Mentorship offered to local unemployed women with creative skills

With Women’s Month around the corner, SheSays, an action-based global advocacy group for women in the creative industry, and GRID Worldwide called on final-year students and recent graduates in the greater Gauteng region to apply for mentorship programmes for women to network.

Whether interested in graphic design, copywriting, brand strategy, public relations, account management, or seeking to enter the creative economy, applicants from Gauteng are encouraged to submit a piece of work they are proud of and a letter of motivation regarding why they should be considered.

These events and mentorship programmes are for women to network, grow and flourish in their careers.

This programme is a collaborative commitment with GRID Worldwide to drive gender equality in the creative industry.

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According to the latest Stats SA report, SA’s youth unemployment rate was a staggering 62.1%. In addition, 47% of females of working age were listed as ‘economically inactive’.

While industries across SA vary in the representation of their female workforce, only 38% of those employed in the creative industries are women, according to a 2019 research study published by North-West University.

Selected applicants will be mentored by some of the best minds in the industry during a workshop on August 8.

The half-day session will close with a 608 Experiences (a division of GRID Worldwide) networking event, whereby they will be introduced to the world of branding and creativity.

“With a shared goal of empowering women and advancing gender equality in our industry.

We as ‘The Make It Mean Something Company’ look forward to amplifying the impact of this initiative. In everything we do as a business, our goals are to build, nurture and create meaning.

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“Mentorship Moments is not a ‘nice to do’ initiative – it is something that all private enterprises should be doing, not only to provide opportunities for growth in the industry but to reduce the wave of young people who have given up on contributing to our economy, or the hope that they can have in our country,” said says Jessica Wilkins, client service director at GRID Worldwide.

Andrina Moodley and Mandisa Ngubane, co-directors of SheSays JHB, said women faced challenges in the industry that needed tackling, and this programme aimed to achieve that.

“Tackling the challenges women face in the industry means SheSays and its partners play a vital role in empowering women to build sustainable careers and the creative economy.

“Initiatives like Mentorship Moments are crucial to addressing the challenges faced by women in the creative fields.

“While some progress was made, much work still needs to be done. A deeper understanding of the specific obstacles women encounter is needed, enabling agencies to implement tangible measures to create a more inclusive and supportive environment and contribute to a more equitable creative industry,” said Moodley and Ngubane.

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GRID Worldwide builds brands by giving them meaning.

The agency is known for its work with some of SA’s most iconic brands, such as FNB, MTN, the Marble Group and more.

Driven by purpose, GRID is excited to invest in meaningful mentorship by providing an additional platform to elevate and empower women entering the industry.

SheSays and GRID call on all eligible applicants to submit their entries before the closing date of July 31.

Applications are now open and can be submitted via shesaysjohannesburg@gmail.com.