I am writing to you from IkamvaYouth (www.ikamvayouth.org) a youth organisation working across South Africa to redress the inequalities in the education system by empowering and enabling youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to access post-school opportunities and in turn pay it forward to others. This is done by delivering tutoring, mentoring and career guidance to grade 9-12.
The impact of the programme on the attending youth is dramatic and although academic improvements are the primary focus, we also strive to create a sense of belonging and support, which is so often missing in the lives of our learners.
At the Masiphumelele branch of IkamvaYouth and we have 80 learners attending 3 times a week after school and even on Saturday mornings. These young people are determined to change their futures and lift themselves and others out of poverty. Their backgrounds and the daily obstacles that they navigate through can impede their progress but these learners show immense resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity!
For their attendance and hard work we hold a prize-giving in November that recognises their commitment. We would like to be able to provide a small token to each learner to acknowledge that they are on the road to success and must keep driving. If you are able to provide any small token prize; a bracelet, cinema voucher, CD, book, toiletries, bag, etc, it would truly be appreciated by the learners. We all have those unwanted gifts lurking in the attic, garage or at the back of a wardrobe and I urge you to go hunting and turn that unwanted gift into a treasured item.
Please circulate this request to anyone who you feel may be able to help. We only need 80 great people and each learner will have a prize!
Thank you
Zoe Mann
IkamvaYouth
079 885 4388
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