In a spirited back-and-forth exchange of opinions and views between learners and guest speakers, learners from various Nelson Mandela Bay high schools attended a workshop geared at preparing and educating them on the options available post-matric.
The workshop, organised by Brown’s PR in partnership with Vodacom, saw Hellenic Hall play host to ten Grade 11 learners from Andrew Rabie High School, Booysen Park Secondary School, Chatty Senior Secondary School, Cillie High School, Douglas Mbopa High School, Ethembeni High School, Hillside High School, Otto du Plessis High School, Newell High School, Paterson High School, Westville Secondary School, and Woolhope Secondary School.
“Grade 11 is the time they start to think about what they are going to do after school. So, I thought, let’s get them while they are still thinking of their post-matric plans,” said Michelle Brown. “The goal here is to see these 10 boys go back to their schools and pay it forward to the other Grade 11 learners, and share the experience they’ve had here with the rest of the school.”
The guest speakers had perspectives that grabbed the attention of the learners. From Clayton Goezaar, the owner of Gentle Touch, sharing the story of how he turned his life around, to Natasha Moodley, an FNB representative teaching them about financial literacy, learners engaged with speakers and had insightful questions about the topics.
Goezaar, from Gelvandale, shared the story of how his father, who lived a tumultuous life, affected him. From his father getting shot near his home, he told himself that he would aim to make better choices for his future, with the help of his mother, who introduced him to Christianity.
“I always wanted to be a businessman because my father was a businessman. However, he was one in the wrong way. I wanted to be one in the right way,” Goezaar said.
In his speech, he used playful words to explain his circumstances, saying, “I got my first PhD in high school because I passed high school with difficulties”. In his exploits of selling fudge, he tweaked his recipe by adding cannabis to the fudge which earned him a bit more money, which in hindsight was not sustainable. He shared that his mother reported him to the police for doing it.
“I am so grateful for what my mother did, because had she not I most probably would have been a drug dealer or worse, killed. So, I am glad she did what she did,” he said.
He told the learners never to give up on their dreams because they think it is too late.
He worked at a media company, then before COVID-19, he had a plan of starting a car wash company, which was affected by lockdown regulations. Post-lockdown, he opened his car wash, amid negative comments from his peers. He went from having few to no cars, to having approximately 600 cars a month after improving his car wash.
“Wherever you find yourself, don’t think you are not good enough. You won’t know how good you are unless you try,” he said.
Another speaker, Natasha Moodley, who is an FNB representative, shared her knowledge of the importance of saving money and being financially literate.
“It is very important to save money, although it is difficult. Budgeting helps you be in control of your money,” said Moodley. “You should have a clear view of what you are spending your money on, so at the end of the month you know exactly where your money went.”
She then informed the learners about online transactions.
“Do not enter your card details on everything on the internet. Make sure you activate a virtual card on the banking app, so you don’t lose your money.”
She also shared her knowledge on the benefits of buying shares and investing, which had the learners on the edge of their seats. Other speakers at the event were Atlas Security who spoke about personal safety and Xola Speelman on the dos and don’ts of social media .
