The Rocking Future career expos, dedicated to helping South African school leavers to choose the best career path, took matriculants at Bellville Technical High School on a journey to explore fruitful futures on Wednesday 26 February.
With many offerings to develop their skills and find employment, they are better geared in a country with a critically high youth unemployment rate.
For 24 years, 3RC have been helping South African high school learners to discover the exciting opportunities that await them once they leave school. This can be a very daunting time for learners, especially those unsure what to do and how to find a job when they finish school.
Through the career expos the 3RC team, together with a top-class selection of tertiary educational organisations, help learners to understand the options available and to decide what careers suit their personality, skills and ambitions.
Learners think forward
TygerBurger ventured to the school hall and asked learners about their expo experience.
“I liked it because it was not just a basic discussion, the expo showed videos and showcased what’s on offer while the exhibitors were very inviting,” said the school’s head girl, Sidney September.
For Tuahirah Isaacs, the deputy head girl, she thought her dream job would be in the medical field, like becoming a surgeon. “But now my thinking is very different and I feel like my options are open wider now,” she said.
The school’s head boy, Aglume Xoyana, and student body chair, Nazeeya Fortune, have dreams of becoming electrical engineers.
“I want to work with energy and help find ways to creating electricity,” Fortune said, and Xoyana aspires to that very same goal.
“Today we’ve learned there is more than just the traditional route through a university or a TVET college. So, [the expo] was really eye-opening,” Xoyana said in turn.
“My dream job is to be a civil engineer, in South Africa or abroad,” said Zinzan Arries, the school’s deputy head boy.
Arries added that he feels confident about the options available to him.
“I’ve won the national skills competition in civil technology which makes the path to the future look good!”
‘Expo offers range’
Last year, the 3RC team spent five months touring South Africa with their Rocking Future career expos.
Kay Cheytanov, 3RC Founder, said her aim and dream for the expo started with her passion to motivate, educate and inspire the youth.
“These days we have a wonderful team of young MCs that can communicate on the student’s level, deliver fun-filled presentations, using multimedia and youth brands that see value in speaking to these learners and giving them cool merchandise during the expo,” said Cheytanov.
For her, it is rather incredible to think that the matric learners they saw that first year 24 years ago, are now in their early 40s probably in managerial positions with children of their own.
“Our continued growth and strong relationships with our schools is the reason we keep going and keep innovating. This journey was nothing short of spectacular.
“The level of engagement from students and educators exceeded our expectations.
“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, affirming the expo’s role in shaping future careers,” Cheytanov reflected.
The Rocking Future expos visited 231 high schools across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Gqeberha and KwaZulu-Natal distributed 29 423 Future Guide magazines.
The expo is 100% free for learners and schools to participate in.
