Youngsters are prepared for a career

Community Ministries Muldersdrift held a Career and Education Sunday last month.

Representatives from various institutions of higher learning were present to speak about learning opportunities being offered by their individual organisations.

Grade 12 pupils also had an opportunity to hear from specialists from the University of Johannesburg, Monash South Africa, Cornerstone Virtual College, Eureka Varsity (a brand-new university focusing on developing Early Childhood Development educators), Brain Boosters, The King’s School West Rand and a representative from the Department of Education and the South African Theology Seminary.

Pastor Sam Ngoma from Community Ministries says the morning was a great success, a host of useful information for pupils who have not yet decided on their course for next year and was encouraged to see so many young people attending.

The event also saw the launch of the new community-based Computer Centre that was built by staff members of Hi-Way Parkhomes in 67 minutes on International Nelson Mandela Day (18 July) to commemorate Mandela’s 95th birthday.

Sam says there is a critical need to improve computer literacy amongst pupils and school leavers, and that hopefully the Centre will provide a jumpstart for many young people who still are battling with this vital skill.

The Centre can accommodate ten pupils at any one time and the Church has appealed to the community to donate old laptops to the centre.

“We already have six donations but need another four,” he says.

Two-hour courses will be presented throughout the day from Monday to Saturday under the guidance of a facilitator.

“At this stage we are able to offer the courses for free until the student is competent and can be given an accreditation certificate,” says Sam.

He says they will be sending trained people to the various schools in the area to try and resuscitate interest in their computer rooms.

“Many of the schools have a computer centre, but it is not well supported and we would like to change that.”