Take a Girl Child to Work Day is an annual corporate social investment event, held in South Africa since 2003. Companies involved organise for female learners (school pupils), usually from disadvantaged backgrounds, to spend the day at their place of work on the last Thursday of May. The initiative is organised by Cell C, a cellular service provider, and endorsed by the South African Department of Education.[1] It has been called South Africa's "largest collaborative act of volunteerism".[2]
Being responsive to a changing environment, evolution and reinvention are critical to staying relevant; and tackling emergent new challenges and opportunities.
Cell C had the pleasure and privilege of launching Take a Girl Child to Work Day programme over 20 years ago, a revolutionary initiative to empower the girl-child by affirming to her that her dreams are valid and possible - by exposing her to an array of careers beyond the limitations of the commonly known professions.
With the partnership and participation of like-minded organisations, we have seen how this programme positively impacted girls. This is a proud legacy that we share in with these organisations.
However, since launch, society has changed tremendously and so have the needs of girls and young people in general. Against the stark backdrop of extremely high unemployment, child-headed households, a mental wellness deficit, teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence (GBV), a rise in the school drop-out rate particularly amongst boys, and many other social challenges; so much so that the benefits of a career's day for girls are diluted by what they have to contend with in the broader environment in which they live.
We need to bridge the gender divide by viewing gender equality within the context of a broader youth development ecosystem that addresses issues beyond only a career consideration.
We have been hard at work calibrating a programme that is inclusive of all youth and encompassing the broader issues that plague youth today. This revised programme looks at not only career guidance and development but the entire ecosystem - entrepreneurship, mentorship, guiding self-mastery and awareness, building emotional intelligence, toxic masculinity, teaching critical skills, e.g. financial literacy and tech skills, to name a few of the focus areas. And just as importantly, takes the boy-child along.
Empowering youth to change their world -
Cell C as part of the re-evolution, launched SEE YOUTH powered by Cell C – an all-inclusive and holistic youth development programme.
The programme aims to bridge the gender gap and empower the youth to become the best versions of themselves and ultimately begin to change their worlds
SEE YOUTH powered by Cell C is to serve as a guide for young people to navigate life and usher them into adulthood with access to resources that contribute to the different aspects of their lives such as social relations, learning, entrepreneurship and wellness, which consists of physical, emotional and mental health.