We’re excited to welcome Pheyello Tshepo Namane—who goes by Tshepo—to the I Am, We Are (IAWA) team! Tshepo first joined IAWA in 2021 as a Youth Facilitator, helping young people navigate challenges beyond home and school. Through his journey, he has developed skills in coaching, leadership, and empathic listening—tools he now brings to his new role. Read on to learn more about Tshepo’s journey and the impact he hopes to make!
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We’re excited to welcome Thembi Mtimkulu to the I Am, We Are (IAWA) team! Her journey with IAWA began in 2015 as a curious Grade 8 student, and over the years, the program helped her unlock her potential and find her purpose. Now, as a full-time team member, she’s eager to give back and inspire the next generation. Read on to learn more about Thembi’s story and the impact she hopes to make!
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We are excited to welcome Ikageng, a former participant of the Morafe cohort, as she joins the I Am, We Are (IAWA) team as an intern! Having received her matric in 2023, Ikageng is stepping into this new role with a passion for giving back and supporting the next generation of IAWA alumni.
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"During our visit to Hope4Kasi for community service, we cleaned the yard and painted a house for grandparents. This experience taught me the importance of helping the community. It enriches your life, familiarizes you with your community, and connects you with people and ideas that can positively impact your perspective for the rest of your life," shares IAWA Ambassador Tlotlego.
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"They shared the harsh realities we might encounter, but the lesson was clear: no matter how challenging it gets, never give up, study hard, and stay true to ourselves," recants IAWA Ambassador, Masetshaba as she reflects on her visit to the University of Pretoria during the capstone trip.
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"IAWA is such a special place for young people like me. We’ve witnessed young people flourishing through opportunities to develop their social and life skills leading them to deal effectively with the demands of everyday life." Hear from IAWA Ambassador Sibongile as she reflects on her experiences in IAWA and on the Capstone Trip.
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"Personally, the camp felt like a message from God, telling me how much He loves me and that I should appreciate the life He gave me, living it to the fullest. He sent this message through good people like Meisha and all the individuals supporting the organization, allowing people like us to see the light." Hear more IAWA Ambassador Moses and his experiences attending the capstone trip as a Youth Facilitator.
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Elaina tells us about her trip to South Africa: “When we were first introduced to each other, everyone was a bit nervous. By the end of the trip, we all didn’t want to leave each other. I met so many amazing people and built great bonds with them. “
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When IAWA first began the mission was simple, to show young people that with the right tools they could do anything. We had hopes that the work we were doing way back when, would lead to the type of people that would go into communities and plant the same seeds. In a sense that those we taught to fish would some day teach others
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We talk about our vision to empower young people. How we see a world where they are socially engaged, globally aware, and economically free. But, what do we mean by that, and how do we accomplish this?
Read MoreI Am We Are had the supreme pleasure of awarding the inaugural The Pastor Gaines Memorial Fund which supports faith based youth work in South Africa. Hope4Kasie is a non-profit founded by Pastor Gladys and her husband in hopes of helping the young people of Oukasie, Rustenburg South Africa find hope and light for their future. They felt a deep responsibility to shine their light to ensure that those after them know the way.
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Join us on July 28, 2022, at the Future Africa Campus at the University of Pretoria from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm for I Am Here: UnlockedPotential, a night where BEP alumni will share where they are now in life! We will also share our Impact Report. Get the inside scoop as the alumni recount how your continued IAWA support helped them navigate the twists and turns of life, revealing a future filled with hope and unlocking the limitless potential in us all.
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At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to find a way to keep the connection between our South African youth and our American youth alive. As a result, the Morafe Leadership Programme was created. The Morafe Leadership Programme is a virtual, peer-to-peer initiative designed to bring together our youth from the Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) in South Africa and our youth from Prince George’s County, Maryland, USA. Together, the youth learn to build life skills, leadership abilities, and strong cross-cultural ties to support each other’s dreams and ambitions.
Read MoreIAWA is fueled by the kindness of our donors and the solid support of our partners. Thanks to the generosity of several key partners, we can provide unique opportunities for our youth. This post is dedicated to 5 recent partnerships we can’t stop smiling about.
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As a Youth Facilitator, my community of fellow facilitators, our ever-patient members of the Nia circle and the joy of my Ambassadors lit my path. This was a year of light for me especially since it helped cement for me that youth development and spaces for young people are where I am supposed to be. Because the light of I Am, We Are exists, I was able to find my way.
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Last year we launched a new program, the Morafe Leadership Development Programme, and welcomed a new cohort of Ambassadors. From both the United States, Prince George’s County; Maryland and North West; South Africa. This was the first time where we had students from both countries in the program not just in parallel but together. It was certainly a new learning curve having to run a fully virtual programme and training of the Youth Facilitators and we added to the community while learning new things in spite of and because of the pandemic.
Read MoreWe’ve had some new additions and some heartfelt farewells in our community at the top of this year. Find out who are our newest community members, meet our newest Directors Circle members, and learn about our new Impact Assessment Team.
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The time for our next art auction is drawing near, and we would like to take a moment to reflect on the tremendous achievements we made at our previous auction. Our 5th Annual Benefit Fundraiser ‘I Am Here,’ which took place last year on December 5, 2020, as a virtual celebration honoring our collective resilience. This bi-continental virtual interactive reception and art auction was an opportunity for donors and supporters to engage with the beneficiaries of IAWA’s flagship program while experiencing South African culture. Thanks to everyone’s support, it was also our most successful fundraiser ever as we raised $15,000 more than the previous year!
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It's that time of year again, when we host our annual reception and auction. This year the virtual celebration will bring us together to collectively Let Our Light Shine!
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In honor of Giving Tuesday, taking place on Tuesday, November 30th this year, we are launching our Monthly Giving program, the Ubuntu Circle. One translation for I Am, We Are’s guiding philosophy, ubuntu, is interconnectedness. The Ubuntu Circle recognizes our need for communal support to empower our youth or as the African proverb states, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Ubuntu Circle members join us in investing in our youth by pledging support for as little as $15 per month.
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