The University of the Western Cape (UWC) and NGO Amaqhawe Ngemfundo hos ted a career day at the Joe Slovo Engineering School on Saturday August 31.
The event was held to provide the Grade 10 pupils from Luhlaza High School and Joe Slovo Engineering High School with an opportunity to meet and network with professionals. This was a follow-up to two career development workshops presented by Dr Hlamulo Makelane.
Dr Fanelwa Ngece-Ajayi is the founder of AmaQhawe ngeMfundo, an organisation that equips township pupils with science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills through on-site training. She said the university wanted township children to have access to better education and aimed to dispel the notion that pursuing tertiary education was out of their reach.
“We want them to know where they are going in the future and who can they contact for advice. It is more of a real life exposure. They should know what to do if they want to be this and that, what kind of a career it is and its chances to get employment.
They should make informed decisions while they are still in school. The other idea is to continue working with them until they reach Grade 12,” she said.
Parent Nobuntu Ntlabathi was happy that the career expo took place on their doorstep and was accessible to them.
“What they have done should be applauded. What makes me more happy is the fact that they have promised to work with them (pupils) until they reach Grade 12 and they will be coming here. That is great news.” she said.
Also at the career day were Dr Andisa Jamile and Dr Germana Lyimo from the university’s dentistry faculty, Professor Carolina Odman from the astrophysics department, Sanlam financial consultant Vukile Mntengwana and Old Mutual chartered accountant Ando Bobani. Entrepreneur Mandilakhe Tomsana, who owns Analytical Alliance, Joseph Nsingi from the university’s geology department, David Olidipupo from the medical biosciences department, and Athenkosi Nzala, the founder of AfrikaCan Foundation,were also in attendance.