Job shadow day at Silverstar Casino on 28 August was met with great enthusiasm by the 120 Grade 11 learners from three Kagiso high schools who were hosted at the property, as well as the 76 staff members who contributed to the youngsters’ understanding of different job requirements.
This is the third year that Silverstar has hosted the learners in an initiative that is part of a broader Career Development programme sponsored by Silverstar in the three secondary schools – Thathulwazi, Mandisa Shiceka, and Mosupatsela. The programme provides hands-on career guidance and lifeskills for grades 9 to 12 learners and aims to ensure that their future choices are influenced by sound knowledge of opportunities suited to their personal interests and abilities.
This Grade 11 group was introduced to the Career Development programme in Grade 9. These learners have been through the various stages that included an online evaluation exercise and an individualistic portfolio that illustrates their individual interests, aptitudes and highlight suitable career opportunities that then guide subject choices. In Grade 10, learners attended workshops and Professionals Day with Gold Reef City staff volunteers. Grade 11 activities include the Job Shadow Day and workshops on life skills, tertiary education options, and job-readiness training, which will intensify in matric.
Anneke Potgieter, Silverstar’s Operations Director and Complex GM, says, “The Grade 11 learners who visited Silverstar were enthusiastic participants in all the job shadow activities and reported that the experience had given them a far better understanding of the work environment and expectations than they had previously had, and our participating staff once again embraced this opportunity to share their insight and learnings to young people preparing to embark on their post-school journeys.” Potgieter adds that involvement in the local community is a vital part of the property’s caring CSI initiatives, which focuses primarily on learners and their education.
At the Job shadow day, the learners were given an overview of the company and the code of conduct, introduced to the staff volunteer mentors, and then divided into groups to spend time with the staff in different departments where they were given the opportunity to try their hand at different tasks. Participating departments included Marketing, Maintenance, Slots, Tables, Human Resources, Hotels, Cash Desk, Information Technology, Security, Nakisani, VIP Services, Surveillance, Clinic, Food & Beverage.
Xolisani Mbaba from Mandisa Shiceka Secondary who job shadowed at the Tables department, says, “This experience was very relevant and inspiring. I learned that I could be trained in Gaming and make a career out of it, which is awesome to know.”
Tumi Selula, Unit Manager Clinic at Silverstar says, “It is crucial to provide a booklet that outlines the careers at Silverstar to the learners so that they can consider options in their own time. We need to continue supporting the learners with job shadowing as it contributes to their decision-making about their futures.”
Also part of the Silverstar Career Development programme is Professionals day, which will take place in October for 1 315 Grade 10 learners from the three high schools, up from 329 in 2017 and 974 in 2018 based on the feedback and success of the day. Silverstar volunteers from a range of departments will visit the schools, spend time with the learners, and share their life stories and experiences, including their subject choices, studies, landing their jobs, work life, and their future aspirations.
Shanda Paine, Tsogo Sun’s CSI Manager, says the Silverstar programme is part of the group’s far-reaching and education-focused CSI initiative. “We believe that making a difference in young people’s lives and equipping them for a successful future is essential to reduce our high unemployment rates. Both the Professionals day and the Job shadowing day are an important part of the Career Development programme and they highlight what the work environment entails to learners who have not been exposed to it.”
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