Plug into girl power
STEP UP: PROJECTS EMPOWER PUPILS TO CHOOSE CAREERS
Introducing CellCgirl as an interactive, digital and social media platform.
For the past 17 years, Cell C’s Take a Girl Child to Work Day initiative has been a resounding success – and this year the programme introduces an allnew digital support platform and is extended to grade 8 and 9 pupils for the first time.
Take a Girl Child to Work Day is regarded as one of South Africa’s largest collaborative acts of volunteerism having helped more than a million girls.
The value of this programme is to expose girls to paths of career development.
This year’s theme #MoreThanADay puts forward the idea that to help motivate and inspire school-going girls, we all should contribute more than just a 24hour window of our time.
To accomplish this the company haa introduced the CellCgirl as an interactive, digital and social media platform – cellcgirl.co.za.
The platform provides inspiration and support. It provides responsive online support directly to girls and focuses on educational, economic and employment resources and links to bursaries and internships.
It also acts as a forum for advice, CV-creation and career guidance. The portal is zero-rated for Cell C customers. Both male and female pupils will find value in this.
An online version of Take a Girl Child to Work will be available on cellcgirl.co.za to accommodate high school pupils who are unable to attend the programme at a host organisation.
Both male and female pupils can register to make use of the programme. Previously, the initiative was aimed at girls between grade 10 and 12, but this year, Cell C has expanded the programme to include girls in grade 8 and 9.
This is because from grade 8, pupils decide which subjects they will take in grade 10, which will set them on their respective career paths.
We talked to Cell C chief human resources officer Juliet Mhango about her department and the programme.
What is your role at Cell C?
My role is leading people development and transformation at Cell C. My department is responsible for driving transformation within the company, which includes skills development, leadership development, corporate social investment (CSI), organisational culture and all the pillars of broad based economic empowerment (B-BBEE).
What is the aim behind the CellC Take A Girl Child To Work Day?
Cell C Take a Girl Child To Work Day started in 2003 as Cell C’s flagship CSI project, rapidly becoming one of the most important, life-changing days for schoolgirls around the country.
The programme exposes grade 10 to 12 girl pupils to a day in a professional workplace, showcasing career opportunities. Organisations are encouraged to allow pupils to job shadow for a day to explore various careers.
How many girls have been reached?
It has reached over 1.5 million girl pupils since inception in 2003.
Can you give me a brief explanation of what CellCgirl is and what it aims to achieve?
CellCgirl is an interactive platform that connects young women aged 14 to 24 with access to educational, economic and employment resources and opportunities. It complements the Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day and extends its mission to #MoreThanADay.
The platform engages high school girls from the start of their subject selectiion and provides information, resources and guidance they may not have access to. It offers advice on studies, links to bursaries and internships, advice, CV-creation and career guidance.
The overall purpose of the platform is to empower young women to make healthy decisions for their future while encouraging them. to stay in school and equipping them with skills and resources to make navigating through school easier.
What is the future of this initiative?
Aligned to the objectives of the fourth industrial revolution, as an organisation, we have a huge responsibility in the development and transformation of our country in preparation for the digital future and CellCgirl is doing just that. Ensuring our target audience utilises all the relevant resources offered and contributes meaningfully to the economy.
What more about Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day and CellCGirl would you like to make people aware of?
Cell C won the highly coveted Top
Gender Empowered: Corporate Citizenship Award for the third time at the 16th Annual Standard Bank Top Women Awards (2015, 2018 and 2019).
The award recognises the company’s work or gender equality in the three initiatives: Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day, CellCgirl and CellCgirl Bursary Fund.
On October 4, the CellCgirl platform won two gold awards at the New Generational Social Media Awards for Best Community Engagement and Best Integrated Marketing campaign at Monte Casino.
Earlier this year, CellCgirl received a Silver Pixel award at the 11th IAB Bookmarks Awards 2019. The online platform has bagged three awards in total.
– Citizen reporter