ITWeb (Johannesburg)
Rodney Weidemann
17 March 2005
Johannesburg — Mobile operator Cell C has launched its third annual Take a Girl Child to Work Day campaign, and aims this year to achieve participation figures of around 200 000 girl learners countrywide.
Having invested more than R20 million in the campaign - which highlights the importance of broadening the participation of women in the country's economy - since its inception, Cell C is seeking a significant increase in numbers for this year's event, which takes place on 26 May.
The aim of the project is to provide female learners in grades 10, 11 and 12 with the type of workplace experiences that broaden their career thinking and highlight the important role women have to play in South African society.
"Cell C's success is inseparable with the sustainability of the communities around us, and women have a key role to play in strengthening the socio-economic fabric of society," says Talaat Laham, the company's chairman and CEO.
He says statistics show that more than half the population of the country is female, but less than a third contributes to the economy at present.
"One can only imagine what our economic growth could be if young women were encouraged and enabled to be as economically active as their male counterparts."
The operator claims that based on current enrolment figures, 300 corporate groups are expected to become involved in the 2005 campaign, and that having achieved a figure of around 150 000 participants last year, the operator hopes to see this increased to 200 000 this year.
Laham says the theme this year is entrepreneurship, so it will be all about encouraging girl learners to consider becoming creators of wealth and job opportunities. Cell C has set a target of creating 10 girl entrepreneurs who will run real businesses following this year's programme.
The company is also publishing 50 000 booklets on "Starting Your Own Business" for participants, as well as for boys in Grade 12, as a way of extending the benefits of the day to the learners remaining in the classroom.
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