50% learners of the class of 2018 have been placed into post-school opportunities (39.5% are studying at university or college; 6.1% are in short courses, higher certificates and related short term training; 2.1% are enrolled in learnership programmes; 2.3% are employed)
- 27.7% are improving their matric results through supplementary exams/upgrading programmes or enrolled in NCV courses at FET colleges.
- 22.3% are currently not in education, employment, or training (NEETs).
A total of 188 (39.5%) of IkamvaYouth’s 2018 matric learners have secured tertiary placements at various institutions across the country. As has been the trend in recent years, CPUT has the highest number of Ikamvanites enrolled (17 learners). It is encouraging to note that the number of institutions that have enrolled 10 or more Ikamvanites have increased to seven this year (UCT, Rhodes, TUT, UJ, UWC, NWU, CPUT). Last year, only four institutions had 10 or more Ikamvanites enrolled.
It is also encouraging to note the increase in the number of learners getting into the following institutions, compared to last year:
Ikamvanites are enrolled in a wide range of courses this year, including Humanities & Social Sciences, Business, Administration & Management, Education, as well as Science & Engineering. The diversity of career streams taken by the learners is encouraging, and it makes us proud to be supporting the learners to access these respective career choices.
Without the support of the branch staff and mentors, some of these learners would not have had the chance to know the courses they are pursuing even existed. One of these learners, Rebaone Moeng, from our Ikageng branch had the following to say:
“I have had only positive things to say. IkamvaYouth helped us a lot last year while I was in matric. In simple words, I didn’t think I would be in university, I had limited knowledge of available courses and learned how to apply for enrolment, and course requirements. I would not have even made it through to matric without IkamvaYouth’s assistance. It is because of how much IkamvaYouth invested in me that I decided to become a tutor, for me it was only fair to give back as much as I have received. But also seeing how much IkamvaYouth changes lives from my own experience, being part of that is an honour. There’s a lot one can get from IkamvaYouth and the best part of it all is that you ought to utilise that opportunity because not many people are as fortunate. I honestly had and am still having an amazing experience at IY and I hope to keep being part of the IY family for as long as I can”.
Access to funding for tertiary has improved by close to 20% from last year; 73% of those who accessed tertiary have thus far secured funding through NSFAS as well as other bursaries/scholarships, compared to just 56% last year.
“I am very grateful to the staff for the support that they have given me. I don’t think that I would have made it without them based on the kind of person that I was before”.~Mihlali Breakfast, Joza branch
Mihlali Breakfast joined the Joza branch because he heard some of his friends discussing the level of assistance they were receiving from the IkamvaYouth programme. Mihlali passed his matric with a Bachelor pass, earning two distinctions in Maths Literacy and Isixhosa Home Language. Mihlali is enrolled at Rhodes University, pursuing a Social Sciences Degree. Mihlali has been very consistent in his academic performance throughout this year and attributes that to the support he has received from IkamvaYouth.
Thank you to our funders, tutors, staff and all partners continue to make the journeys to dignified living for our learners a sure possibility. As more and more learners access post-school opportunities, we are confident they are breaking the cycle of poverty in their families one step at a time!
Who are we?
IkamvaYouth is a township-based volunteer programme that gets learners out of poverty through education. The organisation exists to reduce inequality in South Africa, and its track record of matric results, access to post-school opportunities, and alumni success is proof that positive change is possible.
Who we are looking for?
The organisation is seeking to recruit non-executive members to serve in a voluntary capacity on IkamvaYouth’s Board & Subcommittees and to be custodians of IkamvaYouth’s work, impact, sustainability and values by actively participating in the organisation’s governance and leadership. As part of the board, you will provide strategic direction to IkamvaYouth by adopting strategic plans; determining policy and processes; ensuring the integrity of IkamvaYouth’s risk management and internal controls; monitoring operational performance and management. Directors must ensure that they have the time to devote to properly carry out their responsibilities and duties to IkamvaYouth.
Your responsibilities and duties:
- Annually revising and approving, in consultation with the Executive Management Team IkamvaYouth’s strategic objectives for the year ahead.
- Monitoring progress of IkamvaYouth towards achieving the objectives of IkamvaYouth’s current strategic planning.
- Monitoring the activities of the Executive Director and executive to ensure that the operational policies are being followed in accordance with the constitution.
- Engaging in decision making around policies that have a financial implication for the IkamvaYouth and expenditure to ensure that the constitution is being adhered to in the implementation of the activities of IkamvaYouth.
- Sitting on one of the Board Sub-committees; Human Resources and Governance Committee (HRGC) or Audit, Risk and Sustainability Committee (ARSC).
- Marketing IkamvaYouth to potential donors.
- Exercising leadership, enterprise, integrity and judgement in directing IkamvaYouth so as to achieve continuing impact and sustainability for IkamvaYouth.
- Exercising the utmost good faith, honesty and integrity in all their dealings with or on behalf of the IkamvaYouth
- Acting independently of any outside fetter or instruction.
- Being prepared and able, where necessary, to express disagreement with colleagues on the Board including the Chairperson and the Executive Director
Time requirements:
- The board meets four (4) times per year for 3 hours; at least once every three (3) months and at the written request of any two members of the Board.
- The subcommittees also meet four (4) times per year for 2 hours; at least once every three (3) months and a written request.
- A minimum of 2.5 hours to prepare for each meeting by reading and engaging with the meeting pack.
- The quorum of a meeting shall be two-thirds of the Board. This may be made up of Board members present in person, or virtually or electronically present, and/or who
vote electronically.
How to apply:
To apply, please send a statement of interest/motivation and your detailed CV to Amanda Luyenge: amanda@ikamvayouth.org . For any other enquiries, please contact Amanda Luyenge on 021 820 7444.
To know more about IkamvaYouth visit : www.ikamvayouth.org
Application deadline: 29 March 2019
Building a sector of effective after school programmes together
Cindy Mkaza-Siboto(in blue), Emagqabini Education Academy co-founder, with her class of 2018 learners celebrate an 83% matric pass rate.
IkamvaYouth’s Community Collaboration Programme (CCP) partners have achieved an exceptional 90.4% matric pass rate, with 59% bachelor passes and 22% diploma passes (81% tertiary eligibility). Twelve organisations in the Western Cape and Gauteng provided academic and extracurricular support to over 200 matrics in 2018. The motto “achieving against all odds” has been embodied by the changemakers in the after-school sector, in efforts to assist youth to reach their greatest potential. Without a doubt, this is exactly what the partners in the CCP lived up to!
We are very pleased to share that three of our implementing partners Bokomoso Education Trust, Mamelodi Initiative and Boys and Girls Club – Protea Glen have achieved a 100% matric pass rate!
Speaking about the programme’s support Nonhlanhla Rambuda, from Boys and Girls Club – Protea Glen said: “I joined in 2017, it has helped me so much in improving my marks also having adults who care about you and our academics was so much of motivation. I wouldn’t have done it without the tutors. I passed with Bachelor degree admission. Now my plan is to go to Culinary School and become a chef.”
During an event hosted to honour the bright stars from the class of 2018, Bokang Mokoena, Director of Phakamani Young Minds Academy, quoting Ellen Degeneres he urged the youth: “Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path then, by all means, you should follow that.”
Busiswa Dayimani, IkamvaYouth’s Community Collaboration Coordinator, said, “I am proud of the growth and impact that the organisations are making in the lives of the youth in the communities. The Community Collaboration Programme has been a success in creating a space for organisations to support each other and cross-sharing skills in running effective programmes to deliver quality to the youth and mentoring the newer organisations. We look forward to supporting our class of matriculants to find opportunities that will see them living a dignified living.”
In collaboration with The Learning Trust (TLT), IkamvaYouth established the CCP in 2014. The programme provides training, support and space for peer-to-peer learning to social entrepreneurs running tutoring programmes. Out of 14 organisations supported in 2018, 12 had grade 12 learners enrolled, namely; Beautiful Gates, Sozo Foundation, Just Grace, Emagqabini, Boys and Girls club Pimville and Protea Glen, Phakamani Young Minds Academy, Bokamoso Education Trust, Refilwe, Yakha Ikusasa Manje, Mamelodi Initiative and The Assist. In 2019 IkamvaYouth will be working with 18 partner organisations across Gauteng and Western Cape.
Nonceba Mtwana, National Coordinator for The learning Trust was equally thrilled by the success of the CCP partnership, she said: “We have seen value in the combination of both programmatic and organisational support for embryonic community-based organisations. These organisations fill a real need in our communities where learners are faced with multi social challenges that limit their academic success. The trajectory of success in these organisations has been impressive”.
A big thank you to all our supporter and partners, who continue to make it their responsibility to transform the lives of many marginalised youth, through equipping them with quality education!
Phakamani Young Minds Team with the 2018 matric learners celebrating the success of the learners achieving 88% pass rate.
Finally, we have reached the last academic term of the year and after all the hard work from our learners, volunteers and staff, this is a very special time designated to celebrate the commitment and the value of paying-it-forward demonstrated by our volunteers!
Our Western Cape region recently held its tutor appreciation event and what an honour it was to have all our regional volunteers in one place and shining the light on the amazing work and impact they have achieved this year – which certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Scores of over 130 volunteers were in attendance and even our Executive Director, Lungile had the pleasure of meeting these amazing and talented tutors, who are the heart of IkamvaYouth!
“I am honoured to lead a vibrant army of young people who are banging the drum of change; one maths question at a time! Our army of tutors give their time voluntarily – as one of our volunteers said recently: ‘we need to build each other up in order to move forward as one’”, she said.
At IkamvaYouth, we love and value our volunteers, whose commitment makes our programme sustainable. Every year our volunteer support saves the organisation over R6m. Our volunteers, many of whom are previous learners, who have transformed from beneficiaries to benefactors have been trained to be able to deliver an effective tutoring programme which ensures that our learners succeed academically.
Throughout this year, tutors worked in small groups and provided academic support to our learners who brought in work that they are struggling with to the tutoring sessions. IkamvaYouth’s volunteer tutors, certainly play a much more bigger role than just tutoring; as they deal with students from similar and different backgrounds. They build strong, personal relationships with each learner and this is always visible at tutoring sessions.
Sharing about the support received from tutors, Grade 10 learner, Lesedi said: “I’ve been struggling with Maths and Physical Science and Daniel helped me to understand the concepts and now I am doing very well in the two subjects. He went an extra mile for me by scheduling extra classes outside of tutoring sessions. He is a great source of motivation, he always encourages me to be the best that I can be and not allow my circumstance determine my future. He is a good role model, because he is striving to do good even when times are tough!”
At the event, certificates were awarded a few of the many exceptional tutors who generously donate their time. Their high level of commitment and engagement that contributes to the success of our vision and mission was illuminated in their high spirits. The awardees included: Inganathi from our Nyanga branch, who took home the highest tutor attendance award; while Marilee from our Atlantis branch and Thembisile also from Nyanga, received long service awards. The top achiever of the evening was Doctor – who tutors at the Kuyasa Branch, he was crowned the best tutor, this award was voted for by learners and other tutors.
Asked how he felt about this achievement, Doctor said the following:
“Firstly, I’d like to clarify that we as tutors are all equal and no one is doing a better job than the other. Receiving the best tutor award for me shows how much you are appreciated and valued both by learners and tutors, it means those extra miles we go are noticed and that is a motivation to me to continue paying it forward!”
Without your support and that of our volunteers, we would not have had the opportunity to assist over 2,000 learners at the 17 IkamvaYouth branches, to reach their academic goals and get into post-school institutions – ensuring more young people are set on the path to earning a dignified living.
Thank you for your continued support!
Lloyd Lungu