The First 20 Year Beyond Programme Volunteers Graduate | Western Cape Government

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The First 20 Year Beyond Programme Volunteers Graduate

1 December 2014

Statement by Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape

On Friday 28 November 2014, the first 20 volunteers of the Western Cape Government's Year Beyond Programme, graduated. Year Beyond graduates

Year Beyond is a Western Cape Government initiative run in partnership with a number of NGOs to implement an after school academic enrichment programme in schools with Mass Opportunity and Development (MOD) centres. The Programme involves top matric and university graduates volunteering to tutor primary and high school learners in MOD centres in order to improve education outcomes in the province.

The 20 volunteers included former matriculants and university graduates from various backgrounds.

Year Beyond was piloted in 4 schools this year - Downeville Primary and Phoenix High School in Manenberg and Vukukhanye Primary and ID Mkize Secondary School in Gugulethu.

Volunteers not only provided numeracy and literacy support after school to learners, but had an opportunity to partner with several NGOs to facilitate extra mural learning clubs.

Some of the main partners in the high schools include: Ikamva Youth and in primary schools: The Shine Centre.

Other support in high schools was from Siyavula (for Mathematics) and Fundza (English reading and comprehension), while in primary schools, Click Foundation Reading Eggs (Literacy support ) and iSchools Africa (which provided iPad educational games).

The Year Beyond Pilot has proven to be an incredible success and I would like to congratulate the Volunteers on their achievement. Your participation in the Programme will no doubt stand you in good stead for your future endeavors.

I would also like to applaud the Western Cape Government's Year Beyond Team, all the NGO partners and Stellenbosch University's Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute of Leadership for the free leadership course offered to our Volunteers.

In 2015, Year Beyond will be rolling out to more schools with Mass Opportunity Development (MOD) centres and I encourage university graduates and matriculants with excellent Mathematics and English results to submit their applications to volunteers for a year. This is an opportunity to not only provide support to schools, but obtain leadership qualification from Stellenbosch University.

Young people under the age of 25 years who are interested in becoming a volunteer can visit the Year Beyond page to apply. 

The Western Cape Government will continue to work hard to find solutions to improve our education and create further education and employment opportunities for our young people.

Media Enquiries: 

Michael Mpofu
Spokesperson for Premier Helen Zille
Tel: 021 483 4584
Cell: 071 564 5427
E-mail: Michael.Mpofu@westerncape.gov.za