Limpopo girl learners to dine with Deputy Minister Thabethe
Thirty girl learners from three Limpopo schools will get an opportunity to dine with and be inspired by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, when she hosts them for lunch in Polokwane this week.
The luncheon will take place at the Polokwane Royal Hotel on Friday, 21 February 2014. Learners who will be Deputy Minister Thabethe’s guests will be from John Mbhedhle Secondary School, from Xihosana Village; Photani High School from Malamulele and Rhabela Secondary School from Nhombelani Village.
The luncheon is part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) Techno-girls Programme. The main aim of the programme is to introduce young girls to study opportunities and the multitudes of career opportunities that exist in various sectors of the economy they can pursue. It is also aimed at empowering girl learners through technology and entrepreneurship.
The girl learners from the three schools impressed Deputy Minister Thabethe with their determination, enthusiasm, communication and presentation skills, as well as their entrepreneurship potential during the Techno-girls Entrepreneurship Workshop hosted by the dti in Tzaneen last year. They all finished in the top four out of ten schools which participated in a competition testing their entrepreneurial skills.
“I’m really looking forward to spending time and sharing ideas with the girls from Limpopo. It will be interesting to learn how the workshop has influenced them positively in regard to their career choices and if they are implementing the good business ideas they presented at the workshop,” said Deputy Minster Thabethe.
She added that South Africa needed more women entrepreneurs and business women and it was vital to nurture them while they are young.
“One of our objectives as a department is to make sure that more women participate meaningfully in the country’s economy and not scramble on the periphery. We believe that empowering the girl learners will go a long way in achieving these objectives. It will also ensure that girls are inspired and influenced positively to make correct career decisions and go on to be successful business women and responsible citizens who contribute positively to the country’s social and economic growth,” said Thabethe.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
