IkamvaYouth is a by-youth-for-youth township-based non-profit organisation (established in 2003 and formally registered in 2004) with branches in three provinces in South Africa. Learners enrol at IkamvaYouth when they are in grades 9, 10 and 11, and continue until they complete their matric examinations in grade 12. Through supplementary tutoring, mentoring, career guidance, computer literacy, HIV and Life Skills, and Media, Image and Expression programmes IkamvaYouth equips learners with the necessary skills and self belief to access tertiary education and/or employment.

The idea is to increase upon the disappointing numbers of South African youth accessing higher education, which is currently fewer than 10% (SAIRR 2009). However, more than 70% of the last two IkamvaYouth matric groups have gained access to tertiary education. The IkamvaYouth model is a township-based innovative volunteer-driven project achieving remarkable results. IkamvaYouth aims to increase the collective skill level of the population, to grow the national knowledge base, and to replicate success in more communities. In 2010, IkamvaYouth will accommodate 420 learners from grades 9 to 12 across 5 branches across South Africa.

IkamvaYouth has been recognised and won various awards:

- 2010 Mail & Guardian and South Africa trust Drivers of Change Award winner in Civil Society category;
– 2009 short-listed for Champions of Quality Education in Africa Award, Ashoka Changemakers and Hewlett Foundation;
- 2008 YouthActionNet Fellowship Award from the International Youth Foundation, Washington D.C.
- 2006 Top 30 Development Gateway
- 2006 Global Junior Challenge
- 2005 GKP/WSIS Youth and ICT Award
- 2004 Global Junior Challenge
- 2005 Sponsored participation in Global Social Benefit Incubator hosted by Centre for Science and Technology, Santa Clara University, Silocon Valley
- 2004 Selected as a nominated project to attend the Shuttleworth Foundation’s Innovation Bazaar

We are seeking financial partners to support and sustain IkamvaYouth’s work. This funding would support:
- Individual branch operation and programme costs
- Human resource requirements at national and branch level to streamline the national structure
- ‘IY-in-a-box’ open-sourcing project for replication and scale
- Branch extension and replication across South Africa

Operates in: All of South Africa
Established in: 2003

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 032-082
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Joy Oliver
Phone: 083 951 3336
Fax:
Email:

Website: www.ikamvayouth.org

Physical address: Nazeema Isaacs Library, Makhaza, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Postal address: Nazeema Isaacs Library, Makhaza, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, 7784