Career expo ignites dreams for Eldorado Park learners
Eldorado Park youth equipped with skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive as career guidance expo helps shape their futures and destiny.
Taking Back Our Youth in partnership with NYDA and Eldos@work held a three-day career expo to empower and help Eldorado Park learners to prepare and equip for life after high school.
The event took place at Don Mateman Hall, between February 27 and 28 and March 1.
Each day of the expo covered various topics such as university applications, skills development, entrepreneurship and others.
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Durdica Adriaanse is a parent to a primary school-going child, two secondary schoolers and a matriculate.
Her oldest child Kyra matriculated last year. She was unemployed and searching before she and two other learners obtained learnerships from Forge Academy (FA) in Randburg.
“The expo was inspiring; it shared real-life experiences, youth challenges and opportunities that could enable them to pursue their dreams,” said Durdica.
Grade 12 learner Amani Williams from Eldomaine High School said the initiative provided the youth with the necessary information required to enter the job market or even into tertiary education.
It also gave them hope that they could achieve anything and that nothing was impossible.
“This allowed me to further skill myself; the knowledge and skills that I have gained over the years were key contributors to my current success. Without the knowledge I doubt I would be here. I will continue to learn.”
ALSO READ: Upcoming career expo set to empower youth in Eldos
Project facilitator Alicia McPherson said they identified the need for the expo through other existing programmes within the community.
She said their team’s goal was to connect unemployed people and the general youth to experts to guide them with career choices and opportunities.
McPherson said they also wanted to inform the community about available resources from Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), government departments, tertiary institutions and corporate sectors to promote career development, skills training and employment opportunities.
“We also hope to create awareness about critical life skills such as financial literacy and personal development.”
Exhibitors included
• Government departments, namely Home Affairs, Labour, Civic Affairs, Road Traffic Infringement Authority and Higher Education and Training (Kheta).
• South West Gauteng College.
• SAISTEC College.
• FA.
• Boston Media House.
• ABT Innovation Centre.
• Lee’s Beauty Clinic and School.
• National Neighbourhood Watch.
• YFM (YCARES).
• SpringBots SA.
• United Siyafunda.
• Eldos Chess Robotics and Coding.
• MTDI College.
• Johannesburg Culinary and Pastry School.
FA also offered a fully paid course and discounts on courses like CompTIA Tech+, CompTIA A+ and CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity).
Speakers included Nomsa Mbata from NYDA and COO of FA Tariq Shurmah.
Workshop facilitators Takudzwa Chihumba and Themba Ziqubu taught learners about writing CVs and interviews. Dieketseng Nibe from Siyafunda presented on AI in education and Clerence Meela from MTDI College spoke on preparing for tertiary education and the application process.
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Keynote addresses were delivered by Geraldine Prinsloo and Cheryl Pillay from Come Back Mission.
The SpringBots launch
On the day the Gauteng champion McPherson, founder of Eldos Chess Robotics and Coding (ECRC), also launched the SpringBots 100-Teams Programme.
ECRC has four participating teams out of the 40 chosen in Gauteng.
Kyra said this is a good programme for the children in the community because it can allow them to learn discipline, creativity and confidence.
“This will enable them to gain fruitful skills as technology advances daily and digitally. The programme will increase the youth’s knowledge and shift their focus to a more successful future.”
Williams said as the world moves further into technology, the SpringBots programme will play a vital role in building the youth’s mathematical and problem-solving skills.
The SpringBots Regional competition will be held at Don Mateman Hall, on June 7.
