Brand South Africa hosts 12 female leaners from three Diepkloof schools on Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day®
The 12th annual Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day featured Brand South Africa employees reminding young girls to believe in their talents. The event included inspirational words from Play Your Part Ambassadors.
Women play a vital role in any community, often as the selfless individuals who care for their families daily. Recognising this Brand South works annually with young schoolgirls to build their self-confidence and encourage them to achieve greatness for themselves, and their communities.
This morning, 29 May 2014, Brand South Africa hosted 12 female pupils from Namedi Secondary School, Fidelitas High School and Fons Luminas High School, as part of the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day®.
Luvuyo Mandela is a Play Your Part ambassador who is passionate about educating young femalesThe campaign celebrates its 12th anniversary this year under the theme: Dream, Believe, Achieve. This year’s event aimed to remind young female students that they possess the power to make their dreams real by believing in themselves.
The Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day® targets Grade 10 to 12 South African girl pupils, with the opportunity to visit a place of work and experience first-hand what a specific career entails. It encourages the students to participate in discussions to fully understand their role in the country’s socio-economic development.
In his welcoming address, Brand South Africa’s chief executive officer, Miller Matola, said, “Take your life, what it presents, and make it work for you.
“Your decisions shape the future that you want for yourself. You make this country what it is.”
At the event Brand South Africa staff took the time out to speak to the girls about their jobs and career paths.
Onke Dumeko, Brand South Africa’s assistant brand manager, spoke to the girls about the importance of believing in themselves, explaining that the most important contribution they can make to building a healthy society is their value.
“When you educate a girl child, it makes all the difference,” she said.
“Don’t be hooked on job titles. It’s about the value you bring. Build strong relations.”
After explaining the pivotal role that Brand South Africa plays in marketing the country and its people locally and internationally, Dumeko and colleague Leigh-Gail Peterson shared stories of their university experiences and career choices with the girls.
Play Your Part Ambassadors give encouragement
Play Your Part Ambassadors, Luvuyo Mandela and Bonolo Ramokhele, discussed how important women are in any society and the roles they play in shaping a country.
“You [girls] are the rocks and in the future, you’ll be the rocks for your families,” said Mandela, adding that, “It’s important for women to be in business because they do what’s needed.”
Mandela, who has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Hamilton College, is passionate about “developing South Africa through education initiatives that help empower young minds and equip them with the necessary skills to become global competitors and leaders”.
He said, “I believe in warming others up to the idea of embodying the social entrepreneurial ethos of being a continuous contributor.”
Mandela is the founder of Tyathumzi Advisory, which specialises in corporate social responsibility design. He is also establishing an education platform, Skew Circle, and is a One Young World Ambassador.
Ramokhele, a charted accountant, is a director at investment company Leofortis Group, a Play Your Part Ambassador, and a World Economic Forum Global Young Leader.
Ramokhele had rousing words for the girls; he said, “The face of poverty around the world is black and female. So educate yourselves. It is critical.”
The girls’ take on going to work
The girls took the encouragement from the speakers to heart; Lebogang Mabitsi found the event inspiring and said; “Today I learnt to give back what I have; [to] look for ways to make a difference.”
Lerato Mphahlele now sees the value in never giving up. She said, “A person must never give up. They can achieve whatever they want to achieve.”
The event proved a successful one, with the pupils seeing the many possibilities that education and a career path can open up for young women.
