IkamvaYouth is a tutoring and mentoring programme that has been working with grade 9-12 at Masiphumelele library for the past 2 years. The hard work and commitment of the learners have paid off, with positive results in their end of year exams. However there is still work to be done and the Ikamvanites are going into Grade 12 with huge enthusiasm.

In the matric examinations our 2 grade 12 students; Kululwa and Simphiwe Ndzube achieved a Diploma pass and Bachelors pass respectively. Simphiwe obtained two distinctions, one of which was a 94% in visual arts which has helped him to secure a place at Michaelis Art School at UCT. He says “What made me focus; I had a dream, a goal to get into university, which motivated me to work hard, study every day, and I was aided by the support from my family, friends, teachers and IkamvaYouth mentors. Wow, I did well! UCT here I come! I am proud of myself!”  Kululwa hopes to study for a diploma in Multimedia Technology at CPUT.

The Masiphumelele branches success is by no means isolated. IkamvaYouth has 5 branches across the country and despite a difficult year for matrics with much of the school year lost to the World Cup and public sector strikes, and learners in township schools have been hit especially hard, IkamvaYouth’s learners, all of whom attend township public schools, achieved an 87% pass rate, with 52% Bachelor passes and 38% diploma passes. 36 distinctions were awarded.

With a larger group of grade 12s in 2011, totaling 20 learners at the Masi branch, we are looking for much needed donations and volunteers to ensure the success of these matriculants, and enable them to access post-school opportunities through assisting with applications and bursaries. Anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of this high-impact and fun way to transform South Africa can make a difference. We hold tutoring sessions on Monday and Thursday 3.30-5.30 and Saturday morning 9.30-12.30, which we welcome all to attend to help these learners with their homework.

IkamvaYouth is welcoming new learners in grades 8-11 into its programmes. Interested learners, parents and volunteer tutors/mentors should make their way to Masiphumelele Library on 22 January at 9.30am for IkamvaYouth’s Open Day, to find out how to become an ikamvanite. If you are unable to make the open day but are interested in getting involved at Masiphumelele please contact or call 314

Please visit www.ikamvayouth.org for more information and to locate our other branches.

About IkamvaYouth:

IkamvaYouth is a community-based non-profit organisation that enables disadvantaged youth to access higher education and job-based training. To do this, it works with learners in the last 2-4 years of high school and provides supplementary tutoring, career guidance mentoring and computer literacy training. IkamvaYouth’s Media, Image and Expression programme provides an opportunity for learners to express themselves through art, performance, media and writing, while the HIV programme enables access to voluntary counselling and testing. The organisation has branches in the Western Cape (Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Masiphumelele), KZN (Chesterville) and Gauteng (Ivory Park). For more information, see www.ikamvayouth.org.

Article submitted by Zoe of  IkamvaYouth