Empower youth through education in S.A

This week ended with a blast at the IkamvaYouth Gugulethu branch, as Intshukumo Secondary School learners saw their year’s commitment to the Year Beyond Programme bear some fruitful outcomes. During the festive prize-giving ceremony, which was made colourful by learners who took turns showing off their artistic talents on the stage, a total of 66 learners received certificates to acknowledge their participation in the Year Beyond Programme. Top prizes were also awarded to those learners who had shone outstandingly during the past year.

This year the Grade 8 and 9 learners from Intshukumo Secondary School were given an opportunity to sign up for the programme in 2017.

Four top learners from the two grades were awarded for their stellar performance in the following categories; Maths, English and Overall Achievements.  The prize recipients of the day included; Nelson (who took home awards for overall learner in Grage 8, Maths and English), Mphumezo (Grade 9 overall learner and Maths), Zukiswa  (English) and Inathi  (English).

The Year Beyond Programme is a partnership between IkamvaYouth, the Western Cape Government and AVA. IkamvaYouth has been providing various services to the Year Beyond Programme since its inception in 2014, with the ultimate aim of replicating the academic impact that IkamvaYouth has achieved over the last 12 years through their award winning model of after-school tutoring and peer learning.  

There is emerging research on the positive relationship between programme quality and outcomes of after-school programmes indicates that quality afterschool programmes share the following features: adequate physical and psychological safety of learners; effective management practices; appropriate supervision and structure; well-prepared staff; intentional programming with opportunities for autonomy and choice, and strong partnerships with stakeholders that play a critical role in learner development —that is, schools, other after-school programmes, and families.

Speaking on behalf of the learners who have graduated from the programme, Grade 9 overall achiever Mphumezo said, “…I am excellent in all  subjects but I was not doing well in Maths before I joined the programme. I have learned to play with other people and work in a team. I learned how to communicate in English”.

While another learner, Zintle expressed gratitude to the tutors’ dedication and their efforts to help them better understand even the toughest subjects.

Volunteer tutor, Yandisa, had some words of wisdom to impart on the group. “In life you will meet many people who will tell you so many things, you need to be a sieve and filter out all the waste in your life to become what you want.” Aptly fitting IkamvaYouth’s motto – “The Future is in Our Hands”.