Communications | Binti Shupavu | Career Guidance | 3rd October 2023
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“I am so happy and lucky to be part of the Binti Shupavu program. Without it, I wouldn’t have known the difference between a job, work, passion and career, and knowing the differences have helped me better understand my career goals.” Sakila, one of Binti Year 4 Scholar from Kifaru Secondary that attended the Career Guidance session.
Once a year, Form 4 Binti Shupavu Scholars get a chance to attend a special event that aims to advise and inspire them on the possibilities of their future careers. The Career Guidance sessions are designed to help Scholars make informed choices on the career paths they hope to pursue, in alignment with the current demands of the job market. Career Guidance also aims to help year 4 scholars understand which subjects to take as they move into their Higher Secondary Education (Advanced Level Education), based on their chosen career paths.
For many scholars, their career journey will be largely determined by their Form 4 performance and the combination of subjects they decide to pursue for their Advanced Level Education.In order to give our Scholars the best information possible, we invited external facilitators from various backgrounds, especially those working as lecturers or career facilitators. These professionals gave insightful testimonies on career progression, answered questions on the requirements of various career paths, and provided clarification on some of the myths created by society, such as the idea that the only successful career paths are those of doctors, engineers and teachers.
Career Guidance for Year 4 Binti Scholars was a life changing session. It has given hope to those that were on the verge of giving up their goals, due to incorrect information and discouragement they received previously, and now that the girls feel they are on the right track, it has paved the way for their success.
Mary, a Year 4 scholar who attended the Career Guidance session, said, “I want to be a pilot, I want one day to fly an airplane. But many people have been discouraging me, telling me that I can’t be a pilot, that if I do succeed it will take me a lot of years and money to reach my goal. Now I know what it requires to be a pilot, and I will make it.” As a result of the Career Session, Mary’s hopes of one day taking to the skies were renewed.
Naishiye, another Year 4 Career Guidance session attendee, now understands what subjects she should take for her Higher Secondary Level Education and how hard she should study to make her dream come true. She said, “I have been in Binti Shupavu classes for four years, learning the importance of having vision in life and how to overcome challenges and obstacles that hinder our success. Now I have come to learn what subject combination I should take to reach my career goals. I have learned that, if I don’t perform well in studies and get good marks it can mean I won’t get the combination I need, so I will study hard.”
It is so encouraging to see young girls with great goals and visions for their future become informed on how to reach their aims, while still living in the present. As part of the session, students were introduced to a test known as “Riasec”, which helped them explore their interests and get an understanding of which career paths might be a good fit.
It was exciting to see them make the connection between what they enjoy doing and their potential career. The facilitators also emphasized studying hard in order to pass their final exams, as good results will help them to choose great schools, colleges and universities, which in turn will enable them to pursue a career based on their passions and academic gifts.
“I wanted to be a teacher because my mother is a teacher,” says Nailejileji, a scholar from Kifaru Secondary. “Now I have changed my mind, as being a teacher was never my passion. Imagine, without this session I could have been a regretful teacher in the future. I am coming to the conclusion that I want to be a lawyer, as my passion is to stand for the truth and make sure that people get their rights.”
Suzan Peter, one of our Mentors,commented on the enthusiasm she saw amongst her Scholars: “I saw how the students were excited to know where they are going and I saw how active they were in the session because of the facilitator’s methods of delivery, including ice breakers and question-and-answer activities that caught students’ attention. Students were able to understand the benefits of both attending Advanced Level studies and colleges/Universities. Career Guidance is an eye opening session, I believe the scholars came away transformed.”
Elisante Ephraim, one of the career guidance facilitators, was moved by the commitment of the Mentors to their Scholars: “I facilitated four sessions with the help of wonderful GLAMI Mentors, who I could see are passionate about ensuring that the girls have appropriate and channeled careers. The future of these young girls belongs to them. This introductory session is an assurance that they have got shoulders to lean on and we will no doubt watch these young girls grow and glow to work for the benefit of the nation.”
Career guidance is a critical part of the education journey, and GLAMI is proud to be able to provide information and assistance to Scholars, so that they can be the architects (or doctors, pilots, lawyers, etc!) of their own destiny.
