Buckets of fun in the sun

THE South African Institute of Charted Accountants (SAICA) activated fun on university campuses around the country this month and in July.

Students were able to have some child-like fun for free with the bumper balls challenge and the exhilarating parachute rocket. These activities might have been categorised as ‘lame’ in high school, but not now in the liberal society of university.

Balance of work and play

Vusi Kunene, the project spokesperson, explained that SAICA (also the provider of accounting textbooks) wants to show all students that accountants can enjoy life too: “We want to break the stereotype of accountants being boring. They’re not, there needs to be a balance of work and play.”

The project also aims to promote accounting as a possible field of study.

The event centred on the www.nowican.co.za website, a portal set up by SAICA for the accounting fraternity to communicate with Y-generation university students.

On the page there is SAICA news, a link to a career suite and information about becoming a CA (SA), a Chartered Accountant of South Africa.

The ride to the top

Students who took part in the fun were encouraged by the figurative significance of the parachute rocket. Kunene explained: “In life we are strapped into our seats and climb the slow and bumpy ride to success, just like the ride to the top of the rocket. There is a beautiful view at the top, as is seen out of the windows in the rocket, but we need to be weary of the drop.”

Social sciences student, Nonhlanhla Hlatshwayo, was very weary of this drop when she was at the top.

“Being up high scares you, but it was so much fun at the same time. I would definitely do it again.”