In response to the lack of career guidance for high school learners across South Africa, Nedbank is investing more than R 5million towards its 2012 My Future My Career programme which will benefit more than 40 000 grade 9-12 learners from underprivileged communities across the country.

The Nedbank “My Future My Career” programme showcases more than 100 career choices available across 14 industries. More importantly, it enables learners to also discover the academic as well as personality requirements for each career. For the third consecutive year, this innovative programme continues to enable learners to gain insight of what to expect in the workplace through testaments from professionals applying their trade in the working world.

The programme is presented in episodes at Ster-Kinekor cinemas which have been strategically selected for their convenience and accessibility for the learners. The content of the 14 episodes includes Accounting, Law, Entrepreneurship, Mining and Engineering, Education, Health, IT, Construction, Travel and Tourism, and each student leaves each session with a booklet for future reference.

“Time and again, we see too many students showing up at universities without a clue of what they want to, and more importantly, can study. We believe that the My Future My Career programme will give learners career insights and thereby also improve the prospects of developing skills in critical sectors such as financial services, health and engineering,” said Kone Gugushe, Nedbank Divisional Executive, Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed Nedbank’s programme and has expressed its support. The My Future My Career concept is the brainchild of Primestars Marketing, who are also the project managers thereof.

Martin Sweet, Managing Director for Primestars Marketing says that this project is aimed to inspire the youth to play a key role in overcoming the current and projected skills shortage and the high rate of unemployment in South Africa and to encourage them to proactively explore and take full advantage of the career opportunities that exist for them. This collaborative effort will enable participating learners to begin preparing themselves for the transition into the ‘World of Work’, helping them to realise their career ambitions while simultaneously strengthening the skills base of our country.

Other sponsors of the programme include, PPC Cement, Gauteng City Region Academy, Quest, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, the National Youth Development Agency and JD Group.

“It is through initiatives like My Future, My Career where our future leaders, artists and engineers are inspired and created. PPC keeps close ties with the schools and uses this opportunity to engage with the learners about the PPC bursary programme,” says Francie Shonhiwa, Corporate Social Investment Manager at PPC.

“The JD Group realises the challenges and the effects of unemployment in South Africa, particularly amongst the youth of our country. It is with this in mind that we have partnered with the My Future, My Career initiative. We hope that through this channel, learners become aware of employment opportunities which exist within the various sectors of the economy and through this, are able to secure a brighter future” says Richard Chauke; Director: Tax, Transformation, Risk, Internal Audit and Compliance for JD Group.

The NYDA will be able to show these career episodes at any of their 13 youth centres across the country, further increasing the reach of this programme. “Our involvement in this programme is part of our bigger ‘life after school’ campaign where we encourage young people to prepare for their future whilst still at school, but also giving them various options once they have completed matric. With this creative initiative, we will be able to help guide young people into their careers of choice. The NYDA is proud to be part of an initiative that protects our future, by nurturing the present” says Steven Ngubeni, CEO of NYDA.

“The Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) strives to effect change through positive intervention with our youth. Initiatives such as “My Future, My Career” play a vital role in assisting us to effect such change” says Vuyanu Mpofu, Acting CEO of GCRA.

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