The A Girls and Guys Dream Come True charity organisation is broadening its vision to assist learners gain valuable corporate experience and prepare for workplace demands.
The charity recently marked a milestone with a reunion dinner at the Rosewood Coffee Shop in Germiston.
The event also served as an emotional farewell for the charity’s founder, Louise Wood, and brought together 14 matriculants the charity supported over the years.
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The evening saw teachers, sponsors, friends, and family celebrate the achievements of these young adults and bid a heartfelt goodbye to Wood.
After the event, Wood was encouraged to continue her involvement with the charity.
As A Girls and Guys Dream Come True continues growing, it is now expanding its focus beyond assisting learners with their matric farewell dreams.
The charity is launching new initiatives to prepare students for the corporate world through various workshops.
Pearl Perman, one of the charity’s directors and the owner of CorpEle Consulting, spearheaded these efforts.
CorpEle, short for Corporate Elegance, offers a mentoring development programme focusing on social and business etiquette skills and character development.
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“These are the essential skills we will train the students in. Not all students will attend university; some will enter the workforce directly. Even those going to university will need these skills to thrive in the corporate space.
“We will provide training on leadership and offer custom-designed workshops, consultations, and seminars on corporate excellence,” Perman explained.
The charity is currently concentrating its efforts in Memelo, in the Midvaal Municipality, where it collaborates with a school that has never hosted a matric farewell.
The organisation has received strong support from individuals, corporations, and social organisations, including local churches.
“The local church has been incredibly supportive, offering community assistance through a soup kitchen and helping purchase shoes for underprivileged students as part of the matric farewell project,” Perman noted.
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Perman also highlighted the contributions of Lewina Esterhuizen, another director, who has played a key role in the charity’s efforts.
Locally, the organisation works with Germiston High School, focusing on Grade 11 learners. As the charity looks to the future, it is eager to expand and collaborate with other schools to further its mission.