IKAMVAYOUTH EBONY PARK HOSTS THEIR 2020 OPEN DAY – KAE NEWS
Ikamva means “future” and the future is definitely bright. On Saturday, the 18th of January 2020 the IkamvaYouth Ebony Park branch held an Open Day for the 2020 academic year.
Learners who are in Grades 9-11 are encouraged to enrol in IkamvaYouth’s award-winning programme. The programme offers tutoring, mentorship, computer literacy, psycho-social support and career guidance. Learners from nearby schools such as Tsosolotso Ya Afrika, Ponelopele Oracle, Kaalfontein, David Makhubo, Ivory Park, Eqinisweni and Umqhele Secondary Schools were in attendance.
The Open Day was intended to inform the community on what IkamvaYouth does and the matric class of 2019 was awarded. Out of 52 learners from the Ebony Park branch, the class of 2019 obtained an impressive 96% pass rate. These Ikamvanites obtained 23 distinctions, 57% Bachelor passes, 31% Diploma passes and 8% Higher Certificate passes. This is a 9% increase from their 2018 pass rate as a branch. Furthermore, the pass rate was the highest since IkamvaYouth’s partnership with Coca Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) in 2011.
Along with the CCBSA, other partners in attendance included Coaches and Mentors of South Africa, Education Agency, Methodist Church, Tsuchi Foundation, volunteers, teachers and alumni.
IkamvaYouth’s mission is to help learners from under-resourced communities to pull themselves and each other out of poverty to pass matric and earn a dignified living. IkamvaYouth has a 16-year track record of achieving high impact, and their matric cohorts across their 17 branches have constantly achieved between 80% and 100% every year. The model uses peer-based support, group tuition, Grade 12 mentoring and facilitated access to computers and ed-tech products.
One alumnus (former Ikamvanite), Kabelo is now a qualified pharmacist working in the North West. Kabelo studied at Medunsa and is currently studying towards an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree. He is a former Eqinisweni Secondary School learner and joined the IkamvaYouth programme in Grade 9. It is IkamvaYouth that assisted him with applying for university and the Tsu Chi Foundation offered him a bursary. When asked what advise he would give to the Class of 2020, he said, “when you are studying, you are doing it for yourself and not for your parents. Obtain a good education and continue to learn consistently. When you eventually make it, don’t forget where you come from and give back to your community.”
Nondumiso joined IkamvaYouth as a volunteer in January 2019. She is a qualified Accountant and works for the National Treasury. She described her time at IkamvaYouth so far as a great and humbling experience. She enjoys that the learners are encouraged to express themselves and drive their learning process. “It takes a village to raise a child and I wanted to be part of the IkamvaYouth village” she said. Nondumiso urged other professionals to dedicate only 3 hours of their time on Saturday mornings to be part of this programme. She advises to the Class of 2020 was to “surround yourselves with a good circle of friends that will teach u good values”.
The IkamvaYouth programme is implemented in 17 townships, across five provinces (Gauteng, North West, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal). Through their branches, they are currently supporting over 2,500 learners through IkamvaYouth’s direct branches and over 3,000 learners through their social franchise - Community Collaboration Programme (CCP). Their tutoring model is effective, innovative and replicable; the achievement of high impact at a low cost ensures scope for nation-wide scale; learners living in economically challenged and rural communities within 40 kms of a tertiary institution should all be able to access these services and change the trajectory of their lives.
Learners from Grade 9-11 who are interested in joining IkamvaYouth are encouraged to apply at their closest branch from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. They need to bring last year’s report card along with an ID or Birth Certificate.
For more information contact the Ebony Park Branch Coordinator Michael Thema on 074 664 8856 or 010 023 0115.
Please follow and like us: