On the 31 August, the Young Economists for Africa (YEA) hosted a Career Day for grade 10 and 11 students from three high schools in Soweto, namely Morris Isaacson Secondary School, Reasoma Secondary School and Emshukantambo Secondary School, with 127 students attending.
The Young Economists for Africa is a group of social science and economics students committed to strengthening the involvement of young people in issues of economic policy as well as conceptualising and airing alternative views on economic policy and development in Africa.
The Young Economists for Africa is a group of social science and economics students committed to strengthening the involvement of young people in issues of economic policyThe Career Day was designed to give learners a comprehensive guide of what career opportunities are available within the fields of economics and the social sciences, as well as information on career planning and financing university their studies.
“Our biggest problem is not the lack of opportunities, but the lack of information,” said YEA chairman Ayabonga Cawe.
The program also included talks from young professionals in the field, with Ronak Gopaldas and Brian Dlamini from Rand Merchant Bank as well as Kopo Mapila from the Economic Development Department sharing information on their personal journeys; the advantages of a commerce and a social sciences degree, as well as potential career opportunities for the learners.
“Economics is about problem solving,” remarked Dlamini.
MAKING ECONOMICS FUN
To emphasise this thought, YEA created a socio-economic scenario challenge where learners had to identify community challenges as well as propose solutions. The scenario provided dealt with the direct challenges faced in majority of township areas in South Africa.The team with the most concrete ideas were awarded a prize.
In a socio-economic scenario challenge, learners had to identify community challenges as well as propose solutions (Images: Young Economists for Africa)This exercise truly brought economics into the day to day realities of these young people and it made economics “fun”, which was a concern for the learners.
“I enjoyed the discussions that we did with other students from different schools and I really learnt a lot because I personally had that mindset that physics and economics don’t link, but they do, and from today I will try think out the box,” said one student.
“I have learnt a lot because I never thought being an economists has so many fields so I am definitely impressed,” said Mondli Sikhokhane from Emshukantambo Secondary School
“This career day was the most fun filled and most importantly, educational,” added Sophy Matshidiso Moloi from Reasoma Secondary School
For more information about Young Economists for Africa, email Simamkele Dlakavu: Simamkele.dlakavu@gmail.com and visit http://economistsforafrica.wozaonline.co.za/
