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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay Municipality launched a first-of-its-kind initiative to employ 11 students from the greater Mossel Bay area to undergo training in various municipal departments under the guidance of assigned mentors, who are all municipal officials.
These students all initially applied for placements through the Premier Advancement of Youth (PAY) Project but were instead placed in the Mayoral Advancement of Youth Programme (MAY), a first of its kind in the Western Cape.
Mossel Bay's executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal, said he was impressed with the feedback he received from the interns, and was proud of the manner in which they had excelled at the opportunities they were given.
The young people were placed for year-long training in various municipal directorates that would complement their career ideas and choices.
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They will also be schooled in a work-readiness programme; an introduction to office and project management; as well as an introduction to written communication, public speaking and IT training. They will have the opportunity to obtain their learner's and driver's licences.
The aim is to produce well-rounded individuals ready for the business environment, to give them exposure to gain work experience and to equip them to make better and informed life choices after the year-long internship.
Guest speaker Kurt Baker, a man known for his passion and commitment to helping the less fortunate, told the interns a keen belief in himself and his own abilities managed to keep him afloat at times when he faced difficulties.
"I believe in family, and in the manner in which they keep me grounded. Self discipline and a keen sense of responsibility have helped me in my work environment even when away from home, I know that the family values I've learnt at home are paying off dearly."
He warned the young people to remain singularly focused on what they wanted to achieve with their lives, and to always remain humble.
"Remember your roots, strive for perfection and always know that nothing in life simply falls in your lap. Work hard, cherish the experience you are gaining, and remember your dreams," was Kurt's advice to the young people.
The youth and key role players.
The municipal manager reminded the young people to update their curriculum vitaes with the experience they gained, and to actively work towards marketing themselves to future employers.
"When you finally leave, I would want to see you using the knowledge, skills and experience you have gained on this programme.
"I commend the mentors for the extra time and effort they have invested in the programme and in the lives of the young interns, and I congratulate the young people for chasing their dreams," the municipal manager, who among other insisted that the young people obtain their driver's licences, said.
The students started their programme on 3 July.
This week they met the mayor, municipal manager and a panel of mentors for a feedback session to evaluate their growth and experience in the workplace/municipal environment.
The interns spoke highly of the valuable work experience. It was evident that they were not made to be glorified assistants, but were afforded the opportunities to be hands-on in the workplace, and that they developed a keen sense of the work ethics the Mossel Bay Municipality has become known for.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER NEWS EDITOR
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