On the morning of Friday the 4th of July, the 5th day of our first ever annual winter school as the Mamelodi branch; was the day we took our learners and volunteers for an excursion at Freedom Park. The day started with the excited learners and tutors being ushered into the bus heading to Freedom Park.
Upon arrival everyone received wrist bands for entrance to Freedom Park. A tour guide, by the name of Gift; was assigned to us for the day and addressed everyone and set out the basic rules that had to be followed during the tour.
Freedom Park was established to capture human dignity, rights and freedom and reflects the sacrificial achievements of the nation. Learners were excited and willing to learn about their own history and understand the extent to which liberation was attained in South Africa.
The tour started with the ikamvanites visiting S’ikhumbuto, one of the elements in the Freedom Park, which includes a Wall of Names as a remembrance of the fallen heroes of the struggle, an Amphitheatre, an Eternal flame, a Gallery of leaders and a Sanctuary. The next element that was visited was Moshate; which functions as an exhibition space for designs of the various kingdoms in the South Africa landscape. Learners then visited Mveledzo which is a spiral path, Uitspanplek a space which showed the view of the scenic Pretoria CBD area, which also overlooks the Voortrekker Monument and UNISA University.
Amongst other wonderful elements the learners visited was Tiva, a large body of water, which symbolises peace, Sivivane which symbolises a resting place for those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle. The Sivivane includes a symbolic burial ground, which is surrounded by 11 boulders known as Leshaka; all these boulders were taken from all the 9 provinces around the country. What’s also included in Sivivane is a body of water at both entrances for baptism and drinking and Umlahlankosi trees.
During the tour, learners asked questions and were intrigued by the diverse cultures and history that South Africa holds. The highlight of the tour was when the ikamvanites visited IIhapo which told a story about the beginning of life in Africa and how it impacted the rest of the world and the Pan African archives.
It was definitely a day that changed the learner’s outlook on being an African and all that this country had to overcome in order to be as privileged as it is today.
One of our learners had this to say:”I will now be able to understand the history subject more in class because I visited Freedom Park. Thanks to IY for taking us to Freedom Park and to Freedom Park for the experience”- Grade 10 learner.
From IkamvaYouth Mamelodi, we say thank you to Freedom Park for having us 🙂!!!
On the 30th June 2014 80 Masi learners and tutors met to launch what became an action packed two weeks of Winter School at False Bay College. At the very beginning of Winter School many learners were unsure of their expectations and were uneasy about what was lying ahead of them but needless to say, the first day got us all off to a brilliant start.
The morning began with fun and games at assembly where learners where getting to know the tutors, staff and fellow ikamvanites a bit more in an attempt to build rapport and unity within the group. Walking around the room during these “getting-to-know-you” activities what was interesting to observe was how some of the tutors has so much in common with the learners and vise versa. This activity was certainly in incredible way of breaking the walls that may have existed between learners, tutors and staff.
After the fun and games house rules were set by the learners. The purpose of these rules was to ensure that the two of Winter School brought forth all the desired outcomes in a fun and disciplined environment. After setting the rules, learners were taken on a tour of the campus as this would be their space for the next two weeks.
After the tour, it was time to get the ball rolling with the purpose of Winter School; tutoring. Learners were divided into their different tutoring venues and assigned tutors based on their subject and grade. From the get go, Masi learner displayed a drive and zeal for learning that personifies a true iKamvanite.
After all the hard work during tutoring, learners were treated to workshop in the afternnon ran by various organisation in and around the Cape Town. Organisations such as Iziko Museum , Fundza, Cape Leopard Trust, Love Life and the SA Jewish Museum are just some of the organisations that spent an afternoon with our learners empowering, training and ecnouraging the learners in different spheres of life.
The two weeks of Winter School did not only present an opportunity for the learners to get intensive tutoring but it brought about an opportunity for the learners to get to know each other, the staff and tutors outside of their normal space of tutoring.
The highlight of the entire two weeks was Friday 11 July where Masinites were crowned the Talent Showers winners for the very first time. Well done to the Masinites for claiming their long awaited glory.
On Monday morning, 30 June, we descended with 102 excited learners to the Univerity of the Western Cape (UWC). 40 amazing tutors joined this wonderful event. The morning began with Zukile Keswa, branch coordinator, welcoming all the learners and tutors. Rules were created by everyone that formed as law for the duration of the WS.
Every year IY hosts a Winter School (WS) for two weeks, which takes place in tertiary institutions in order to expose the learners from township schools to University life. The aim is to achieve intensive tutoring, focusing on all the major subjects that the learners are struggling with such that they can achieve the desired marks and improve their confidence in their academics.
The days consisted of two sections; the morning sessions were for intensive tutoring. The tutored subjects were decided by the learners and tutors. We always strive to maintain a 1:5 ratio, meaning that a group of 5 learners get one tutor. The motives for doing so are for learners to be able to open up to the tutors’ and enable the tutors to identify the learners’ weak points promptly.
Grade 11 learner shared his experience over the two weeks, “This was an exciting time for me as I could be comfortable with saying I do not understand my work without feeling ashamed. All the tutors were great and a huge thank you goes out to them”.
The afternoon session was comprised of various workshops. The incredible Workshops took part in our WS this year include; Stellenbosch University, Save Our Seas, University of Cape Town (Health and Life skills department), Jewish Museum, Iziko Museum, Peers in Sexual Health, Unathi Basoni, Cape Leopard Trust, Ziyanda Tshoki (Debate Society), Safety Lab, Mxit Reach, Sonwabile Dwangu and Capitec Bank. These workshops were selected according to the career interest of learners, where they were able gain insight and knowledge regarding their chosen career paths.
“The workshops are a necessity as new information and general life skills that our parents are sometimes shy to share with us were covered and taught to us.” One grade 10 learner said.
The 2014 Winter School was a huge success, a cheerful big thank you to everyone that contributed to this remarkable event.
Nyanga Winter School 2014 kicked off on a high note as 107 learners and 32 tutors congregated at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) for an unforgettable 2 weeks of intensive learning, revision and workshops.
Our Winter School opening ceremony was colourful, with learners, tutors and staff talking, singing and laying out the ground rules to govern our behaviour and engagement for the two weeks. Our host, Wandisile Mdepa, representing UWC welcomed the learners and encouraged them to work hard, pursue excellence and make the most of the opportunity afforded them by IkamvaYouth while they are still in school.
Workshops
During the two weeks, Nyanganites participated in 16 different workshops in a variety of interest streams, namely film, media, journalism, drama, business, finance, history, technology, engineering, the environment, life skills, and career guidance. All Nyanganites participated in compulsory workshops on social media, hosted by Mxit Reach, and an HIV/AIDS and TB session hosted by the SACTWU worker health program, after which there was voluntary HIV testing. The Jewish museum generously sponsored an afternoon educational tour of the museum, and the outing was one of the highlights of Winter School for many of the learners.
Tutoring
Nyanga tutors showed remarkable dedication to the learners as they tutored tirelessly for the 9 days, making recommendations for how best to help individual learners in the different areas covered. A record 16 ex-learners tutored at this Winter School, and their presence and stories inspired many Nyanganites and encouraged them in their aspirations to pass Matric and access tertiary education, in pursuit of a dignified living.
Here is what some Nyanganites had to say about this year’s Winter School:
‘I want to thank all the tutors for sacrificing their time to come and teach us what they know. It’s not easy to wake up so early everyday but you tutors have shown that you care about us and our education and we will work hard to make sure that we make you proud.’ Grade 11 learner.
‘I have learnt many things at Winter School, especially in the workshops. I learnt that it is not safe to put all my information on Facebook because there are dangerous people out there, and I must always be careful.’ Grade 10 learner.
Nyanga Winter School 2014 was definitely a success and this was possible because of the combined effort of everyone who planned it and our different partners who conducted workshops. Thank you to UWC for hosting us and to all our workshop facilitators. The full list of organisations, companies and individuals who conducted workshops is as follows:Cape Town Science Centre, Capitec Bank, Environmental Resource Management, Mxit Reach, IkamvaYouth Nyanga tutors, South African Astronomical Observatory, SACTWU Workers’ Health program, Safety Lab, SA Jewish museum, Save Our Seas, SunStep, Lufefekazi Jojo, Raldo Kruger, Sonwabile Dwangu, Tendekai Finos and Ziyanda Tshoki.
Thank you all for your contribution. IkamvaYouth Nyanga appreciates you very much and looks forward to a continued partnership with you.
On Monday 25th June 2013, IkamvaYouth Ebony Park Branch established a way for learners to make well-versed choices with their academics in a program called FUN MATHS. This programme aims at preparing Grade 9 learners to have a solid background in mathematics. IkamvaYouth has been working closely with its feeder schools, in and around the area . The FUN MATHS program took place at one of the feeder schools’ called Tsosolotso Ya Africa High School. The program “FUN MATHS” had learners coming from different schools including Ponelopele Oracle Secondary School and Kaalfontein Secondary.
The program started with 30 learners and went on for two weeks during Winter School starting at 9am till 12pm. Tsosolotso Ya Afrika school’s Principal Miss Ntebo Phahlane said that “The program has good intentions in developing our learners and getting them ready for Mathematics that is generally approached with a negative attitude. I personally think it will install positive attitude towards the subject, I fully support the program”.
One learner- Siphosethu Moyo said , “The program will be a huge help to all the learners from all the schools that are involved and I think generally this will help improve the school’s pass rate in mathematics.” IkamvaYouth is looking forward to continue with the program and influence the pass rates in mathematics in all the neighboring schools by getting more learners to join the FUN MATHS.
Life Coaching with Mr Similindile Qiniso Mavundla
It was day 7 of winter school and IkamvaYouthKZN was at it again. The afternoon activities begun and all learners were excited. Mr Oiniso Mavundla, a young man from the township of Umlazi had asked to work hand in hand with IkamvaYouth and bring in some of his work, as he admires what is already being done with the learners. Qiniso enjoys working with the youth, his main focus is to encourage the youth in developing their skills, building confidence and having a clear mindset to achieve their goals.
Over the course of three days, Qiniso delivered inspirational talks to the grade 11 and 12 learners. He began by introducing himself and his purpose, which is to ensure that each learner is aware of what confidence and positive self-esteem could do for you, improving ones communication skills, knowing your dreams and achievements, and knowing how to get what you want in life.
He then discussed in detail with the learners how a person can develop his or her personal skills. Qiniso mentioned that each learner should have what he calls a “Success Mindset”. He encouraged the learners, to take notes and make use of the info given especially since they are at the point where they are getting closer into entering a new beginning where they will have challenges before adapting to new lifestyles.
In overall this meant that the personal development session helps to equip young people to develop a winning mindset and to overcome some of the biggest obstacles in life, such as fear, self-doubt past failures and help them to tap into a new level of thinking where they will see success and abundance and be able to unleash the success that is lying unused within them.
Qiniso empowered all the learners by his motivational talks, showing them different ways of how to achieve their goals, what to look at when solving their problems, be it at home or at school, how to avoid negativity, and to be aware of the dangers one can encounter in life.
Qiniso seeks to have and continuing relationship with IkamvaYouth as he admires the amount of work that is being done for the learners. We surely look forward in working with him in the near future.
Lloyd Lungu