Learners were inspired at the ‘take a child to work day campaign’
Ehlanzeni district municipality hosted a campaign where learners were taught about workplace experiences and the different departments it entails.
MBOMBELA – Learners from various schools in the province gained first-hand experience of the job industry. This was after the Ehlanzeni District Municipality gave them exposure through the municipality’s Take A Child to Work Day campaign.
One of the pupils who was so ecstatic about the experience, was Siphesihle Fakude, a grade 12 learner of Kamhola Secondary School. ”Before I came here, I had a few ideas about what I could do after matric, but coming here today, I have learnt a lot of things I did not know before.
Now I am aware that I don’t have to choose a profession just because one of my friends was doing the same thing, but I can do what I like, all I need to do is work hard.”
After seeing how the municipality functioned and shadowing different departmental heads and officers, learners had gained a wealth of information, and were issued with certificates.
The municipality’s Mr Sithetho Mhlongo explained that this campaign was aimed at learners who were busy completing their matric, that they might get a taste of the corporate world.
“This was to educate the learners on how to choose their career paths. This was also to give them a chance to observe how the corporate industry and our officials do their work on a daily basis,” explained Mhlongo.
They were divided into groups and allocated to the municipal’s employees to give them insight on what they did, and how they did it. In plain English, this procedure was called job shadowing.The officials spent the better half of their working hours with the pupils, giving them a chance to ask questions on work- and career-related issues.
Also throwing his weight in, was the MMC for corporate service, Cllr Bright Mdakane who urged the learners to invest in the future, which he said was education.“You are very fortunate, because at this age in time there are resources and facilities that you can utilise to better your lives. So I urge you to take advantage of what you have before you and equip yourselves for the feature,” Mdakane advised.
