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
One small step for IkamvaYouth, one giant leap for Vision 2030!
A month ago IY was joined by three employees from SAP an international software solutions company. They were on a social sabbatical with IkamvaYouth and had accepted the mission of restructuring and revolutionising the Ikamvanite Zone. I can safely say mission accomplished!
It is hard to arrive in a strange country, be introduced to a team of people, dumped in an office, and be given a task with a vague objective and set of deliverables, in a context you don’t understand. Yet the SAP rose to the challenge! It is also hard for an organisation to welcome a team, determine what they are able to do and then direct them effectively to do this within a short time period. Yet IY rose to the challenge!
Marise Sfier, Marc Bernard, Zoe Mann, Yolana Xu, Zukile Keswa
This month has been a true reminder that collaboration can be a beautiful way to work. The SAP team brought with them their exceptional knowledge of software applications, technology, data analysis, design thinking, marketing, and web development. Without which the Zone redesign could not have been realised. However, without IkamvaYouth’s depth of contextual understanding the SAP team would not have been able to apply their expertise. Such an understanding is invaluable, but often taken for granted.
Within this short time they were able to conduct a design thinking workshop to determine the users and roles on the Zone, create a detailed website specification document, build a Drupal 7 back-ended prototype, create a comprehensive project plan going forward and put in place a go to market communication plan. Just a few bits and pieces!
Design Thinking Workshop
Although there is a lot of work still to be done. I am grateful for the SAP team for progressing IkamvaYouth further towards the realisation of the Zone. The vision of the site is to create an online resource hub and learning environment to inspire, enable and support individuals, organisations, learners, volunteers and IY staff to take the future into their own hands and make Vision 2030 a reality.
The new website will be launched at the beginning of next year – watch this space!
In the meantime if you are interested to find out more about the Zone or Vision 2030 please contact zoe@ikamvayouth.org
![Makhaza learners attend ReThink Leadership Un[convention]al](https://www.wordpress.ikamvayouth.org/wp-content/uploads/migrated/imagecache/scale_480/10269384_10152290885146901_89011521188412849_n_0.jpg)
On the early morning of Saturday, 11th October 2014, 40 grade 8 & 9 learners departed from Makhaza to attend the annual ReThink Leadership Un[convetion]al workshop. The IY masterminds arrived at District 6 Museum at 08:00 am.
They were welcomed with a healthy and delicious breakfast before their fun filled day kicked off. The registration period was from 08:30 – 09:00 am after which the workshop started with some ceative activities and introduction.
The purpose of the Un[convention]al workshop was to engage high school learners from different backgrounds to share ideas on how to tackle issues that face their communities.
The young and dynamic minds were energized to think out of the box to bring forth unparalleled suggestions as courses of action.
One of the grade 9 learners, Tania Siswana said, “I learnt a lot of interesting things at the ReThink Leadership Un[convention]al. I learnt how to make a chair out of tyres and how to make a lot of other things from material that you would not think of. I understood how travelling the world could be beneficial to me . It was great, it was fun, it was exciting, it was inspirational and yet educating. I will never forget what they taught us about the 3 C’s which are be CURIOUS, be COURAGEOUS and to COMMUNICATE.”
The young minds were really inspired to be involved in constructive dialogue and meeting youth that they would not normally engage in conversations with.
A huge thank you to the Rethink Leadership team for such an amazing day and inviting the Ikamvanites.
Zanele Mashele, one of the grade 12 learners at IkamvaYouth Makhaza branch, was selected out of 3 other learners, who were previously interviewed, to be the recipient of the Varsity College Bursary. She was invited to attend the awarding event on Wednesday the 15th of October 2014. Being accompanied by her mother and the Makhaza Branch Coordinator, Zukile Keswa. The event kicked off at 10:00 am and among the guests at the event was MISS SA 2014, Rolene Strauss, who awarded Zanele Mashele the bursary. The bursary was said to cover the tuition fees, books and all study material for the entire duration of her undergraduate degree.
Reflecting on this whole event, Zanele said, “I never believed that opportunities like these are given to ordinary township girls like me. I never thought that such an opportunity exists for me. To all young people who would like to further their studies I would say, if you do not have the means to further your studies, there are many opportunities out there and you should try and find out about the opportunities. Money and circumstances should not stop you from having dreams and reaching for them. Stay positive and keep believing in yourself, know that you too can achieve great things.”
Zanele’s mother was filled with unspeakable joy when she saw her daughter receiving the bursary, it was indeed a milestone in this young lady’s life. The young lady’s dreams have now materialized, she will be doing her BCom in Financial Management at Varsity College in 2015.
We congratulate Zanele Mashele on receiving this bursary.
Zanele was also mentioned on Miss SA 2014’s facebook page.
“On the third Saturday of September each year (20 September 2014), volunteers around the world take part in the world’s biggest coastal cleanup, known as International Coastal Cleanup Day. The event has been held internationally each year for over 20 years, when people head to the beaches and begin removing debris and rubbish from shorelines, waterways and oceans”.
This year was no different, as the Western Cape Ikamvanites took to the Helderberg Marine protected area coast to clean the 4 km of beach which is the least disturbed part of the northern shore of False Bay. The Nyanga Ikamvanites came out in numbers and were more than excited to participate in such a great initiative of keeping our coasts clean.
On the early morning of Saturday, 20th September 2014, Makhaza branch held its third parents meeting for the year. Parents arrived early in great numbers. Despite the parents’ Saturday commitments, nothing could be more important than their children’s academic performance. The turn out of the parents was encouraging and the effort the parents took to attend the meeting is highly appreciated.
The meeting was run by Busiswa Dayimani the Branch Assistant. The Agenda which included attendance, report collection, speaking of english among others was welcomed by the parents. They showed interest in all the matters being discussed by asking questions and adding their suggestions. Zukile Keswa, Branch Coordinator, praised the parents for their involvement in monitoring the learners and working with us with regards to the schools and being a notable support system for the learners.
The parents were greatly pleased with the introduction of speaking English at all times in IY. A parent of a grade 9 learner said “I have been noticing change in my son he even speaks the language at home. He has been selected to represent his school in Pretoria and I am confident he will do well as he can relate with others in English.”
Parents took turns in praising the work that IY does and giving the staff approval to continue and vowing their support for the success of IY.
Forward with Education………..!
Lloyd Lungu