The Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently honoured an invite to talk to Grade 12 learners at the Bergville Community Builders (BCB) Career Day, hosted on the 15th of April 2023 at Ubulinga Secondary School in eMoyeni, Bergville.
“Bergville Community Builders is a Bergville-based NGO that was formed in April 2003 to support learners in achieving their desired career paths through career guidance and educational support using local professionals and partnering with various institutions, companies, and organisations,” explains Mr Nhlanhla Maphalala, chairperson of BCB.
The career day sought to equip Grade 12 learners from the Bergville community with the necessary knowledge and information that would allow them to pursue their studies at institutions of higher learning, whilst also providing them with motivation and guidance. It also provided learners with career exposure, as invited professionals shared their day-to-day life experiences within their specific careers and the scope of opportunities that currently exist for youth within those careers.
The event played host to 16 high schools from the Bergville community, with over 1 100 learners present on the day. The large crowd was initially addressed en masse in a large tent but was then split into smaller groups within the Ubulinga Secondary classrooms to allow for better engagement with the exhibitors.
DUT was represented by the Student Recruitment and the student volunteers from the Community Engagement’s Uni4All Programme. The organisers sincerely thanked the DUT representatives for accepting the invitation as they were the only higher education institution that had honoured the invitation.
Speaking on the importance of such events in rural areas, Mr Mukelani Radebe one of the student volunteers states, “The staff and students were happy because the event went well and was a great success. Being able to work together as a team to encourage learners to do well in their studies so that tomorrow they can have a better future is such a great feeling. Events like this really help learners a lot especially those in rural areas, it will be a great pleasure to help again.”
The community of Bergville is a 3-hour drive away from Durban. Its remoteness is often a deterrent for many organisations that could assist the community. However, as an institution, DUT has recognised the responsibility and opportunity that it has to support marginalised and underdeveloped communities. This event marks one of many campaigns supported by the institution within the scope of the rural schools’ engagement in Bergville.
Mr Alex Mdletshe the Manager from Student Recruitment touches on the plans that DUT has, to support such events and initiatives in Bergville in the future, “The event was a great success. The learners were engaged and enthusiastic with the support. We hope to continue our work with the organisers for future events and to fortify and combine our efforts to create a career fair to cater to all of the high schools in the Bergville area.”
Picture: Student volunteers from the Uni4All Programme at the BCB Career Day (Photo credit: Lungelo Zikode)
