Making a positive difference in the lives of our young minds

Established in 2014, Phakamani Young Minds Academy is a youth-led non-profit organization providing academic assistance, support and mentorship to learners throughout their schooling career – from their foundation phase up to their final years of secondary schooling. We address the educational gap among disadvantaged learners as well as enhancing content knowledge through reinforcing work done by educators in classrooms. 

Our ultimate goal as an organisation through our services is to produce prominent members of the society and young people lifting themselves out of the cycle of poverty and into tertiary education and/or employment.

Our Impact Since 2014

1813

young minds reached

28

Feeder Schools in Quintile 3 of the Department of Education.

98

young minds have completed grade 12 with the support of PYMA.

85%

young minds placed in various economic opportunities and trained in work readiness skills

113

113 youth participated in our tutoring/ internship programmes

92 %

of young minds passed Grade 12 and and were eligible for university and college enrolments

69

young minds were paired with mentors and were able to devise high school exit strategies.

15

young minds provided with awards, bursaries and learnerships

130

youth linked to our social employment opportunities

212

young minds are part of our alumni network

Our Impact Since 2014

1813

young minds reached

28

Feeder Schools in Quintile 3 of the Department of Education.

98

young minds have completed grade 12 with the support of PYMA.

85%

young minds placed in various economic opportunities and trained in work readiness skills

92 %

of young minds passed Grade 12 and and were eligible for university and college enrolments

69

mentees were paired with mentors and were able to devise high school exit strategies.

12

young minds awarded bursaries and learnerships

212

young minds are part of our alumni network

Our Impact Since 2014

1813

young minds reached

28

Feeder Schools in Quintile 3 of the Department of Education.

98

young minds have completed grade 12 with the support of PYMA.

85%

young minds placed in various economic opportunities and trained in work readiness skills

92 %

of young minds passed Grade 12 and and were eligible for university and college enrolments

69

mentees were paired with mentors and were able to devise high school exit strategies.

12

young minds awarded bursaries and learnerships

212

young minds are part of our alumni network

Our Programmes

exam prep

Afterschool Programme

Support Programmes

Extra mural activities

Special Key Projects

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMME

Supplementary Tutoring

This programme entails providing academic support to learners as well as enhancing and embedding classroom learning through homework supervision

Reading and Maths Clubs

The aim is of the reading and maths clubs is improve the literacy and numeracy levels of children through implementing weekly reading club sessions (Drop Everything and Read) and maths clubs for all learners who are in the foundation and intermediate phase

Supplementary Tutoring

This programme entails providing academic support to learners as well as enhancing and embedding classroom learning through homework supervision

Reading and Maths Clubs

The aim is of the reading and maths clubs is improve the literacy and numeracy levels of children through implementing weekly reading club sessions (Drop Everything and Read) and maths clubs for all learners who are in the foundation and intermediate phase

Maths and Science Interventions

This intervention revolves around the improving high school Mathematics and Science outcomes and facilitating access to STEM  courses at tertiary education.

Exam preparations

In preparing for examinations in each and every quarter, PYMA supports learners with resources packs and printed study packs

Maths and Science Interventions

This intervention revolves around the improving high school Mathematics and Science outcomes and facilitating access to STEM  courses at tertiary education.

Exam preparations

In preparing for examinations in each and every quarter, PYMA supports learners with resources packs and printed study packs

Holiday Interventions.

As a way of ensuring that beneficiaries are supported academically,  PYMA provides a winter school programme which takes place every winter of the year

Holiday Interventions.

As a way of ensuring that beneficiaries are supported academically,  PYMA provides a winter school programme which takes place every winter of the year

SUPPORT PROGRAMMES

ECDs Support Programme

The ECD Programme is aimed at developing the reading skills that help ECD learners to handle the reading process smoothly and effectively with the idea of increasing their reading and understanding abilities.

ECD PIC SIZWE

Youth Readiness programme

This programme aims at capacitating young people with support efforts aimed at improving their employability so as to address the triple challenges of  poverty, inequality and unemployment afflicting our nation

ECDs Support Programme

The ECD Programme is aimed at developing the reading skills that help ECD learners to handle the reading process smoothly and effectively with the idea of increasing their reading and understanding abilities.

ECD PIC SIZWE

Youth Readiness programme

This programme aims at capacitating young people with support efforts aimed at improving their employability so as to address the triple challenges of  poverty, inequality and unemployment afflicting our nation

Mentorship programme

The Mentorship Programme aims helping in school youth to devise proper high school exit strategies when they leave the basic education system .

NHLOHLORI

Parents Forum

The objective of the Parents Forum is to ensure that we promote the awareness and accountability of parents roles in learners’ achievements and to advocate for good quality education

Mentorship programme

The Mentorship Programme aims helping in school youth to devise proper high school exit strategies when they leave the basic education system .

NHLOHLORI

Parents Forum

The objective of the Parents Forum is to ensure that we promote the awareness and accountability of parents roles in learners’ achievements and to advocate for good quality education

EXTRA MURAL ACTIVITIES

SPECIAL KEY PROJECTS

PYMA uses a holistic approach of providing to learners. The organisation has been offering extramural activities since 2014. The aim of the extra mural activities is to provide our learners with activities other than learning

We have had multiple special project with various partners and sponsors – follow this link to view the details

EXTRA MURAL ACTIVITIES

PYMA uses a holistic approach of providing to learners. The organisation has been offering extramural activities since 2014. The aim of the extra mural activities is to provide our learners with activities other than learning

SPECIAL KEY PROJECTS

We have had multiple special project with various partners and sponsors.

Impact Stories

I am Nhlonhlori Ndhlovu and I joined Phakamani Young Minds Academy (PYMA) in 2020 while I was in grade 11, that is when we were exposed to the pandemic, and it was a challenge for me to fully participate in all the PYMA program activities.

In the very same year, I was paired with my mentor, Nerissa Steven Kings. It was not an easy year due to Covid 19 and we all know Grade 12 basically starts in grade 11, as a result it was not an easy journey although with Nerissa’s support I made it through. She would send motivational quotes to encourage me, teach me how important time management is and motivate me as much as she can. She also helped me with choosing my career path and figuring out if there are job opportunities in that field in future. The PYMA programme has had a positive impact in my life, being at PYMA has taught me whole lot about self-reliance but also considering the people around you, it has proven to me that I am more than capable to achieve my dreams, from the staff members to the tutors, everyone has been friendly and helpful. PYMA has been eternally helpful to the class of 2021, I never imagined anyone contributing financially towards my university application fees. What I will remember the most about PYMA is their peer-to-peer learning style, I got to interact with learners from various schools and this indicated that I was not facing the world alone nor walking this journey by myself. There were plenty of Nhlonhlori’s where I came from and PYMA was sort of our savior.

 

I got a Bachelor’s pass with 3 distinctions in my matric. I am proud of myself although in some subjects i did not achieve as much as I thought I would. This has brought a huge difference in my life as I am the first person in my family to get a bachelor’s degree and to be enrolled at a University.I am enrolled for BCom Accounting at the University of Witwatersrand. The reason I choose this course is because I realized how much I enjoyed commerce especially Accounting and I love working with numbers. Personally, I do believe in afterschool programmes although others have the mentality that it is only for learners who are not performing well at school.

This is what I would tell a grade 8-year-old Nhlonhlori “failing a term is not the end of your journey, be persistent and consistent, you will make it come hell or high water.” And to my 20-year-old Nhlonhlori adhere to 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 8-9, As I will always be conflicted in many ways, but I am not struck down by the situation I will be facing at that moment. Just be persistent girl because you are going to make it.

I am Nhlonhlori Ndhlovu and I joined Phakamani Young Minds Academy (PYMA) in 2020 while I was in grade 11, that is when we were exposed to the pandemic, and it was a challenge for me to fully participate in all the PYMA program activities.

In the very same year, I was paired with my mentor, Nerissa Steven Kings. It was not an easy year due to Covid 19 and we all know Grade 12 basically starts in grade 11, as a result it was not an easy journey although with Nerissa’s support I made it through. She would send motivational quotes to encourage me, teach me how important time management is and motivate me as much as she can. She also helped me with choosing my career path and figuring out if there are job opportunities in that field in future. The PYMA programme has had a positive impact in my life, being at PYMA has taught me whole lot about self-reliance but also considering the people around you, it has proven to me that I am more than capable to achieve my dreams, from the staff members to the tutors, everyone has been friendly and helpful. PYMA has been eternally helpful to the class of 2021, I never imagined anyone contributing financially towards my university application fees. What I will remember the most about PYMA is their peer-to-peer learning style, I got to interact with learners from various schools and this indicated that I was not facing the world alone nor walking this journey by myself. There were plenty of Nhlonhlori’s where I came from and PYMA was sort of our savior.

 

I got a Bachelor’s pass with 3 distinctions in my matric. I am proud of myself although in some subjects i did not achieve as much as I thought I would. This has brought a huge difference in my life as I am the first person in my family to get a bachelor’s degree and to be enrolled at a University.I am enrolled for BCom Accounting at the University of Witwatersrand. The reason I choose this course is because I realized how much I enjoyed commerce especially Accounting and I love working with numbers. Personally, I do believe in afterschool programmes although others have the mentality that it is only for learners who are not performing well at school.

This is what I would tell a grade 8-year-old Nhlonhlori “failing a term is not the end of your journey, be persistent and consistent, you will make it come hell or high water.” And to my 20-year-old Nhlonhlori adhere to 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 8-9, As I will always be conflicted in many ways, but I am not struck down by the situation I will be facing at that moment. Just be persistent girl because you are going to make it.

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