Take a Child to Work Day
By Zona Mpendulo
Five(5) matric pupils from Bhisho High School had their first taste of a
regular day at the office at the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development
headquarters in Bhisho on 25, May, 2021. The team of motivated 2 boys and 3
girls spent the day in different units of the department, learning the day to
day runnings as well as starting dialogues about different social ills, Their
causes and possibles remedies to them for a better socio-economic landscape of
the province and country at large. All these forming part of this year’s
edition of the department’s annual corporate investment initiative, Take A
Child to Work Day. The campaign is an evolution of the former Take a Girl Child
to work day campaign which started in 2003, an initiative first introduced by
telecommunications company Cell C. The learners job shadowed in the Women
Development, Crime Prevention, Legal, Head of Department, MEC and Communication
Units. In all the sections, the common goal was to give information that
addresses the aspirations of the children by inspiring and motivating them to
pursue their goals
and ambitions to reach their full potential.
Stating the importance of the evolution of the project to catering for both
boys and girls, Special Programmes Manager, Xoliswa Fani said this is to ensure
balance and equal opportunities for both young women and young women. “We were
mindful of empowering both genders, so we do not end up with one being more
powerful than the other, leaving the other feeling intimidated. We want gender
equality, not an exchange of power and dominance”, said Fani.
One of the learners, Chwayita Fata who shadowed at the Communications Unit said
the day left her feeling empowered and knowledgeable in all different aspects
of communication and media. “I’m making my career choice now fully aware of the
different platforms one can use to communicate and the different skills sets to
use in each of these fields” Chwayita excitedly said. Meanwhile Hlomla Mgwatyu,
who wants to go into Criminal Law described the day as an enlightening one
about the operations of the department, particularly the rehabilitation of
children in conflict with the law in the youth care Centers. “We’re grateful to
have had the opportunity to come here. I didn’t know there are Programmes here
that assist young people who have had unfortunate encounters and broke the law,
though I am in school and focused, it’s comforting to know my peers who haven’t
had the same privilege are still being groomed to be better” said Hlomla.
Motivating the learners, acting Head of Department Mzimkhulu Machemba said the
learner need to be strong and focused on their studies as education improves
their chances at success. “You May come from different backgrounds with varying
economic cases, but education ensures a level ground for your success. When
you’re educated your background no longer has a hold on you”, said Macheba. In
Wrapping the day’s activities, The acting HOD gave the pupils certificates of
participation to keep the memory of the day as the launch forward into the
future.