From an organisation thought up and run from a bedroom by friends, Ikamva is now one of South Africa’s greatest success stories. In a country where only 70% students pass their final school exams and 24% achieve bachelor passes, ‘ikamvanites’ are surging ahead with 85% passing their final exams and 36% progressing to, and succeeding, at university.

Ikamva was a participant in a South African Scale Accelerator programme we delivered in conjunction with The Rockefeller Foundation, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Cape Town University and Franchising Plus.

The IkamvaYouth model draws from a large, growing pool of volunteers made up of students (from nearby universities) and local professionals. The organisation’s sustainability is driven by ex-learners who gain entrance to tertiary institutions and return to tutor.