In May, we hosted our 2nd annual Career Day, welcoming over 80 high school kids from Grade 8 to 12. This wasn’t just another school outing – it was a pivotal moment in many of these young lives. With hearts full of hope and heads full of dreams, they came to the day with the hope of becoming future doctors, surgeons, engineers and lawyers. But the reality is that they come from communities where their path to these professions is uncertain and, sadly, often unattainable.
Rooted in real-world opportunities
Rather than discouraging those dreams, our goal was to broaden their horizons — to expose them to a wide range of possible professions that are more practical and achievable. One doesn’t want to discourage the dreamers and their dreams but one does want to set them on an attainable path to success, and introduce these hopeful young people to a world of careers that are both inspiring and attainable.
With the support of 30+ professionals who volunteered their time and stories, we offered the kids insight into fields such as healthcare, trade, IT, design, education, business, social work, and more. Each speaker shared not only insights into their profession, but also revealed the path they took to get there – the ups, the downs, and the unexpected turns.
Support beyond the dream
We were also delighted to welcome representatives from the Department of Education and Higher Education, who shared vital information about vocational training, university applications, and the ‘Second Chance’ program, which helps young people upgrade their matric results. These are practical, hopeful steps for students who may otherwise feel lost between dream and reality.
Bearing fruit through growth
What made the day truly meaningful was watching these young people leave not only more informed, but more confident – with newfound clarity about what is possible and how to take the next step. Echoing the words of Colossians 1:10, our prayer is that they will “live a life worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” May their dreams take root, and may they grow with wisdom, faith, and purpose.
