How a career exhibition is empowering Gugulethu's youth

 Grade 12 pupils from schools in and around Gugulethu were encouraged to think about becoming job creators, instead of job seekers, during a Career Expo held at the Khwezi Community Hall on Saturday, June 28.

The Heritage Education and Research Project (HERP), made up of local professionals including doctors, accountants, and municipal and government CFOs, invited matric pupils from schools such as Fezeka High School, Intshukumo High School, and others to encourage them to be future leaders.

Pupils were also assured that choosing to attend a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college instead of a university is not something to be ashamed of.

Herp chairperson Whitey Jacobs, who is also a founding member, said the purpose of the day was to empower them to be good leaders.

He said life is tough for young people wanting to further their education at tertiary level. He reminded them that not everyone is guaranteed a place at university, or to study maths and science, or to become doctors.

He also reminded them that there are still options, like going to a TVET college, and that they can still build a good life for themselves.

“We formed this project intending to educate our young people about the role played by community facilities. In the education that we are giving them, we also educate them with (ABOUT?) heritage.

"We believe in intergenerational mixed sessions where older people mix with younger people and they talk and share ideas. We also call them round table discussions, depending on the number of people," he added. 

In that process, Mr Jacobs said, they have developed a documentary that talks about rugby history in the Western Cape.

"It also talks about Langa, Lukhanyisweni centre, and our facilities and linkage between these facilities and new communities such as Khayelitsha, Delft, Eerste River, and so on,” he said.

He said the exhibition aims to empower young people from all around Gugulethu, helping them prepare to play a major role in their community one day.

“We thought of closing off Youth Month properly. 1976 was about a better life. When students left class to start the strike, all they wanted was a better education. A better education leads to a better life."

"We brought in various organisations and companies to show what they’re doing for children in terms of skills development, so they can see the options available after matric. We are here to empower these youths so that tomorrow they can decide their future,” said Mr Jacobs.

The project invited representatives from the Department of Labour, SA Navy, South African Defence Force, Armscor, Stem Lab, and NorthLink College to exhibit some of the careers they offered, to give the matric pupils different options to consider.

Parent Nozipho Gagayi praised the project, saying she has seen the positive impact it is making in the community.

“We, as the community of Gugulethu, need to give praise to these individuals who formed this initiative. They have been good to us and our children. My only hope is that our children recognise the good being done in this community and are inspired to take up the baton and carry it forward,” she said.