Good reason to celebrate at the Thusanani Trade Fair
15-JUN-09
Learners on the Fasset-funded Thusanani Work Readiness Programme recently had good reason to celebrate: not only were they graduating from the twelve-week Work Readiness Programme offered in partnership by Stanley Hutcheson & Associates, The University of Johannesburg and Deloitte, but they also hosted a very successful Trade Fair at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus.
The Trade Fair is the culmination of twelve weeks of hard work. Learners were required, as part of the integrated assessment process, to draw up a Business Plan for a Community Project, to implement the project and exhibit their project at the Thusanani Trade Fair.
Visitors to the Trade Fair included potential employers and potential project sponsors.
Exhibits confirmed that learners had taken their projects very seriously. Zwiande Financial Management Foundation targeted recipients of Social Grants. Three training sessions were held in Pimville, where attendees were taught how to save, how to budget and how to open their own businesses.
Responding to the floods on the 26th February, which devastated Mofolo, Dobsonville, Meadowlands, Braam Fischer and Dube, another syndicate partnered with the Leigh Mathews Stress and Trauma Centre.
Focusing on Meadowlands, they facilitated trauma counseling for individuals. The syndicate continues to lobby the City of Johannesburg to maintain the drainage system in these areas.
A number of projects targeted schools. The Khulalani Initiative taught Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners how to write CVs and how to conduct themselves in job interviews.
The Nature Lover’s Group, which targeted Grade 5 and Grade 6 learners, raised awareness around global warming. Team Qaphela worked with Grade 1 learners at the Sivuleleni Primary School in Dobsonville, raising awareness around road safety.
Sponsored by Johannesburg Water, The Water Awareness Team facilitated a Water Awareness puppet show in two primary schools. Career Warriors raised career awareness among Grade 11 learners at Musi Comprehensive High School. The initiative included taking school children to the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Targeting service delivery, Abanaqi worked with the Baragwaneth Taxi Association. Learners conducted a customer satisfaction survey, and based on this, recommended the introduction of a toll-free complaints line.
Cancer Warriors ran a Cancer Awareness Campaign, highlighting the causes, the symptoms and the cures of the disease.
Diplomats 5.7 Community Builder worked with four former prisoners. Hoping to rehabilitate them into their communities, they put them in contact with Khulisa Crime Prevention Initiative and the South African National Institute for Crime Prevention (NICRO).
The Programme concluded with a graduation ceremony, where the Top Learner Overall and Top Learner Runner Up, Top Academic Learner, Learner who produced the Best File and Best Syndicate were recognised.
Zwelakhe Gxoyiya was recognised as the Top Learner Overall. “Recognition means so much. I was not going for Top Learner. This just shows that if you work hard it actually pays off,” he explained.
Gxoyiya hopes to further his studies. His dream is to qualify as an Industrial Psychologist. Projecting five years into the future, Gxoyiya hopes to own his own company and be independent in all spheres of life.
“I would also like to make a difference, and make my mark in Industrial Relations,” he said.
Selindile Mpungose was recognised as the Top Learner, Runner Up. “I am very happy. I am very honoured and I am very proud of this achievement. I have not only achieved, but I have also grown personally and professionally,” she explained.
Having successfully completed the Thusanani Work Readiness Programme, she said she is now far more marketable.
Sashelle Polton was recognised as the Top Academic Learner. Polton cites the two-week internship at Deloitte as the highlight: “I loved going to Deloitte; that was such a great experience. It was wonderful.”
Polton plans to enroll for a Pscyhology Honours degree. “I know that I cannot start off big. I am willing to start in Human Resource Administration and then work my way up,” she said.
Karen Singh’s tutors were so impressed by the standard of her work that they decided to confer an award for the Best File. “I worked really hard. I was here every single day. I have been passionate about everything I have done and I am just glad that this has been acknowledged finally,” she said.
Singh believes “the sky is the limit”. “Anything is possible, I know I can achieve anything now”, Singh concluded.
