Empower youth through education in S.A

by IkamvaYouth
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Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A
Empower youth through education in S.A

 

The Value of sound leadership!

 

This month we would like to shine the spotlight and acknowledge our Acting CEO of IkamvaYouth, Ntuthu Mazwana. Passionate about education and social cohesion, Ntuthu lives by three values; purpose in all her life pursuits, passion in everything she does and impact, she's always striving to have a positive and long-lasting impact on those around her.

Thank you for your always demonstrating positive leadership and for being the inspiration that you are Ntuthu!

Chairman of our Board since 2019. Putu has a long history of community development involvement, stretching back to his early high school days and continuing until now. He has held executive and non-executive leadership positions in community development organisations and is focused on African development. This month we would like to acknowledge the Chairman of our board and express our gratitude for his leadership and support.

 

­2023 Autumn School

IkamvaYouth hosted a five-day Autumn Holiday Programme across all of our branches during the March school holidays. The programme included life skills and career guidance workshops which included self-awareness, study skills, pre-matric induction and exciting academic games such as subject trivia, debating and general knowledge. 

 

­Women in Engineering Programme

Women in Engineering (GirlEng) accepted sixteen of our female learners from our Diepsloot Branch who showed an interest in pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to take part in the GirlEng Technovation Camp that took place from the 25th to 28th March. Learners were taught how to code, build and programme robots as well as gain valuable insights about future technologies. All while developing an engineering solution to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

Thank you to WomEng for demonstrating your dedication and support for educational development in South Africa. We appreciate your support!  

 

Matrics visit to Diplomics Labs

Grade 12 Life Science learners from our Western Cape branches visited the DIPLOMICS labs during the holiday programme to learn more about Life Sciences from a Scientist’s perspective. The learners got the opportunity to extract DNA from the strawberries and bananas and were also given a tour of the facility and the laboratories.

Thank you to Diplomics for taking the time to impart some knowledge with our learners and providing them with an insight into the world of DNA. We appreciate your investment in young people.

 

­ Matric Week

As we concluded term 1, our team hosted our annual Matric Week programme across our branches, a holiday programme for our Class of 2023. This week-long programme consisted of numerous interactive tutoring sessions, career guidance workshops as well as dedicated time spent helping our matrics improve their computer literacy skills.

 

­Graduation Season

It’s graduation season! We are celebrating the graduations of our alumni and tutors from the Western Cape who have recently completed their degrees from UCT and CPUT. A big congratulations to some of our recent graduates.

We wish you all the best with your journey ahead!

 

­Community Outreach

Our Chesterville team concluded a successful learner recruitment drive at Bonela Secondary School in Chesterville. Learner recruitment drives are a crucial component to our outreach programme as it solidifies our relationships with communities and ensures that we reach learners in need of academic support and career guidance.

 

­

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NEETS Programme Launch

We are excited to announce the launch of our new intervention for young people who are Not in Education Employment or Training. The NEET crisis in South Africa is well documented and research singles out educational attainment, skills/vocational training and placement opportunities as key methods of intervention. We are excited to be delivering ready-to-market courses for 120 young people in Gauteng and Western Cape, providing courses in digital skills aligned with the current job market opportunities. Additionally, we will provide job readiness training and placement support to ensure the cohort accesses job opportunities or further training.

We would like to thank our partners for their support as we launch this timely intervention not only for IkamvaYouth alumni who are NEETS but also for the broader communities we work in.

 

UCT Visit our Masiphumelele Branch

As part of our on-going partnership with University of Cape Town, retired Emeritus Professor Anwar Mall addressed Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners from our Masiphumelele Branch at the Masiphumelele Library. These learners are participants in UCT’s 100UP programme, a three-year enrichment initiative to address the low numbers of disadvantaged learners from Western Cape townships entering the university. It is the flagship project of UCTs Schools Improvement Initiative (SII). Professor Mall spoke about his journey in tertiary education and the challenges with confusion and anxiety that came with choosing an undergraduate course. The learners also heard from UCT astrophysics master’s candidate Moses Mlangeni and Dr Jade Gibson from the Department of African Studies and Linguistics.

 

High School Programme Outreach at the Castle of Good Hope

Representatives from our High School Programme, where we support grade 8 and 9 learners with Maths tutoring, were present at the Castle of Good Hope to speak to prospective learners as well as other industry professionals as part of a career expo. Our team was on hand to assist those interested in paying it forward to the next generation and joining our programme.

 

EhWoza! High School Support Programme

Eh Woza paid several visits to our Makhaza Branch to facilitate Mental Health and Life Skills workshops for our Grade 10 learners as part of their on-going High School Support Programme. Learners were educated and informed about the prevalence of depression amongst youth, and they had an engaging discussion with the learners about the importance of taking care of themselves mentally and emotionally. In addition, Eh Woza! has also facilitated a series of Learner Documentary Editing Workshops with our learners and allowed them to engage with video editing professionals and learn valuable skills they can incorporate in the future. 

 

Activities Aplenty At Ikageng

The past few months have been quite busy for our Ikageng team in the North West. The North West University invited the IkamvaYouth girls to visit their premises as part of their on-going FemEngineering programme. The branch also hosted a parental rights and responsibilities workshop facilitated by NWU alumni department. Our Branch staff were also invited to a community engagement and networking event hosted by NWU - Faculty of Humanities and our very own Ikageng Branch Assistant Andani Khwerana represented IkamvaYouth and gave an address on our behalf.  A truly immersive event.

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With much excitement, our holiday programme is back in-person. Learners, tutors and staff were in high spirits as they spent the two weeks of the programme with full days of intensive academic support, a full lineup of workshops,  games, and excursions. 

The first week was our Winter School supporting grade 8-11 and the second week was our Matric Week, aimed at our 2022 Grade 12 cohort.  1,450 learners showed up each morning across the country to participate in the programme. 330 tutors supported the learners during the two-week programme across all branches. 

We could not have been more proud of our volunteers as they played an instrumental role in the planning and execution of the programme. With the branch staff’s guidance, our volunteer tutors were responsible for liaising with educators for the content focus and dividing learners according to their academic strengths in their different subjects. Experienced tutors focused on at-risk learners and delivered targeted support. Beyond the tutoring, many stepped in as logistics managers, to ensure the porgramme was on schedule daily, to ensure the lunches arrived on time and to manage the excursions logistics. Winter School gives us an opportunity to train tutors on leadership as they take responsibility for their work, and execute their tasks, in turn equipping them for the world of work.

“Winter school was a very fun and warm experience for me. And the pleasure of being able to influence and inspire the next person was the reward I got out of this program. It felt so good standing in front of the learners and scratching a part of their minds that’s hungry for more knowledge and self-mastery. And that was so refreshing for me.

One of the most important things I learnt during the winter school program was the importance of balancing work with play. And how that plays a vital role in the wellness and the well-being of an individual to balance the two. As well as how to network and connect with other people. 

From day one, I felt at home, being around this inspiring environment. And one thing I appreciate most about this space here at IkamvaYouth is that it’s so easy to be inspired. Whether you’re a volunteer or a student. And the social aspect of this environment makes it easy and fun for people to learn from each other”. 

– Zanethemba Mdyogolo, Winterschool tutor

Western Cape District 

The Western Cape team turned up the heat this winter. 662 learners attended the programme, supported by over 100 tutors. Learners in Grade 8 and 9, who are part of the Math programme spent time in the labs, closing the gaps from the first two terms. Grade 10 -12 covered their core subjects. The programme incorporated learning through play with learners participating in Talent Show, and subject-based quiz sessions. The afternoons were packed with workshops including Dangers of Drug & Alcohol abuse by SANCA, and a workshop on Gender-Based Violence by Ilitha Labantu, a presentation from False Bay College to name a few. The week ended with our Masiphumelele Branch visiting one of our partners, Cognia Law Office to experience the world of work. 

 

Gauteng and North West Region 

 

519 learners participated in the holiday programme in the Gauteng and North West, and 195 tutors were in attendance. The programme was a huge success, as learners spent an aggregated 130 hours in tutoring sessions covering various subjects. Across the six branches, the region hosted over 20 sessions through partnerships with key stakeholders such as National Youth Development Outreach, National Prosecuting Authority, and Africa Beyond 4IR. Some workshops included: Self-awareness, Time management and Goal Setting, Kid Coders Programme, Anti-bullying Awareness, and Tertiary Readiness Workshop to mention only a few. 

 

“It is inspiring to see that the community still holds dear the value for supporting and grooming the black child. As teachers, we are trying our best to educate and see our learners prospering. However, we are encouraged to see tutors volunteering their time to capacitate after-school support so learners do not deviate from their school work. Thank You IkamvaYouth!”

Mr S. Ziqubu, educator (Mamelodi Secondary School)

KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape Region 

 

Our KZN and Eastern Cape acting District Manager Sibonelo had this to say: “We are really fortunate to be in a position where we directly intervene, and change the educational outcomes of our learners. The COVID-19 pandemic caused so many learning gaps over the past two years, but what we know is that poor educational outcomes existed before the pandemic. Since after-school programmes such as ours are well positioned to continue to offer “catch-up” interventions that bridge these learning gaps, we are proud of the work we managed to do for the learners during the holiday programme. Learners were engaged, and tutors came prepared for the sessions”  

 

The region hosted over 269 learners and up to 50 tutors showed up to support the learners. The two KwaZulu Natal jointly held their holiday programmes at Umlazi Branch. The programme included revision sessions from the past two terms and conducted assessments through reviewing past exam papers. A highlight from the region was “ Interview Day” where learners dressed up in smart formal attire. The branch staff took the opportunity to facilitate an interactive session where learners were engaged in conversation on access to various career paths, access to tertiary, financial literacy, as well as leadership skills. The Joza Branch in Makhanda also hosted Mental health awareness facilitated by Rhodes Psychology clinic.

We would like to thank all the learners for showing up and showing such dedication to their education. We would also like to thank our volunteers for their time and for paying it forward.

 

Without our donors and partners, we wouldn’t have been able to host the holiday programme. We thank you for your generosity and for ensuring that together, we support the young people in our programmes to produce better learning outcomes. 

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By: Yanga Totyi, Atlantis Branch Coordinator

As we begin the year, celebrating our stellar 2021 matric results, and reflecting on the Atlantis Brach journey since its inception, I am drawn to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Tedtalk: “The Danger of a Single Story”. 

In this talk, Chimamanda narrates a story about her upbringing and the single narrative she had built around her parents’ employee. The single-story was that of poverty and helplessness. This was shattered when they visited his village. Through this story, told at TED, Chimamanda, encourages us to recognize the importance of telling stories, to add voice to the narratives that exist about a situation, or a place. By adding our voice, we shatter single narratives about a place. We humanise and empower.  

Atlantis, located 65km outside of Cape Town, was established by the apartheid government in the early 1970s as an industrial community for the coloured population of Cape Town. Atlantis has been branded as a community rampant with drug use, and crime. IkamvaYouth established a branch in this community in 2017, against the backdrop of a single narrative. We have been running our after-school tutoring programme supporting young people to ensure that they pass matric, and access post-school opportunities. While the many economic challenges are real, our experience in the community has, again and again, shuttered the single narrative.  

Since the branch’s inception, we have worked with a community of stakeholders, who have all risen up to ensure we produce the best educational outcomes for young people in high school. Our main feeder schools such as Robinvale High School and Proteus Technical High school have been instrumental in making sure we overcome any hurdles.  It has been inspiring for us, to witness the school governing bodies, senior management teams and passionate teachers dedicate their time and resources, committing themselves to make an impact in the lives of Atlantis learners. 

Our partners, GrandSlots, Green Cape and the Atlantis SEZ have funded the programme, and Direct Axis has facilitated our mentorship, career guidance, life skills, and leadership programmes. The mentors particularly have been a constant source of support, spurring the young ones on and playing their part in retelling the story of Atlantis through the successes of these young people. 

Our after-school tutoring programme is facilitated by volunteers. Young people from the community show up to the branch to assist young learners with their homework and learning gaps. Here is one of our volunteers’ words: “Some of us were the first to pass and access tertiary education in our family. We have led by example, showing the younger brothers, sisters and cousins that it’s possible. My contribution to this branch is to also support learners and make sure that they are that example to their family”.

The combined efforts of tutors, mentors, teachers, school staff and parents have seen the branch produce stellar matric results year on year.  Each year our results have improved from 64% in 2018, 79% in 2019, 98% in 2020. 

Five years after the branch’s inception, the matric class of 2021 yet again dismantled the single narrative about young people from Atlantis by achieving a record-breaking 100% matric pass rate.  In addition, 67% of the 2021 cohort achieved a bachelor pass, 23% achieved a diploma pass, meaning that 90% of learners are eligible for tertiary institutions. In a community where not many are able to pass matric, we are proud of the collaborative effort to ensure that learners access tertiary education, and are set on a path to a dignified living. We are extremely proud of each and every learner that has gone through our programme. 

The danger of a single story about Atlantis could easily blind us from all the passion, the effort that these young people themselves put in to ensure they add to the story of success in Atlantis. Our CEO Hope Chidawanyika says: “The learners in our programme work extremely hard and every day they teach us all something new about what people can accomplish if they’re just given the opportunity and the support they need to reach their goals”. 

Kgahlisang Pilo, adamant about changing people’s perception of the youth of Atlantis – who are often labelled as drug and alcohol abusers and  consummate troublemakers, had the following to say about his IkamvaYouth journey,

“After failing grade 11 in 2019, seeing my peers go on to the next grade, I knew that I had to change something. With the help of IkamvaYouth, I changed for the better and focused more on passing and making it to matric. I gained new friends, I kept pushing and pushing and when I got my matric results…IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF! I finally made it and I would like to thank IkamvaYouth, the mentors and the funders for giving me the help I needed. I will never forget all that has been done for me! It has been such a bumpy ride.”

 

A big thank you to the IkamvaYouth team, for helping to weave this story, and bringing all stakeholders invested in the young people in our programme, to ensure we continue to tell a nuanced narrative of Atlantis. Atlantis branch staff and volunteers

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We are an army of young people, changing the face of education in under-resourced communities, one Mathematics question at a time.  Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. This year, once again, we celebrate a year of hard work, as Ikamvanites produce stellar results. 

We are proud to share with you that our Matric class of 2021 achieved a 90% pass rate. Of the 543 learners who wrote their matric 487 passed, achieving a collective 258 distinctions. The matric class of 2021 started Grade 11, a crucial year of their schooling career, at the beginning of the lockdown in 2020.  This meant that many learners were at school less than 50% of the year and the only support that they were receiving at home was from IkamvaYouth via online tutoring sessions and support. 

Nationally, the matric class  of 2021, achieved a 76.5% pass rate. We recognise the unique challenges faced by this cohort over the past two years; such as the implementation of class platooning which caused learners to miss 50% (or more) of school. We witnessed better resourced schools distributing textbooks  and conducting online learning, while learners in communities we work in had to self teach with no resources. lt is, therefore, commendable that the national cohort managed to achieve these results when 80% of learners attend under-resourced schools.

As we celebrate our learners’ pass rate, it is also important that they ultimately access post-school opportunities that will enable them to earn a dignified living.  We are proud to share that 54% of learners achieved a Bachelor’s pass, and 79% achieved tertiary eligibility. We will now provide intensive support to last year’s Grade 12 learners to ensure that they access post-school opportunities.

Our CEO Hope Chidawanyika said:  “Year on year, our matric results are a true testament of the power of after-school tutoring support programmes such as ours.  We are extremely proud of the 2021 cohort who braved through two years of interrupted learning to achieve great results. The learners in our programme work extremely hard and every day they teach us all something new about what people can accomplish if they’re just given the opportunity and the support they need to reach their goals. I am excited about their future”. 

Our regional performances are also noteworthy. Our Gauteng and North West region achieved a 90% pass rate and a collective 112 distinctions. One top learner from the Diepsloot Branch, Kelebogile was amongst the province’s top performing pupils. Kelebogile was honoured by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, at the recently held Matric Breakfast. He received 2 prestigious awards for his remarkable 100% pass in Mathematics and Physical Sciences as well as for achieving 7 distinctions.

Our Gauteng and North West District Manager Busi Nkosi says, “We are extremely proud of the achievements of our top performer Kelobogile, He is a great example of ‘your background does not define your achievements’. We are privileged to not only impact Kelebogile but all learners who go through our programme by providing a consistent and stable safe space that motivates them to remain committed to attending sessions despite the many challenges they may face. Through their resilience, they conquered”

Our Western Cape region also produced great results, achieving an 88% pass rate across all five branches. Two of our branches in the region, Kuyasa and Atlantis achieved 100%. The Western Cape is where the IkamvaYouth story began. We are proud of what this region continues to accomplish, through building a strong community of dedicated tutors, nurturing relationships with parents, collaborating with schools, teachers, and subject advisors, as well as partnerships with local organisations.

Silubonile, a learner from our Nyanga Branch had this to say, “The IkamvaYouth programme helped me get rid of a bad habit, I was not studying at home. IkamvaYouth offered us a place to study so I would get a portion of my time at school during lunch and after school to study in their lab. The tutors helped us with tips and helped me realise my learning and study styles which equipped me to study at home. I have now passed my matric, and I am going to study B.Com Accounting at the University of the Western Cape”.

Our KwaZulu Natal/Eastern Cape region also achieved impressive results achieving a 93% pass rate across the three branches. Worth mentioning is our Joza branch, in Makhanda where 96% of the learners passed, 65% achieved a Bachelor’s Pass, and 83% are eligible for tertiary. In the Eastern Cape where pass rates have been low, passing matric is a huge accomplishment, and achieving tertiary eligibility means an opportunity to change the trajectory of these learners’ lives. 

We are extremely proud of all these achievements, showing the effectiveness of after-school interventions. Not only has 2021 produced great results, but a five-year analysis of our results have also shown an improvement in our programme’s success, particularly our Bachelor’s passes that have steadily grown from 38% in 2017, to 54% in 2021. We continue to refine our model and ensure learners in our programme produce quality results.

We would like especially to thank the over 700 IkamvaYouth volunteer tutors, who continue to show up for the learners. Many are in tertiary and in jobs, however, they still share their limited time with the learners.  We recently caught up with Simthembile who matriculated from Nyanga Branch in 2018 and is now a tutor. She had this to say:  “With the support that I received at the branch when I was a learner, I knew that I had to pay that forward to others. Our tutors then taught us how to support each other and I had to give back.”

Our Board Chairperson Putukwane Madisha says, “To the IkamvaYouth team and volunteers, congratulations for your great work. It is through your hard work and passion for the education of young people that we are able to consistently achieve great results, and ensure quality passes for learners who have such scarce resources at their disposal. I would also like to thank every one of our donors, for investing in our work, and all our implementing and thinking partners for walking the journey with us. Lastly, to the learners, your commitment and effort has shown in these excellent results. Congratulations and see this as a first step to uplifting yourselves, your families and your communities to a brighter future.” 

Again congratulations Ikamvanites, we look forward to seeing many of you making a mark in the next chapter of your lives!

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IkamvaYouth

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape - South Africa
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Twitter: @IkamvaYouthSA
Project Leader:
Alex Smith
Cape Town , Western Cape South Africa
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