ONE of South Africa’s biggest career fairs, the Working World Exhibition, will celebrate its historic 20th edition when it takes place from February 26 to 28 at the Feather Market Centre.
The expo – which features around 80 exhibitors from across the country – will reach up to 15 000 Grade 12s in the Class of 2019 and unemployed youth in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro and surrounding areas.
Inkanyezi Events’ project director, Wellington Jansen, said the milestone 20th event would be hosted with the support of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), the Coega Development Corporation, Kingfisher FM, Media24, Vodacom, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Magnetic Storm and The Eastern Cape Department of Education.
He said the 20th expo would be packed with free career guidance resources for the Class of 2019 and youths already out of school but searching for study and job guidance.
“Running alongside the exhibition itself, an eye-opening DVD on ‘Careers of The Future and skills in the fourth industrial revolution’, sponsored by the Coega Development Corporation, is a highlight,” said Jansen.
Other free resources include career guidance workbooks, approved by the Department of Education for use in the Grade 12 life orientation syllabus, a young leaders/prefects seminar and onsite career guidance counselling provided by the Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
Jansen said the Working World Expo was the first community project undertaken by Inkanyezi Event Organisers in 1998.
“Over the last 20 years, we have interacted with several hundred thousand school-leavers, received an award from the provincial government for our contribution to job creation and from the visitor feedback we receive, have made a serious contribution to (at least) one of our country’s most challenging issues.’’
“Quality career guidance is a luxury for many schools and sadly so, because the lack of it only contributes to joblessness and our country’s socio-economic ailments,’’ Jansen said.
Jansen said organised school groups and individual visitors would have the opportunity to speak to leading employers and educational institutions. These include the NMBM and all its directorates, VW, Coega, Vodacom, Woodlands Dairy, PWC, FNB, ABSA and the SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement.
Educational exhibitors include NMU, Rhodes University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Inscape Education Group, Damelin, MSC College, Exercise Teachers Academy (eta) PE TVET College, Boston City Campus and Business College, Belgium Campus ITversity, Pearson Institute of Higher Education, Overseas Visitors Club (OVC) and EC Midlands College.
The event is free to all visitors between 09:00 and 15:00 from Tuesday to Thursday.
“Career guidance resources are essential to curb youth unemployment which is a serious concern in South Africa,” Jansen said.
“Career planning is even more critical as the market place is demanding more sophisticated skills that are aligned with the fourth industrial revolution, which is changing the shape of the job market.”
“The expo and its free resources are all about equipping our school-leavers and unemployed youth with insight and opportunity to find meaningful work. And it would not be possible without partnering organisations like The Coega Development Corporation, The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the NMBM, Media24 and Kingfisher FM, who deeply understand this and have joined us and the Department of Education in making a tangible contribution through the expo.’’
For more information about the Working World Expo view www.workingworldexpo.co.za.
