Text by Yaya Mavundla
It is Saturday the 22nd of July 2017, Constitution Hill and Koketso Rathumbu hosted a group of LGBTI individuals from townships and the surroundings of Gauteng to change stereotypes of LGBTI people & careers, expose them to individuals who will inspire and help them to make right career choices.
The expo featured different speakers from different organizations and so on. Some of the speakers at the event were, Nolubabalo Memese from Constitution Hill who gave a presentation on Bill of Rights. Immediately she was followed by the founder of Four
Fellows, who is an entrepreneur, blogger and communications strategists who advised attendees why it is to be an entrepreneur and good career choice, who can be an entrepreneur and how does it really work.
Koketso addressing youth at the career workshop. Photos by Lizzy Muholi (22/07/2017).
Most of the youth in attendance really didn’t seem interested. There was a lot of destruction during the workshop which really affected the presentations. Those who were supposed to be attentive workshop participants which probably cost a lot of money and time to organise were making noise and basically doing their own things showing no interest at all. With that behaviour, the organiser, Koketso Rathumbu who also happened to be the programme director asked if should we call it a day because people were very unruly. Showing no respect to the presenters.
Luckily the workshop carried on with presenters from DHET – HEAIDS, Foundation for Professional Development GALA, Umrebo, Afro Designs, Gr8ter, Anova, SAAYC to name a few and Sunday Sun which was represented by Doreen Molefe & Lerato Matsoso. Lerato shared a very inspiring story about how she followed her dreams to be a journalist even though her family was against it. Today she is an entertainment editor for both Sunday Sun & Sunday World, and her father is super proud. Even when her first article was published her dad framed it at their home.
The last speaker, Nozipho Makhado from the Department of Economic Development invited 50 LGBTI individuals to participate in a script writing workshop to take place in Hammaskraal. Those who have interest in the field can be contact her on e-mail at nozipho.makhado@gauteng.gov.za . She also extended the invitation to all LGBTI individuals to come showcase their work at the Gauteng Carnival on the 24th of September 2017.
The workshop happened and a lot information was shared and for those who were there to learn definitely gained something, and those who were there to pass time really wasted resources meant for the needy youth.
