Success in Colour, an NPO that helps learners with career guidance and university applications, visited Fairmount Secondary School matriculants in Parkwood on Saturday 19 November.
Jason Seekoei, Director for the NPO, said he and co-founder Adele Valentyn, who met through a University of Cape Town (UCT) Saturday programme while in matric, realised that most learners were not aware of opportunities available to them.
“As we were going through matric we realised there wasn’t a lot of opportunities. And it wasn’t because there weren’t any opportunities but instead no-one was telling us about the opportunities.”
Valentyn, who had a bursary, went on to study Accounting at UCT, while Seekoei went to Damelin College.
“I didn’t get a bursary and did not get into UCT, but I went the College route. Luckily my father saved up money since I was two-years-old.
“So, I had two years of funds ready for me and the third year was a bit of a struggle but we got through. And through those experiences we saw there was such a massive gap, no-one is telling you about college fees, no-one tells you about requirements or a bursary programme from government.
“No-one is showing you possible careers and there’s no invitations from businesses to come job shadow.
“We thought let’s do something that is tangible, simple and can have an impact. So, we do a consultation with the student and do an application with you, click for click. We do the whole application with you.”
Valentyn says they discovered that young people did not know how complete a university application form.
“A couple of years ago my sister was in matric and she had 20 friends and they did not know how to apply. So, I thought that’s so easy. The year before I read in the news that there were 50 000 university applications that were incomplete and to me that was 50 000 households that were not uplifted through funding.
“The application process can be so daunting for those who don’t know it. There are many in our households who never studied further so they actually don’t know how to apply. So, we started an organisation and thought the best way to do something about it.”
The programme includes introducing learners to industry professionals, allowing them to ask questions to find out as much as they can about a chosen career and giving them an opportunity to do job shadowing.
Alricia Crouw (17), who attended the career guidance session, said she wants to be a photographer.
“I love camera work and always loved it, I didn’t really know I wanted to be a photographer but this one night I took a picture of my friend and she said I have to go into photography.
“I got into our film makers club at school and I was taught how to use the camera and how to take videos, that’s how I learned more about it. Now I’m just at the learning phase.”
Crouw says if other matriculants don’t know what they want to study after school, they will realise what to do at the right time.
“They mustn’t realise it too late though. They must think about it, I know I change my mind a lot so I am still unsure but know I want to do photography.”
Zeta Jordaan (17), a matriculant, said she wants to be a social worker but is not sure how to go about it.
“This opened some boxes in my mind and it made me aware that I need to open my eyes before its too late, especially where we need to realise our future is right here.”
