Mobilising Future Careers for South Africa's Youth

There's a lot to share with you this time round and I trust the content will both inform and inspire you about developments with the Mobile Career Café (MCC). ‘Navigate your Future’  is the slogan on our new logo. We put so much thought into the process as we wanted to reflect the essence of what essence of the MCC is. We hope you also love the outcome as much as we do.

I recently read an insightful article from The British Journal of Guidance and Counselling called: Ensuring quality in career guidance – a critical review.  This paragraph from that article by Tristam Hooley and Suzanne Rice, affirms why the MCC is so needed and why our logo is absolutely spot on:  “In rapidly changing employment markets, career guidance has a vital role to play in supporting people in navigating transitions between education and employment across the lifespan. For young people in particular, this has resulted in some major challenges which have elongated the school-to-work transition and increased its complexity and competitiveness.  Navigating these shifting markets successfully requires individuals to have extensive knowledge of both themselves and the educational and occupational opportunities open to themselves”. 

Seeing the MCC in action is the most important confirmation of the new Logo.  Last month, we hosted a 2-day MCC at a school in the Eastern Cape for partially sighted and blind learners.  Our goal was to inform and inspire the 40 Grade 10-12 learners about possible career options and linking their experiences with employment opportunities; and how to bridge the gap.  The session on ‘Exposure to Science’ was a highlight together with having 3 motivational speakers – all visually impaired or blind – who successfully navigated their careers in mainstream employment.  Below are some reflections from the learners after the two days:

Highlights for the learners

-        Doing the science experiments. People usually discriminate against us and believe that we cannot do science.

-        I got to learn about the basics that shape one’s career while you are still at school and how to align it with your goals.

-        I got to learn about careers and I now believe that, even if I’m blind, I have a chance to make it in life.

-        The career profiler was so beneficial. It helped me see all the possible careers I didn’t know existed. Blind people have so many capabilities.

-        The guest speakers gave me hope and made me realize there are things I can achieve in the normal world.

Why would they recommend the MCC?

-        Visually impaired learners see themselves as disadvantaged and the MCC brings hope and motivation. I would recommend it because it nice and fun, you get to learn while you having fun.

-        The MCC motivated me to light up my vision and dreams. I would like everyone to have the same experience we have experienced.

-         The MCC helped me when I had no sense of direction with my career path. Many disabled people do not know of the opportunities out there for them.

-        The MCC makes one feel more independent and confident.

I hope this report leaves you as inspired as we are doing this work.  Thank you for your support that makes it possible for the MCC to enable youth navigate their futures.  We can’t do it without you.

Regards,

Janine

• Our New MCC Logo (PDF)