Young people thriving in different jobs
Times have change and job titles are also changing young people are turning their talents into money.
As we celebrate Youth Day (June 16), we must acknowledge the sacrifice that was made by young people during the 1976 march.
GCN also looked at what the march meant for young people today and met with young people in different professions on how they got into their line of work and why they love it.
Nkosingiphiwe Sibiya is a young man with a love and passion for animals as an SPCA inspector.
The 25-year-old from KwaZulu-Natal is based at Germiston and Bedfordview SPCA. He enjoys his work because he has been able to bring his two loves together – the law and animals.
“I’ve always wanted to be an officer of the law and I’ve always loved animals. Working for the SPCA is the best of both worlds,” said Nkosi.
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The young inspector started as a volunteer at the Germiston and Bedfordview SPCA.
“While volunteering, I fell in love with fighting for those who cannot speak – the animals. My job involves a lot of education, rescuing animals and preventing cruelty to animals by enforcing the Animal Protection Act,” said Nkosi.
He said his job might not be popular among his peers but it is an amazing career.
“Being an inspector for animals you can learn a lot about taking care of animals and understanding their needs. It is not a popular career but it is nice to see young people joining the movement to prevent cruelty to animals,” said Nkosi.
Like any other job, he said there are challenges, but he always sees them as a learning opportunity.
“Sometimes it is sad to see an owner of a pet signing their pet over to the society because they can no longer take care of it. This causes anxiety to the animal. Animals become family, so for owners to take such a decision is never easy. Having to save an abused animal is also difficult,” said Nkosi.
He said what makes him love and appreciate his job is when animals find good homes.
“It’s nice when an animal that was confiscated is adopted into a good family because that animal is getting a second chance,” said Nkosi.
He said as SA commemorates Youth Month, he would like to encourage young people to take every opportunity available to them.
Lawrence Sibeko is a social media manager in Germiston. His job entails taking photos and promoting and planning events.
“My love of social media got me into my line of work and now I get to do what I love and get paid for it,” said Lawrence.
He works for an entertainment business, meaning he is constantly working with people.
“In my line of work you meet different people, and that requires you to be a people’s person because you’re almost like the face of the brand. I love the fact that I get the opportunity to meet and work with big industry names,” said Lawrence.
He said as much as his job is almost constant fun, there are also challenges.
“Patience is key because some clients can be challenging. You must be able to handle any situation while still giving the best service in representing a brand,” said Lawrence.
“I encourage young people to look what is out there and identify gaps they see they can fill,” said Lawrence.
