Page 33 - Winning Women 2017

BWASA 33

Inspiring young women to

NEVER GIVE UP!
NEVER GIVE UP!

AVANTIKA SEETH should [change the meaning] of ‘cool’.
The current meaning is not about being
t was one day. But it’s changed their academically successful and they have
lives. to redefine this. They have to be the
I The Businesswomen of Tomorrow kind of cool that is sustainable and
programme provides motivation for values what they do at school.
school girls as they journey towards “The third is that I am looking
womanhood. forward to the day when young girls
And the day trip to Joburg – meeting are comfortable with being labelled the
successful women and other youngsters ‘boring chick’. It’s the boring chick who
who are also driven to make a success studies and may not have a large social
of their lives despite the challenges they circle, but who applies herself and reaps
face – inspired hundreds of young the rewards later on in life.”
women to keep going. Phakeng spoke about how young girls
“As professional businesswomen, we should have goals and focus on
recognise that many promising young achieving them.
ladies may never be afforded the “Young people need to redefine their
opportunity to learn how to make role and who they are in order to be
informed career choices, strike a balance successful,” she said.
between the emotional, social and Nineteen-year-old Natalie Gondo, who
academic demands, manage their MOTIVATION Professor Mamokgethi was in Grade 11 at Penelope Oracle
finances and be inspired by successful Phakeng advised the young women Secondary School in Midrand, said that
women,” said Matshepo Msibi, executive PHOTOS: TEBOGO LETSIE she learnt a lot from the workshop,
director of the Businesswomen’s particularly about how to move forward
Association. from any challenge.
The Gauteng workshop hosted 150 “I learnt that I shouldn’t let my past
girls from across the province at the determine where I am going. I want to
Group 5 offices at Waterfall Business be an accountant and I believe that I
Estate in Johannesburg in October last can work hard and get into university. I
year. burn candles every night, studying, and
The programme has been running I know that I can get there.
since 2001 with the aim of guiding “I also need to expand the group of
young women who are still in high people that I surround myself with so
school towards making meaningful that I can learn about different subject
career choices. areas like law and science,” Gondo said.
The association partnered with FUN The young women who Nomathemba Sibanda attends
the department of education and attended the Businesswomen of Letsibogo High School in Meadowlands,
other stakeholders to source pupils Tomorrow programme held at Soweto, and is in Grade 11.
from rural and disadvantaged schools Group 5 at Waterfall Business Estate “I live with my mum and little
to attend. in Johannesburg in October brother. My mum is a caregiver and I
“These learners were selected by would like to enrol for a BCom degree
their schools based on merit, when I matriculate.
leadership skills, sporting ability, “I grew up with a mother who has
entrepreneurship, acumen, solution suffered with financial problems and as
orientation and academic performance,” an accountant I will be able to provide
explained Msibi. for my family.
In attendance was Professor “Education means a lot to me because
Mamokgethi Phakeng, recipient of last my mum didn’t finish her matric so I
year’s Businesswoman of the Year know I have to,” she said.
Award for education. Phakeng holds a Seventeen-year-old Nonsindiso Sotiya
significant academic title – deputy from Aurora Girls High School in
vice-chancellor for research and INSPIRATION The women behind Soweto, also in Grade 11, was enamoured
internationalisation at the University of the success of the Businesswomen with the resources that were made
Cape Town – and as the first black of Tomorrow programme available at the workshop.
woman to attain her PhD in “Sometimes we don’t have money at
mathematics in South Africa, she used home and we can’t afford things, so I
the platform to motivate. know one day I would like to be
“I spoke about the things that I wish successful in life,” Sotiya said.
for, related to young people. The first is She has hopes of pursuing a career in
that I wish for young women who are journalism.
not ashamed to be ambitious, so I was “I have told my friends that they
trying to make them aware that it’s VALUED Each girl received a should also attend workshops like this,
okay as a woman to be ambitious as “memory bag” filled with gifts to because they have the hunger to learn
long as you work hard. commemorate the day more and to get advice from everyone
“The second wish is that young people here,” Sotiya said.