Up to date info is key to informed choices

THE founder of the Funza EDU-Excellence career expo, Talukanyani Nangani says the right career choices are very important.

The 23-year-old from Nzhelele says he hosts the career expo because he wants to provide people in his community with all the necessary information they need to make the right choices.

He explains that residents of Nzhelele face a huge disadvantage, because they do not have access to computers and the internet. This means that they do not have access to crucial information that could make or break careers.

He uses his own life story as an example.

“After I matriculated, I had no idea what I wanted to study. When I arrived at university, I just chose a course in which there were still some spaces available, communications. I had no intention to study communications, but I finished the course because I did not want to disappoint my family or myself,” he says.

Nangani has a BA degree in communication from the University of Limpopo.

He says he registered the career expo in 2013 at the department of social development.

“I use the annual career expo to educate young people about the opportunities available to them, including tertiary courses and training opportunities. I provide access and equal opportunities for all the residents in Nzhelele.”

The Funza EDU-Excellence career expo is organised by Nangani and five others, Mukovhe Mulibana, Thabelo Nemukula, Promise Maliaga, Lesly Mafune and Collen Tshisimba.

Nangani says they do not receive any financial assistance from outside parties and the six organisers contribute from their own pockets.

“The lack of funding is a problem, because it costs a lot of money to organise the expo. We also download information, print it and distribute the material to local schools,” Nangani says.

“We need funding and we need volunteers to help us with the heavy workload. With the right information, we can change lives. It takes a village to raise a child.”