03 September 2015 Volume :3 Issue :41

It’s My Future Day Empowers Young Women

Staff and learners interact at the Westville campus.

It’s similar to Cell C’s Take a Girl Child to Work initiative but the College of Health Sciences Women in Leadership and Leverage Committee (WILL) project sets a higher precedent by inviting top-performing schoolgirls to the annual It’s My Future Day at UKZN.

This year, youngsters from Arena Park Secondary, Northmead Secondary and Zwelibanzi High School flocked to the Westville campus where they learned that their chances of becoming future health scientists would be boosted if they continued to excel in prerequisite subjects: Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physical Science.

The successful event, the brainchild of WILL, gives participants the rare opportunity to visit the Institution and learn about exciting health sciences programmes. They tour its world-class research centres and laboratories, hear testimonials, and get to rub shoulders with captains of industry affiliated to the University.

The young folk were welcomed by Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor and College Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Sabiha Essack, who highlighted why the College was recognised as a Centre of Excellence in health professional education, research, community programmes, boasting world-class facilities where locally and globally competent graduates were trained.

A career profile assessment of the learners was conducted by Dr Kamilla Rawatlall of the College Student Support Services who also shared mechanisms for coping with the demands of matric, and highlighted common stressors and the importance of making the right career choices.

The learners were encouraged to persevere by guest speaker, Dr Gloria Mfeka, who spoke on what it means to be a 21^st Century Woman.

Young role models, Ms Ziyanda Ndlangisa and Ms Shalom Govender, who study Pharmacy and Medicine respectively, shared moving testimonials about their student life and experience within the College of Health Sciences, also encouraging the learners to realise that their dreams would come true if they committed themselves to studying hard and setting high standards.

The learners toured a variety of health sciences disciplines including the Anatomy Department where they were fascinated by the hands-on teaching and learning taking place in and out of the lecture theatre.

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