Atlas Copco recently invited Lethukuthula Secondary School students, to share sound advice on career planning.

In acknowledgment of the importance of empowering young women by exposing them to the working environment and future career options, Atlas Copco South Africa recently invited 24 Grade 11 and 12 learners from Lethukuthula Secondary School, situated in Katlehong, Gauteng, to share sound advice and career planning.

“This was the perfect platform to expose young ladies to a technical work environment and also to give them options for their future careers,” says Kgothatso Ntsie, Corporate Communications Manager for Atlas Copco South Africa, who explains that this year was a bit different from what they normally do. “We decided to give the girls entrepreneurship guidance because not all of them are fortunate enough to have tertiary education opportunities. Job shadowing was not included in the agenda this year but we invited women role models who are in the technical field at Atlas Copco to address the young ladies.”

Sharon Seleke, Atlas Copco apprentice, also shared her career experiences with the girls and also gave them a lot of encouragement for their future. Explaining why this event is such a great initiative for the girls, Seleke said, “I was never given this opportunity so you should appreciate and embrace this day because it allows you to see what you want to do with your lives.”

“The success of the day left us in no doubt that we will continue to support this excellent drive,” says Ntsie. “It presents us with such a brilliant opportunity to communicate the many different career opportunities that Atlas Copco, as a global industrial group, has to offer and that it truly is one of the best companies to work for.”

“For us it is a win-win situation because not only do we have the opportunity to impart vital career information to the girls, it also opens the doors for us to potential future employees,” adds Ntsie.

Equipment Africa says: With the acute shortage of technical skills in South Africa, and Africa as a whole, it is a great idea to expose young scholars to technical working environments. This definitely influences their career paths, and surely there is need to channel more of these young pupils towards technical careers. Atlas Copco is planting the seeds for the future skills it needs.