OUR IMPACT

Our strategy is effective:

Ensure learners pass matric, apply to three post-school opportunities and get into a post-school opportunity that will ensure they are set on the path to earning a dignified living.

It works

For over 20 years, we have been delivering excellent outcomes and an independent evaluation shows that our model has a statistically significant impact. The energy of our staff, tutors and mentors and, of course, the learners themselves drives these learning gains, and shows that large improvements can happen with the right type of after-school support.

learners have been supported through our programme since our inception in 2003

and more youth have completed Grade 12 with the support of our programme since 2003

passed and 75% were eligible for tertiary

and more have accessed post-school opportunities including tertiary, learnerships, jobs and some upgraded their matric to access better opportunities.

Stories

Our impact can be told in numbers, percentages, evaluations and reports but what matters most is how do we really change the lives of our beneficiaries

Nokwanda

“IkamvaYouth made me realise my full potential because I wasn't being compared to anybody else. I was taught to focus on myself. I also like the fact that the tutors were young enough for the learners to feel comfortable around. My high school life was made easier and with that I was able to approach all academic obstacles with courage.”

Nokwanda Nkosi (Umlazi, 2014) - 2nd year law student at Rhodes University.

Quintres Sefala

“IkamvaYouth assisted us with application fees for various universities and helped us apply for financial aid. The mentorship programme was helpful, I got help from a mentor who knew better than I did.
I am now a tutor at IkamvaYouth giving back my time and services, thanking them for helping me and also making a difference in students’ lives. Grateful.”

Quintres Sefala (Ebony Park, 2014)- 2nd year student at UP, studying BSc Human Physiology, Genetics, & Psychology. She was awarded the GCRA (Gauteng City Region Academy) bursary.

Thabiso

“IkamvaYouth made me realise I had to work hard and get good marks in my major subjects especially Maths and English. IkamvaYouth changed my mindset and made me realise my potential through little things like what you think of yourself is true of what you are. Post matric 2012 I enrolled with St Augustine’s College for a Bcom (PPE)Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Double Major Degree) and I am proud to say I am a Graduate. I would not have the degree if I were not part of IkamvaYouth. I have been a tutor since 2012 till present.”-

Thabiso Simelane (2011)- Branch Coordinator/ Senior Programme Facilitator at Olico

Lebogang Mosebi

“IkamvaYouth remains my academic family away from my family. It gave me a platform to actually unleash what has always been inside of me. It made me realize that the world is owned by the dreamers, those who are young with vivid imaginations and believe that the world is theirs for the taking. It also made me realize a scary truth, that if my life doesn't become a success then I have no one else to blame but myself since my future is shaped by the palms of my own hands. It is in my hands that the future lies, it is in my hands that the future resides.”

Lebogang Mosebi (Ikageng, 2014) 2nd year studies towards BA in communications at the University of the North West and a tutor.

Bongane and his mum

Ntombikayise Mjaja, a parent at the Umlazi branch, thanked IkamvaYouth’s donors, volunteers and staff for their initiative, saying “our children are achieving because of this work; we have seen the improvements, and we are so proud of them”.

Bongane Chavane (Umlazi branch) “with IkamvaYouth in my corner I managed to get a Bachelor Pass that I am very proud of. I have passed Maths with 70% and Life Science with 72%. IkamvaYouth is a programme aiming at helping pupils with their future, and this year I am going to study Geological Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and also give back to this programme by becoming a tutor.”

Nolwazi

"IkamvaYouth helped me improve my marks and my final grade 12 marks were good, all thanks to the tutors who allocated their time to help us during weekends.”

Nolwazi Hlongwane graduated with a Masters degree in Science from the University of Kwazulu Natal in 2018.

Sikelelwa

"IkamvaYouth helped me grow academically and personally... we got the opportunity to meet people in the business sector who shared what we needed to obtain in order to get into University and the skills we needed to learn in order to get to the workplace... I got a lot of confidence from IkamvaYouth”.

Sinethemba

Sinethemba matriculated in 2005, and was acknowledged as the “best performing learner” in that year. He went on to study a Bachelor of Science degree at the prestigious University of Cape Town, and went on to complete his Honours. He has since worked as a scientist at Nampak and R&D Packaging Manager at Unilever. Sinethemba also served on IkamvaYouth’s board.

Sipho

“I joined IkamvaYouth when I was doing grade 11 and it helped me a lot throughout my education. I personally don’t think I would have made it to university if it had not been for IkamvaYouth.”

Phumza

“Being part of IkamvaYouth was really great. I was exposed to opportunities that I could have not been exposed to otherwise”. Phumza has had the opportunity be on the cover of a popular Fundza book, participated in the ENKE Make Your Mark and graduated with a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies from UWC in 2018. Phumza now works at IkamvaYouth!

Thobela

“Being part of IkamvaYouth has been a great life experience that goes beyond my experience with the programme in high school. The programme inspired me to do more in life not just for me but for the greater community”. Thobela also served on the IkamvaYouth board for a number of years.

Avile

“I passed my matric with great marks and it is thanks to IkamvaYouth...I am grateful for the support I got from the programme. I wish each and every young person in the community can use this programme as it is designed for them to prosper in life.”

Bulelwa

“I was the only Matric Student who was doing Afrikaans in that year, IkamvaYouth provided me with a Tutor who was of great assistance… I ended up getting the Highest marks for Afrikaans at my school in Matric, IkamvaYouth got me a learnership Programme with an IT Company which i now officially work for.”

Ntabaleng

“I joined IkamvaYouth in 2011... I needed help with my academics and a mass of people to draw inspiration from; and it is without any doubt that both these objectives were met. In my matric year, I managed to obtain 4 distinctions and went on to study International Relations, Public Policy and Administration and Gender Studies at UCT.”

Thokozani

“I would like to thank everyone who makes sure that IkamvaYouth is funded for it to be able to help others. As our slogan says: The Future Is In Our Hands.”

Impact at a Glance

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Our 2024 Matric Results

Here are our 2024 matric results for 2024 at a glance.

learners passed matric through our programme in 2024

distinctions achieved by the cohort

pass rate

of learners are eligible for tertiary study

Our maths and science results

Here are our mathematics and physical science results for 2024

41% of our learners have taken mathematics and 67% have passed.

34% of our learners have taken physical science and 66% have passed.

Poor maths and science results drive inequality; and programmes like ours redress this imbalance. Whilst programmes that select learners are great for those learners eligible, it is vital for South Africa’s economic growth and social cohesion that programmes are scaled inclusively, so that all learners get the chance to be as numerate and mathematically adept as they can.

This impact sounds simple but getting these results is far from easy. All IkamvaYouth branches face challenges every year which affect our learners, from gangsterism in schools, to no water and electricity, to floods. The communities in which we operate are not only burdened by crime but a host of other socio-economic challenges that permeate township communities across South Africa, which inevitably affects the youth, their academic performance as well as their extent of economic productivity. We would therefore like to acknowledge the hard work done by our branch staff and tutors to achieve these results in these contexts.