To Work Seminar in Soweto
22 May 2006
Take a Girl Child to Work Day has become South Africaâs most widely
supported act of volunteerism and has already influenced the lives and careers
of thousands of girl learners. The theme of this yearâs Cell-C national
campaign on Take a Girl Child to Work is titled âSelf Esteem.â This theme was
strategically chosen to coincide with the marking of the 50th anniversary of
the famous womenâs march against the pass laws. This offers us a further
opportunity to positively influence the women leaders of tomorrow.
The gender and women empowerment unit of the Department of Trade and
Industry (the dti) is organising an exclusive Girls Debate Seminar on âCreating
Relevant Entrepreneurial Opportunities for SA Girls.â More than 200 grade 12
female learners from 10 selected schools around Soweto will attend the event.
The majority are girlsâ schools, as well as those headed by female school
principals.
The seminar will be held at the Walter Sisulu Memorial Centre, Soweto on 25
May 2006 from 12h00 to 14h00. The media is invited to attend.
The main objective of the event is to initiate a dialogue with Soweto girls
on possible ideas that can be adopted later by the dti as part of engaging and
supporting young girls in starting their small-scale enterprises. A number of
10 girls identified by the schools will be assisted to prepare a winning idea
on an entrepreneurial project that could be adopted by the dti as part of
growing and or encouraging women entrepreneurship amongst girls.
The ideas will be presented in a form of an essay as part of encouraging
both writing and presentation skills amongst girls. The presentation will be
delivered in 15 minutes. A panel of five judges made up of women in business
will then choose three winning ideas. Deputy Minister Thabethe will award a
prize to each of the winners.
As they say in Zulu, âligotshwa lisemanzi.â Girls are the future.
Contact:
B Lukhele
Media Relations
Tel. (012) 394-1643
Fax: (012) 394-2643
Cell: 083 291 8689
E-mail: blukhele@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
22 May 2006
