Camdeboo National Park outside Graaff-Reinet hosted nine girls from three high schools in the town to participate in its “Take a girl child to work” event last week. The Grade 11 learners spent the day in the Park learning about careers within South African National Parks (SANParks).
This year marked the 11th year of Cell C’s Take a Girl Child to Work Day annual campaign, under the theme “empower a girl, empower a nation”. The day is targeted at Grade 10 to 12 learners, giving them the opportunity to visit a place of work and to experience first-hand, the “world of work” and various career opportunities available in industry and within the public service sectors.
The girls, from Union High, Hoër Volkskool and Nqweba Secondary School, started off their day last Tuesday with a short talk by the Park’s different department heads on what their duties are, what jobs can be found within their respective departments and what requirements are needed in those positions.
Thereafter they were taken out into the 19 000 hectare Park to experience it first-hand. This included a visit to the Nqweba camp site, Lakeview tented camp, game viewing area and the world-famous Valley of Desolation, before returning back to their schools.
SANParks hopes the visit will encourage the girls to think about a career in nature conservation and tourism and share what they learned with their classmates who might also be considering careers in these directions.
