Unisa online - Participants praise Gauteng Region for its Take a Girl Child to

Bontle Ledwaba, a Grade 12 learner from the Holy Trinity High School and Thando Dwangu, a Grade 10 learner from the Pretoria Girls’ High School passionately saluted Unisa for giving them an opportunity to experience what a real workplace looks like.

Both Bontle and Thando were part of a group of 52 young ladies from across Gauteng who participated in the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day initiative organised by the Gauteng Region of Unisa at three of its Regional Service Centres (RSC) on 31 May 2012.

The Ekurhuleni RSC hosted 35 young ladies, the Johannesburg RSC hosted 15 and the Sunnyside Centre hosted two. Other than informing participants about various services offered at Unisa, participants were also taken on a tour of the respective centres. Staff at the three centres also held discussions with the participants about the their futures, i.e. career choices, motivation, etc.

The Sunnyside Centre received two girls from the Holy Trinity High School and the Pretoria Girls’ High School respectively, via the Lerato House, an NGO that caters for girls at risk. According to the event organiser at Sunnyside, Ms Janine Preesman, participants were taken through various sections of the Centre to get first-hand accounts of how the sections function.

All the young ladies who participated in the initiative praised the Gauteng Region for giving them an opportunity to be exposed to the workplace environment.

Ms Thando Dwangu was impressed with the Region’s hospitality in allowing them to work on its facilities to experience a working life. “It was a day filled with learning and seeing new and friendly faces talking about their daily activities. I enjoyed learning about the EUP and how satellite broadcasting works. The satellite broadcasting gave me an idea of how much work the relevant team puts into their duties and how they rely on one another for support, she said.

Staff from the Sunnyside Centre with learners who participated in the Take a Girl Child to Work Day initiative. Back, from left: Ms Nomakhosi Nxadi, a student worker in Sunnyside; Ms Janine Preesman, a Regional Academic Coordinator in Sunnyside; Ms Bontle Ledwaba, a Grade 12 learner at the Holy Trinity High School; Ms Thando Dwangu, a Grade 10 learner from Pretoria Girls High School; Ms Leah Kutumela, a student worker in Sunnyside; Mr Tshepang Ragolane, a student worker in Sunnyside. Front, from left: Ms Ntseleng Mokoena, a student worker in Sunnyside and Ms Belinda Schoombie, a Tutorial Officer in Sunnyside.

Girls from schools in the East Rand who participated in the Take A Girl Child to Work Day initiative held at the Ekurhuleni Regional Service Centre. Joining the girls for a group photo was Centre Manager, Mrs Pat Lethole (Far right); second from right is Ms Mosima Tefo, Regional Academic Coordinator; and Mr Fhatuwani Makahane (second from the right, front row), organiser of the Take a Girl Child to Work initiative at the Ekurhuleni RSC.

Mr Bethuel Lemao, a Lab Supervisor at the Johannesburg Regional Service Centre trains a learner from Kensington High School on basic computer skills during the Take a Girl Child to Work initiative that was held at the centre.

Ms Bontle Ledwaba said Unisa gave her a fulfilling day. “We got to see how people work and what they actually do. I enjoyed the visit to the Satellite Broadcasting area where I saw how Unisa connects to its students via broadcasting. When I visited the computer labs, I was even awed at the technology that Unisa uses to connect with its students, e.g. myUnisa, myLife, etc. myUnisa is the best source where students can track several things such as their assignments, their academic programmes, the status of their payments, etc,” she said.

The event at the Johannesburg RSC involved the participants and staff sharing their experiences and expectations before participants were shown the various services offered by Unisa. Participants visited different sections and were also assigned to carry out certain activities in the computer laboratories, library, etc. Mr Peter Tshiwalule, Chairperson of the Johannesburg Regional SRC also met participants and took them through the building demonstrating how certain facilities operate, such as the RFID drop-off boxes.

Ms Phindiwe Seloma, Acting Centre Manager, said that her organising team was happy with how the event went and the enthusiasm demonstrated by participants.

Ms Ntsiki Neti, Assistant Student Counsellor at the Johannesburg RSC said that in her interaction with participants, she realised that some of them were unsure about what they wanted to be in the future although they are already in matric. She talked to them about career guidance and reiterated the importance of making correct choices before one reaches matric, as such choices will have an impact on subjects that one is expected to take.

“Following this interaction on career guidance, the girls were happy and appreciated our input,” she said.

Participants who visited the Ekurhuleni RSC came from different secondary schools across the East Rand.

“Our interaction with the participants was to consolidate their knowledge of knowing who they are in society. We wanted to empower them so that they understand their rights and that they should not feel inferior to boys. To educate a child is to build a nation. By helping these young ladies, we are helping the community and bringing hope to the destitute,” said Fhatuwani Makhahane, coordinator of this initiative at the Ekurhuleni RSC.

He said that other than learning what individual staff members were doing in their respective units/sections, participants were also given computer skills.

According to Cell C, the Take a Girl Child to Work Day was first introduced to the South African business calendar in 2003. Now in its tenth year, the objectives are to expose girl children to the “world of work”, positive role models and the opportunity to make informed career decisions based on real work experiences; to address the aspiration of girl children by inspiring and motivating them to pursue their goals and ambitions, and to reach their full potential; and to provide a platform for dialogue around the needs of girl children and their role in the country’s socio-economic development. The theme for this year is “Choose your tomorrow, today”. This theme is aimed at encouraging young women and girls around South Africa to believe in themselves, to open their eyes to the possibilities around them and to make a difference in their own lives. It provides an opportunity for girl children to “stop, think and evaluate” the choices that they will make with the information gathered on the day.