At the GirlEng #AskAnEngineer workshop on 20 May, 23 of our Grade 9, 10 and 11s:
- Heard first-hand stories from engineering students and engineers about their various fields of engineering and how they decided to choose engineering as a career e.g. electrical, civil, chemical and mechanical engineering.
- Found out more about the various options available and what is needed to study engineering.
- Met with mentors and sponsors that could assist them in furthering a career in engineering
IkamvaYouth particularly thank Danielle Hendricks and Mvumekazi Socwayi for accompanying the learners.
IkamvaYouth has started the year with a flurry of training activities. So far we have trained:
• 43 Branch and Programme Coordinators in Facilitating Learning Methodologies
• 8 Branch and Programme Coordinators in Meaningful Mentoring in Gauteng;
• 88 tutors in Western Cape (from 5 IkamvaYouth branches, and 6 partner organisations); and
• 92 tutors in Gauteng from 14 organisations (21 Wits, 37 IY Tutor Training, 34 Partner Tutor Training)
This is just the start to strengthening our vision!
The year ahead will be packed with exciting workshops and short courses, such as:
To view the 2017 training schedule and course outlines got to: http://www.ikamvayouthzone.org/resource/
Please note that the dates are subject to change, so please contact us to confirm dates.
If you have any ideas of training that you, your tutors, or learners need, get in touch with Pepe or Zoe at
pepe@ikamvayouth.org (062 097 2805) or zoe@ikamvayouth.org (074 476 7965) respectively.
We are whole-heartedly committed to impact in the after-school sector. We aim to increase the
reach of our activities so that more learners have access to high quality tutoring programmes.
This necessitates the deepening of our impact and ensuring that all interactions that IkamvaYouth,
our partners and the growing numbers of dedicated tutors have with the learners are rich, meaningful
and inspiring.
We should constantly ask ourselves: ‘Are we doing the best that we can for our learners?’
It is through questioning and being open to learning that we can adapt to the real needs of the people
that we serve and ultimately have the lasting impact that we seek.
Achieving Vision 2030 is only possible with this mind-set of evolution and growth!
You are welcome to come and learn with us!
Please join us in our quest to bring learners out of poverty!
Slindile Msweli from Runway addressing the learners
Waking up in the morning and looking forward to going to the workplace, are one of the key characteristics of a person who has chosen the correct career path in which they can flourish. These are the kind of discussions that took place within our Umlazi Branch on Saturday.
Our grade 10, 11 & 12s had the opportunity to take part in a workshop which covered all the topics that one would have to consider when choosing a desired career path. The learners put pen to paper and thought about what their personal visions and goals are, an exercise they were quite receptive to.
Learners writing down their top 3 goals
Passionate about the development and encouragement of young people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, the workshop facilitator, Slindile Msweli from Runway, shared information on the kinds of careers that are available to them as well as the various ways in which they can pursue them.
In addition to this, she stressed that learners have a huge part to play when it comes to career selection – this involves researching what they want to study as well as ‘matching’ it to their individual passions, future aspirations as well as their desire to have a job.
Thembeka Thusi, a grade 10 learner, said that she did not know how important her career choice is and how much influence she has on it even in her current Grade. Thembeka also mentioned that she was grateful to learn about using the internet and social media responsibly as it could affect her career opportunities in future.
Another grade 11 learner, Menzi Jaca, said that his dream is to be a doctor and he knew that his subjects had to be pure maths and physical science. Now understands that the reason why he has to work hard to pass in school is so that he can get the required points to gain entry into his course at university.
In closing the workshop, our Umlazi Ikamvanites got to understand that under-preparation for university and lack of insight when choosing the right career path, resulted in a lot of dropouts and also an increased national rate of unemployment.
Umlazi Branch Coordinator and Branch Assistant handing over a thank you gift to Slindile Msweli
We at IkamvaYouth are grateful to be one of the key instruments within our respective township communities, that ensure and promote the individual preparation of our learners for university through our various programmes that in turn make a great mark on the country as a whole. We look forward to working with RUNWAY in the near future.
Peers in Sexual Health (PSH) visited IY Makhaza branch on Thursday afternoon, 03 November, to present about the sexual health issues that are facing the youth today. The presentation and engagement was attended by 44 Grade 10 learners.
The topic for the day was STI prevention. The learners engaged on this topic by outling the risks associatied with STIs; the ways of prevention, treatment, symptoms and the stages of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Jabulile, PSH representative, showed the learners illustrations of STIs developing in the body and explained the process. Siphokazi Ntlati, Makhaza intern, assisted Jabulile by jotting down questions the learners were asking during the presentation. One learner, Aluncedo Mzamo, asked whether STIs are listed as a chronical disease and if they lead to death. Jabulile explained that STIs are not chronical and can be cured, however they may lead to death if not treated. Treament for males and females are not the same as STIs are different. Tebogo Mayaphi, grade 10 learner, thanked Jabulile and expressed how helpful the information shared is as he has provided clarity on the questions he had regarding the differences in treatment for males and females.
To end the session Jabulile gave learners male and female condoms and pamphlets to read more on sexual related diseases.
A huge thank you to peers in sexual health for partnering with IkamvaYouth.
The months of June, July and August have been good to the Ebony Park branch. IkamvaYouth has managed to implement its programmes and achieve its goal of ensuring learners receive the necessary information which will prepare them for their journeys in life.
IkamvaYouth Ebony Park branch invited several service providers; Stock Shop, Rivers Foundation, Dr Khubeka, and had a visit to CCBSA plant. The branch’s goal for the term was to incorporate all its programmes and ensure that learners were exposed to career guidance, mentoring, job shadowing and life skills workshops. On the 23rd of July, Ikamvanites in Gauteng had the opportunity to engage with Stock Shop, an organization that empowers young individuals about the financial world and their own personal journeys. Ikamvanites were also graced by the presence of Luvuyo, a Chartered Accountant who gives back to the community by motivating and sponsoring young males who wish to pursue accounting studies. Luyuvo’s motivation was based on the interest learners had in accounting studies. Furthermore, A connect group, Rivers Foundation, of professionals from different departments ranging from Accountants, Directors, IT Technicians and many more visited the Ebony Park branch to celebrate their 67 minutes of Mandela day with IkamvaYouth learners by tutoring and sharing information on their professions.
Chris Dykes, a learning facilitator, facilitated a workshop for Ikamvanites in grade 11 and 12 on the 14th of August. The workshop focused on how the brain works and on how to study smart not hard. Sechaba Mosia, a grade 12 learner had this to say “I have learned how my brain can really catch up and how to study and also the difference between headings, subheadings and sub-subheadings.” A job shadowing opportunity at Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa was the next stop. The process of knowledge is one that is divided into two, inspiration and information thus the Ebony Park branch in association with CCBSA set off to one of the largest Coca cola plants in the world in the quest for knowledge. The name Coca Cola is one synonymous to greatness, however, the humble beginnings and the story behind the brand is one that is not echoed to ordinary citizens.
Learners were warmly welcomed and taken into a lecture room by Thembi Sithole where the process of thorough inspiration and information took place. Firstly, a video about the brand was played followed by a question and answer session with learners. Upon hearing that the product dated all the way back to 1892 “ahhhhs” buzzed around d the lecture room. At the end of the video, “Who created Coca Cola?” was an immediate question asked by Sphamandla Ndlovu a grade 10 Ikamvanite, the question was thrown to all the learners, after moments of hesitations “Pemberton” (Dr John S. Pemberton) was shyly shouted only for the rest of the group to join in much to the amusement of the facilitator.
After a session of explaining and giving theories, learners were taken around the plant and shown the entire processes of creating the product from packaging to bottling. As this wasn’t enough for Ikamvanites, the branch together with its branch committee organized a career hour on the 10th of September. The career hour was meant to avail professionals to visit the branch and engage in a dialogue session where learners get to know the day to day duties of different careers and all the information needed to survive in that particular profession. The branch invited professionals from different organizations like Standard Bank and SAMSI. There were also psychologist, lawyers, statisticians, an environmentalist, corporate managers and bankers present.
As we work towards uplifting the youth from disadvantaged communities, the Ebony park branch has achieved its goal of ensuring that learners received the necessary tools to use as they challenge the life ahead.
Dikikapa is an organisation that aims to inspire and motivate the youth of South Africa, particularly those who are still in high school, to use education as a tool to achieve their dreams and contribute positively to society. The Dikakapa Everyday Heroes workshop took place on Saturday 20th of August with 40 eager grade 10 learners participating. The workshop was vital as it placed an emphasis on career guidance for the learners who are still thinking about their career path. The workshop was facilitated by the ever vibrant, Hlumani Ndlovu, who is the one of the founders of the organisation.
The workshop focused on inspiring and motivating young minds in order for them to become independent. Fundamentally, the workshop was about the discovery of who you really are, knowing that you are human enough to make mistakes and to learn from them. It also addressed changing the manner in which young people think. ‘’We were inspired to stop thinking about failures because this reinforces negative ideas/thoughts in our minds, thereby not allowing opportunity for positive thinking’’ Aluncedo Mzamo, grade 10 learner, shared about the workshop.
The other burning issue identified were the destructive decisions that young people make in their lives. Engaging conversations about self-value were tackled, with some learners sharing that they sometimes value the opinions of their friends and what is trending in pop culture above their own which proves to be disastrous in achieving their set goals for academic development. “Make decisions that will coincide with your dreams and not allow others to taint your future plans’’ was the theme from the discussion.
“’We learned that anyone is capable of changing their circumstances for the better. and this can be achieved through hard work. “ enjoyed reading and participating in the expressive experience’’ said Zizipho Paule, grade 10 learner.
‘’The message I have for you is to take control of your future. Anything can be accomplished if you are dedicated and apply yourself. Aim high for a better academic future“, Hlumani said in closing.
To find out more about Dikikapa, you can visit their facebook page Dikikapa- Everyday Heroes
Lloyd Lungu