Grade 12 learners receive career guidance from YWP

WISA YWP, in collaboration with the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (Borda) and Umgeni Water YWP, has started a career guidance and mentoring initiative for grade 12 pupils of township schools in Pietermaritzburg.

By Sbusiso Khuboni and Ntokozo Zwane

The initiative provides a platform for sharing career advice, training, motivation and employment opportunities in the water sector. It was supposed to be a one-day event where about 600 Grade 12 learners from three schools – Ikusaselihle High, Nsikayethu Comprehensive Secondary and KwaPata High – would attend at a community hall.

Covid-19, however, forced the team to explore other options.

YWP decided to record a 30-minute video that was circulated to the three schools, together with drawstring bags and stationery packs. A few weeks later, YWP revisited the schools to garner feedback from teachers about the initiative.

It was decided that a physical event, where the YWP/Borda team engaged directly with the learners, would be more impactful. The team visited Ikusaselihle High School, where they shared their own personal experiences with studying further after school, mentioned bursary options, as well as career paths in the water industry. They motivated and inspired students to find ways to study further.

There are further plans to visit more schools in the upcoming months.