Youth empowerment is an integral part of Equal Education’s (EE) work. Through weekly youth group meetings, our members are armed with the knowledge they need to be active citizens, working towards the improvement of the education system and society. They also need to be armed with knowledge to make informed choices about their own futures. But learners in working-class communities such as Khayelitsha seldom have adequate access to information about the options available to them after school. They are also among the learners most failed by our education system.
For this reason, EE, in partnership with IkamvaYouth, hosted a Careers Indaba on 12 August 2011 at the Harare Library in Khayelitsha. The purpose of the Indaba was to provide Grade 10-12 learners with information about some of the options available to them after they have matriculated, such as further education, on-the-job training and volunteer opportunities.
A wide range of companies, organisations and professionals were represented at this year's Indaba. The University of Cape Town, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, UNISA, False Bay FET, Services SETA and Tsiba Education provided information about further education and funding options. The Khayelitsha Volunteer Centre and LoveLife’s Groundbreakers programme, meanwhile, were there to talk to learners about volunteer and internship opportunities available to them.
Other companies/organisations exhibiting at the Indaba included: the Astronomical Observatory, Cape Nature, the Department of Transport, Independent Community Newspapers, the Medical Research Council, National Student Financial Services, the SA Institute for Chartered Accountants, the South African Weather Service, SANParks, the Answer Series, Transnet National Ports Authority, and the South African Wildlife Society.
A number of professionals were also on hand to answer learners’ questions, including an architect, journalist, artist, medical doctor, chef, photographer and software engineer.
The Indaba also introduced many of the learners to the new Harare Library, which opened its doors in May. During the Indaba, many learners took the opportunity to have a look through the library’s shelves and find a quiet spot to read for a while. We encourage learners who are able, and who live in the vicinity of the library, to make use of this valuable resource and study space. We also encourage Equalisers who attended the Indaba to give feedback. This will help us make next year’s Indaba an even greater success.
See pictures of the Indaba here.
Read IkamvaYouth's account of the Indaba here.
