Engineering industry, also for women
As part of Cell C’s annual "Take a girl child to work" initiative, DCD Rolling Stock invited some learners in the surrounding areas on Thursday, May 29, to see what the company does.
ischke@caxton.co.za
DCD is an international manufacturing and engineering company providing products and solutions to the rail, defence, mining and energy, and marine sectors.
According to DCD PRO and brand coordinator, Natacha Templeman, DCD started with hosting only twenty girls in the first year; last year they hosted 70, and this year the company hosted 100 girls, of which 20 were visiting the Boksburg DCD unit.
The “Take a girl child to work” initiative is targeted at girls from Grades 10 to 12, and gives them the chance to visit places of work where the girls can experience various career opportunities.
According to Boksburg DCD HR manager, Anli van den Berg, more women are needed in the engineering industry.
The campaign also celebrated its twelfth anniversary with a “Dream. Believe. Achieve” theme, which aims to inspire girl-learners that they have the power to dream their greatest dream and make it real.
The theme further embeds that through believing in their dreams, girl learners have the power to inspire, influence and lead.
“If you don’t do anything to make your dream come true, your dream is empty. You must believe in yourself and make your dream a reality,” says van den Berg.
Ten Oos-Rand Secondary School girls from Grade 11 and 12, respectively, were given a tour through the Boksburg DCD unit.
A whole programme was drafted, and this year the girls had the opportunity to be taken on a tour through specific departments they show interest in.
This gave them the feel of day-to-day business at the company and a more realistic experience.
Instead of only giving the girls the opportunity of observing what DCD does, the company also did a career development plan with them.
“With the Cell C initiative, we at DCD aim to open a platform for girls and show them that they’re not only cut out for PA or office jobs.”
According to one of the girls who visited DCD, Phadishi Phaleng, they’ve learnt a lot of things they didn’t know.
“This opportunity is totally great. I wish more learners were able to come.”
Another girl, Timoné Smith, added that on their visit at DCD, they’ve gained valuable knowledge.
“It is very educative and fun. DCD has opened up my eyes to many things. There are too little females in this industry,” says Smith.
Based on what Phaleng and Smith experienced, they’re now considering changing the field of study.
Phaleng first wanted to study civil engineering, but now considers a stab at mechanical engineering. Smith initially wanted to study geo-engineering, but might change her field of study to civil engineering.
Van den Berg says that DCD does have bursary and internship schemes available which students can apply for.
“A lot of children from this school don’t have the opportunity to further their studies due to financial disadvantage, so we are here to help.” – @IschkeBoksburg
