Theresa Bergsma

Theresa Bergsma

Theresa is the public-partnership liaison between IkamvaYouth and the City of Cape Town. She is also a member of the IkamvaYouth Board of Directors. She used to be the Head Librarian of the Nazeema Isaacs Library where the organisation is based. She ensures that the organisation gets maximum leverage out of using the Library's facilities. She is actively involved in the day to day running of the organization. She also played a critical role in the establishment of the Computer Tuxlab (2006) and the participation of learners in the Global Education Initiative (2005).

Theresa joined IkamvaYouth at the end of 2003 when the organisation relocated to the library. Describing her reasons for volunteering for IkamvaYouth, Theresa says: “I found my own values and priorities mirrored back at me in the other volunteers – the same dreams for the youth of Khayelitsha and South Africa. I wanted to do more for the community than just the job I got paid for. I am motivated by the satisfaction of actually seeing the difference the activities make in the lives of its members.

Theresa has degrees in Arts, Education and Librarianship from the University of Cape Town. She has worked as a teacher and for two years at an engineering firm. However her career is firmly built on being a librarian in various public libraries around Cape Town.

Theresa’s friendly, passionate personality and her innovativeness and willingness to share experiences and information is a great asset to the organisation.

When asked why Theresa volunteers her time she says: “IkamvaYouth has already given the youth of Khayelitsha so many opportunities and I believe that this is only the beginning of its contribution. I want to be part of the team because it gives me the hope for the future of South Africa as well as a platform sharing knowledge and ideas. I believe that because IkamvaYouth is a by-youth-for-youth organisation it will be able to build strong communities wherever it operates. It has contributed in an enormous way in the developing community we are living in today, with technology moving so fast and people living past one another it is good to see that there are people who take the time to care for others and who want to contribute in a good way towards society in spite of all the pains our democracy is going through in it's development.”

Theresa is currently working for the Western Cape Education Department's Library & Information Service as the Co-ordinator of Client & School Library Services. She plans to focus her career on educational library services particularly in schools. She would like to help both learners and teachers to reach their potential and goals. She would also like to rigorously promote IkamvaYouth's programmes in educational environments as she believes that it will impact positively on the educational system.