In a powerful initiative to inspire the youth of the Northern Cape, stakeholders from 27 tertiary education institutions, various provincial and local government departments, and 18 professionals across a wide range of industries came together to host a career day event for over 700 learners in Aggeneys and Pofadder.
With Aggeneys Solar and Konkoonsies II Solar as primary funding partners, the event was made possible through collaboration with other local Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the Khai-Ma municipal district, sectoral government partners, and local NGOs. The programme aimed to address the challenge of limited career guidance, which many learners, particularly those from isolated communities, face when making informed career decisions. This challenge is often linked to academic performance and future career choices.
“Career events give learners an up-close look at different career paths and connects their learning to the real world. Key stakeholders and professionals across a wide range of fields come together to share insights about their careers and the education and training necessary for success. It was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these Grade 8 to Matric learners,” explained Jeremy Prins, Social Performance Coordinator at Aggeneys Solar and Konkoonsies II Solar.
Spanning two days at the start of the third school term, the programme focused on empowering learners from three local schools—Boesmanland High School, Aggeneys High School, and Aggeneys International Academy. The initiative aimed to increase career awareness, helping students make informed subject and career choices as they prepare for their futures.
The success of this initiative will be measured by tracking the number of learners who apply to tertiary institutions as a direct result of the career guidance provided during the event.
A wide array of career options was showcased, many of which learners may not have considered before. Professionals in fields such as IT, environmental sciences, engineering, physiotherapy, business, and even coding/robotics were available to engage with the learners. The latter proved especially popular among attendees, igniting interest in STEM fields.
Ms. Majavie, Principal of Boesmanland High School in Pofadder, shared her thoughts on the impact of the event: “Our learners were eager to engage with the universities and professionals. The event provided them with insight into opportunities that they hadn’t previously considered, offering a clearer sense of their future possibilities.”
The event took place over two days, with the first day (22 July 2024) targeting learners in Grades 8-10 at Boesmanland High School. The programme included Skills Development Sessions, an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub with interactive activities, and Career Exploration Workshops with professionals across various industries.
The second day focused on learners in Grades 9, 11, and 12 at the Aggeneys Sportsground. Highlights included a University Fair with representatives from South African universities and STEM Exploration workshops featuring interactive activities and demonstrations by private companies and STEM specialists.
