Expo guides learners in career choice

Expanding Horizons (ExpHor) had a career expo on Friday, September 13, at Nageng Primary School in Vosloorus.

The career day was attended by Grade Seven learners from Mthimkhulu Primary School and the host school, Nageng.

Learners dressed in different work suits of the careers they wish to follow and guests from different departments and career fields were invited.

Dorah Phakati, a financial adviser from Old Mutual, said: “We are here to give advice to learners about investments and also to tell those who want to be financial advisers what the career is about and what they can do to follow the career.

Learners don’t know that they can start saving and investing at a young age, so our job is to advise them.”

Katlego Buka from Corner Bookshop said: “We are here to show our learning material to the learners and we gave the learners some brochures which can be given to their parents for them to purchase our books for the learners.

“A child’s learning capacity starts at five years, so it is best that parents start buying them books at that age and it is also advisable that parents start reading to their children at an early age.”

Siya Dikana, a music producer, artist and owner of Embellish Music who was also at the career day, said: “A music producer is an overseer of everything which happens in the production of a song. Everything means from the lyrical content and the melody to creating a beat and more.”

Bethuel Malebe, a teacher at Nageng as well as an ExpHor co-founder, ExpHor director and the organiser of the event, said: “ExpHor is a non-profit organisation and also a non-profit company.

“Our main focus is to give the youth a platform with regard to curricular and extracurricular activities. This career expo is our first event and it is part of life orientation.

“We invited Grade Seven learners as we want to prepare them for high school, so we need them to make informed subject choices by the time they reach Grade 10, which will help them in following their dream careers.

“We invited close to 26 departments and companies for them to come speak to the learners.

“I want to see my learners making a positive impact in society when they grow up.”

The guests spoke to the learners and advised them on which subjects to take by the time they get to Grade 10.