Girls at work

Light up: Khathala Majija was one of 30 young women from COSAT who spent time at UCT on 8 August, part of the university's Take a Girl Child to Work Day event.

UCT kicked-off National Women's Month by joining the Take a Girl Child to Work Day (TGCWD) initiative and hosting 30 Grade-10 girls from the Centre of Science & Technology (COSAT) school in Khayelitsha.

The TGCWD is an annual corporate social investment event to help young women reflect on their roles in society and prepare them for the world of work.

At UCT the learners enjoyed a campus tour, spent time in the botany and chemical engineering labs, and attended talks on careers. They also learnt about UCT's recruitment process and financial aid programme. Welcoming the learners, Gerda Kruger, executive director for communication and marketing, said higher education is the most effective single intervention in the fight against poverty.

Deputy registrar Dr Karen van Heerden said the event also highlighted a milestone: 125 years of women on campus. A lot has changed at the university over the years, she noted, except that women have always been vocal and involved in issues affecting society.

Van Heerden encouraged the young women to become pioneers, look after their bodies, find nurturing relationships, and recognise their potential.

"The road will never be smooth. Don't be put off by constraints, but constantly work around them."