On Friday, 29 July 2022, Unisa Gauteng Region, in collaboration with Unisa’s Women’s Forum (UWF), hosted approximately 80 learners for the Take a Child to Work programme. Of the 80 learners, 43 joined virtually, while others visited various centres within Gauteng Region.

Learners were awarded gifts by Kgomotso Nyamakazi (Admin Officer, Ekurhuleni), Mamashu Mabowa (Student Counsellor, Johannesburg) and Educator Assistants from Unity High School, Palesa Langa and Mabhelonke Maqubela

On Friday, 29 July 2022, Unisa Gauteng Region, in collaboration with Unisa’s Women’s Forum (UWF), hosted approximately 80 learners for the Take a Child to Work programme. Of the 80  learners, 43 joined virtually, while others visited various centres within Gauteng Region. The Take a Girl Child to work initiative has been in existence since 2003 and is celebrated annually. The initiative aims to expose learners to a work environment.  The day offered a full programme of talks and activities aimed at assisting children (male and female) in choosing the right career, enhancing their self-esteem, and inspiring and motivating them to reach their full potential.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the need and importance of rethinking how we deliver our events. We are very excited today that we are able to meet both physical and virtually,” said Thembeka Ntuli Mpapama, Gauteng Region’s Communication and Marketing Manager. Outlining the purpose of the day, Dr Bunkie Pitsoane, Head of the Counselling Unit in the Gauteng Region, explained that Cell C started the Take a Child to Work initiative, which remains the largest South African collaborative act of volunteerism, focusing

Vaal : Learners were excited as they completed the walkabout around the Unisa Vaal Centre, Maserame Dipale (Student Counsellor, Vaal) with grade 12 learners from Jeppe High School

on encouraging the private and public sector to empower and expose both male and female students from disadvantaged backgrounds across the country to the world of work. “You matter as the youth, and you can change your life. Feel you can change your life in a positive way while still young,” she added.

Learners received food for thought from young professionals, who are already making strides in their careers, carefully selected from various industries. The programme director for the day, Koketso Munonde, introduced all the speakers, the first being Mamashu  Mabowa, a Student Counsellor who holds a degree in Psychology and registered as a Career Counsellor. Mabowa encouraged learners to take charge of their careers, make informed career decisions and let parents only support, not decide on behalf of, their children. She also highlighted the importance of career planning and gave tips on what to consider when making career decisions.

Sunnyside: Counselling staff with learners. Dr Enid Pitsoane (Head of Counselling), with trainee career guidance practitioners Ms Koketso Munonde (seated) and Mahlatse Mphahlele (far left).

The second speaker, Phindiwe Kamolane, is a Senior Lecturer in the College of Accounting (CAS). Kamolane is a Comprehensive, Open, Distance and eLearning (CODeL) Programme Executive responsible for Unisa’s digitisation strategy in teaching and learning.  She also serves as the Chairperson of the Online Examination Committee and coordinates activities and key stakeholders in ensuring the delivery of successful online examinations at Unisa. A qualified Chartered Accountant who holds a Master of Commerce in Accounting Sciences, she is also registered for her PhD, focusing on governance frameworks for the new system implementations in higher education institutions. Kamolane addressed the audience on various career choices available within her field of study. She highlighted that South Africa has a shortage of Accountants and encouraged learners to consider accounting as a career.

Speaking next was Fhatuwani Makahane, a Student Counsellor at the Ekurhuleni Regional Service Centre, who holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. Makahane spoke on a career in Psychology and encouraged the youth of South Africa to pursue their dreams and always explore pushing themselves beyond boundaries.  Up next was Keaoleboga Molefe, a Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lawyer based in Johannesburg. She is part of the aviation team that is focused on the South African international aviation insurance markets, representing local and foreign aviation insurers and reinsurers and their clients. She also drafts aviation insurance policies and provides legal opinions on aviation regulations to both local and international entities.

Florida: Prof Matambo informed learners how waste is turned into energy, which can be used to replace electricity or gas. He also explained that the process they use contributes to recycling, because the water which is left after they extract the gas is used as fertiliser for plants.

The next speaker was Madumezulu Silinda, an Enterprise Development Specialist and founder of Arche Advisory Practice, which specialises in entrepreneurship development, commercialisation and enterprise risk management, and author of Power of the Cooperative Economy. She is currently interim Executive Director of the SAWID Trust. Silinda holds a Master of Philosophy in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (M Phil Entrepreneurship) from the University of Pretoria. She explained how to succeed as an entrepreneur and encouraged young people to make use of various resources and mentorship programmes that are provided by the government.

Florida: Chemical Engineering students demonstrating how they extract sugar from grain (starch), which is then converted to alcohol.

The final speaker was Clarissa da Costa e Silva, an Assistant Manager at Airborne Aviation. She has completed a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and is currently busy with her commercial pilot licence (CPL) at Airborne Aviation. She encouraged the audience to support their children from an early age. Her passion for flying was sparked at a young age when her father was working on a C130, and she had the opportunity to go with him to work and sit in the cockpit of this big plane. She also addressed the audience on various career choices available within aviation.

Florida: Mechanical Engineering Department showing cars that were made by students, including a solar car.

Judging by the reactions from the audience in the chat box and reactions from various centres, the event truly motivated the participants, with some parents congratulating young girls and boys for being part of the programme and citing that, in their school career, they never had such opportunities. The learners were grateful for the opportunity and felt greatly inspired. The talks were then followed by a tour to the various facilities in Unisa, and a lunch. The event was concluded by Pat Lethole, the Acting Regional Director, Gauteng Region. Lethole is also the Unisa Women’s Forum (UWF) Executive Committee Member. The impact of the day will be far-reaching as the recordings will be shared with families and the communities.

Florida: Mechanical Engineering Department showing cars that were made by students, including a solar car.

*By Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama, Communication and Marketing Manager, Gauteng Region