City Parks' managing director Luther Williamson addresses the group from Sebetsa High School

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Learners from Sebetsa High School take part in the Take a Girl Child to Work campaign

City Parks takes girl children to work Johannesburg's City Parks played host to a number of schoolgirls from Sebetsa High School in Dobsonville on Thursday, as part of the Take a Girl Child to Work campaign. May 26, 2006 By Shamin Chibba The Take a Girl Child to Work campaign began four years ago with the aim to expose girls to different careers and help them reach their full potential. The initiative has gone from strength to strength, with many private and public sector entities taking part - including Johannesburg's City Parks. On Thursday, 25 May a number schoolgirls from Sebetsa High School in Dobsonville spent the day at City Parks' head office. City Parks' managing director Luther Williamson told the girls of the importance of life skills and discipline, and that learning is a never-ending process. "We want to guide their careers at an early age, want them to do something they are passionate about," he said. "A lot of females are, historically, directed towards HR and finance fields, taking those jobs because that's the only alternative they have." Remembering the past: schoolgirls from Sebetsa High School learn about the 1956 Women's March The girls were taken to work in various departments, including finance, where the budget is drawn up, and operations, which designs parks. "These kids get exposed to a number of environmental aspects," Williamson said. "They need to understand the importance of sustaining the environment. They are [then able] to communicate that message to at least 250 people. "In the future we want to visit these kids again, we want to track where they will land up." After visiting City Parks, the girls were taken to the Metro Centre to listen to Joburg councillors debating the budget with Executive Mayor Amos Masondo. They then reported back on their experience and were awarded certificates of attendance. Speaking at the Metro Centre was Sophie Williams de Bruyn, a former activist who participated in the Women's March to the Union in 1956. "Here you are sitting, free girls," she said. "We are depending on you as young girls to take this country forward, to carry our roles in the true culture of ubuntu." She encouraged the girls to develop the same qualities as the women who took part in the march - dedication, commitment and sincerity - and to work to change the culture of dishonesty in the country. "A very important trait is respect," she said. "The women those days had respect for people around them and respect for their leaders. What do we have today? No respect. "You can take that negative aspect and learn from it. Nothing is impossible when you reach for the sky." Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za