More than 11 000 Grade 12’s representing more than 150 schools were wowed at the 16th edition of the annual Working World Career Expo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last week.
The Working World Expo is the largest career guidance initiative of its kind in South Africa and the class of 2015 grabbed the opportunity to be inspired and informed as it begins to prepare applications for various study directions after school.
Running over 3 days, participating matrics interacted with 70 exhibiting organisations representing a diverse range of career, study and funding options.
Exhibitors included the South African Police Services, The NMMU, Vodacom, Rhodes University, The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Total Concept Beauty Academy, Old Mutual, The Engineering Council of South Africa, Damelin and VWSA, among others.
All matrics from participating schools were also provided with a Gr 12 Life Orientation curriculum approved Career Guidance Workbook, free career guidance counselling and a motivational careers DVD featuring messages from Mark Shuttleworth and other celebrities.
This year a special Gr 9 subject choice evening and a seminar for the leadership bodies of schools was also hosted, where young leaders interacted with the Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber’s Top 40 under 40 achiever.
Inkanyezi Events CEO Andrew Binning said the initiative remained one of the most “value-adding resources to school leavers”.
“Over the past 16 years, based on our personal research, less than 10% of all matrics are sure of what they are going to study after school, Binning said.
“The expo and its resources move our school leavers into a better place to make one of the most important decisions in their lives, and in many cases actually provide learners with their light bulb moment.”
“Learners are encouraged to find their passion and balance it with the practicalities of the job market in South Africa, which desperate needs our young leaders to make a meaningful contribution.’’
Binning said he was energised and optimistic about the calibre of the region’s matrics.
“The attitude, respect and maturity with which the class of 2015 has gone about its research and engaged business and educational institutions at the expo, was remarkable and gives one a great sense of optimism around the future of our country,’’ Binning said.
The expo hosted by Inkanyezi Events annually is supported by Coega, The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the NMMU, The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, Access Management and Bay FM.
Alan Straton
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