THE City of Ekurhuleni hosted the Take A GirlChildTOWork – under the name #MoreThanADay on May 30. The initiative Take A Girl Child To Work is seen as one of the South African leading initiatives to help motivate and encourages them. Take a Girl Child to Work Day is an annual corporate social investment event, held in South Africa since 2003. Companies are involved in organising for female learners, usually from disadvantaged backgrounds, to spend the day at their place of work on the last Thursday of May annually
Beforehand, the initiative was aimed at girls between Grade 10 and 12, but this year Cell C has expanded the programme to include girls in Grade 8 and 9 as well. This is because from Grade 8, learners decide which subjects they will take in Grade 10, which will set them on their respective career paths.
The value of the programme is to expose and empower girls on their career paths and development. The year 2019 of the programme had a theme of #MoreThanADay to promote the concept that a day is not so enough to help encourage and give support to school girls. The next events of the Take Girl Child To Work will take place all over the country on July 26 and August 30.
School girls from around the City of Ekurhuleni had the chance to interact with one another. They were hosted by the South African TV personality, Ayanda Thabethe, who shared her story of making it from “nobody to somebody” in the South African TV industry.“When I was growing up I always knew that I will be on TV, but it took me so long I almost gave up, but through consistency and self-believing I never gave up on my dream,” said Ayanda. The renowned TV presenter encouraged the young girls to believe in themselves and to never allow anyone to tell them that they cannot do something. “Be careful of the breed of friends you keep because friends can either build or break you; associate yourselves with friends who motivate and encourage you to follow and pursue your dream,” added Thabethe.
Take a Girl Child to Work Day which was launched in 2003 has grown to become one of the nation’s most powerful social movements. The campaign has been received with enthusiasm and excitement from all sectors, including government, the private sector, media and non-profit organisations. It continues to encourage debate on the role of socioeconomic development and the promotion of gender equality, and women empowerment in South Africa. The Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day initiative was recognised in October 2016 as one of the unique interventions that sought to address a national risk of girls failing to take up opportunities open to them in the corporate world.
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