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.
Lloyd Lungu