SSP hosts a career speed dating event

ROSEBANK – Kingsmead College provided the venue to host various other school learners at a career speed-dating event.

Naidine Sibanda

August 11, 2019

SSP chief operations officer, Agnes Sibanda gives career guidance to Homolemo Sekoma a Grade 11 learner at St Dunstan's College. Photo: Naidine Sibanda

A variety of local school learners got the opportunity to explore different career paths at a career speed-dating event held at Kingsmead College in Rosebank. The event was hosted by Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP) which is based in Parktown.

According to the marketing and communications manager at SSP, Alexandra Smit-Stachowski, on the surface, SSP is a high school academic scholarship programme. “The reality, however, is that SSP is a leadership development programme. Given that our scholars are high academic achievers, the challenge that our scholars often experience is trying to match their academic achievements and interests to a possible career path.”

Director at Talent Acquisition Pepsico, Imene Zidi career-guides Grade 11 learner at St Stithians, Nikita Jacobs. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

She added that the idea of the event was for the learners to spend one-on-one time with professionals from various industries and get some advice.

Senior content strategist at Cerebra Communication, Giuliana Schoeman chats to Jordyn Beiling a Grade 10 learner from Saheti School. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

Director at SSP, Lucky Letshabo kicked off the vibrant event and said to the professionals, “Your job is to convince the future of our country why they should work in your industry. Also, share with them what it is that you do and how what you do bears resemblance for the next generation. Another objective of the event is to form relationships and passing on your knowledge and information to the next generation.”

Director at Student Sponsorship Programme, Lucky Letshabo kicks off the career speed-dating event at Kingsmead College. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

He added that the challenge was that instead of the future generation taking over 10 years from now, it would take over in three years.

“Your job is to make sure these scholars are equipped to sit where you are sitting in a few years’ time. The other part is mentorship and guidance as these learners would like to know where to go, to a possible study choice after obtaining a pass mark.”

The career speed-dating event courtesy of SSP has an objective to build lasting relationships. *Photo: Naidine Sibanda*

He said that SSP hoped more lasting relationships would be formed between all parties present on the day. The learners proceeded to engage in a two-minute each career speed- dating engagement with the professionals with 30-minute intervals in-between.