Simply magical. This, says Food For Mzansi’s Editor, Dawn Noemdoe, is the only way to describe the first stop in the Agri Career Roadshow reaching up to 10 000 learners over the next four weeks.
Nearly 500 Phuthaditjhaba high school learners attended the career day held at Seotlong Agricultural and Hotel School in the Free State on Monday. On Tuesday VKB, a leading agricultural enterprise, and nine other companies will exhibit at the Reitz High School where 800 learners from six different schools are confirmed to attend.
Jonas Kgotsofetse, a gr. 11 learner from Seotlong, says the career day opened his eyes to the immense study and career opportunities within the agricultural field. “It is a way of life. It dresses us. It gives us food. We live agriculture. Our daily routine is all about agriculture.”
Rodney Ndou, who represents Bayer as a sales representative in the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Lesotho, was also left inspired, describing the VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow as a crucial initiative. “It needs to happen every year. It’s giving exposure to the learners in the agriculture industry and it also opens up their minds and exposes them to different careers that is not only limited to farming.”
The Free State Education Department’s E.P. Nel, who is also the chairperson of SAATA (the South African Agricultural Teaching Association), congratulated the organisers on the bold initiative. The roadshow also stops at Wilgerivier High School in Frankfort on Wednesday and Kroonstad High School in Kroonstad on Thursday.
Benjamin Nhlapo, Seotlong’s agricultural head of department and farm manager, says thanks to the career day his learners are now better equipped for the future. The school, established in 1992, offers specialised agricultural training with learners gaining daily practical experience in egg production, chicken, cattle and sheep farming.
Amongst the exhibitors count the University of the Free State who introduced learners to their academic offering in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Princess Moswakato, a veterinarian at MSD Animal Health, encouraged learners to excel academically to increase their chances of university acceptance.
The Sernick Group was represented by Tebogo Molele and Catherine Khau who shared their love of the land, as well as information on opportunities within the leading group. Also exhibiting is QPRO, NuPro, The Answer Educational Publishers and Food For Mzansi.
- Besides the Free State, the VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow will travel to parts of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Limpopo. For further information, e-mail ivor@foodformzansi.co.za.
EASTERN CAPE
Tuesday, 23 July 2019
10h00 – 11h00 Cookhouse Secondary School, Cookhouse
12h00 – 14h00 Aeroville Secondary School, Somerset East
15h00 – 17h00 Somerset East Youth Center, Somerset East
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
09h00 – 10h00 Pearston Secondary School, Pearston
11h00 – 13h00 Spandau Secondary School, Graaff-Reinet
14h00 – 15h00 Umasizakhe Hall, Graaff-Reinet
16h00 – 18h00 Union High School Hall, Graaff-Reinet
Thursday, 25 July 2019
10h00 – 11h00 Jansenville Secondary School, Jansenville
12h30 – 14h00 Carel du Toit Secondary School, Steytlerville
15h30 – 17h30 Willowmore Secondary School, Willowmore
WESTERN CAPE
Monday, 29 July 2019
Bernadino Heights High School, Kraaifontein
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Hoër Landbouskool Paarl, Paarl
Wednesday, 31 July 2019
Bastiaanse Secondary School, Beaufort West
LIMPOPO
Tuesday, 6 Augustus 2019
Settlers High School, Settlers
Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Merensky High School, Tzaneen
