by Hugh C.n. Miller | Jul 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
The third in the series of blogs from Ariellah, CEO of ORT SA. Watch out for the series of Career Guidance talks coming soon to the ORT SA Academy:
If you knew that you could do whatever your mind is set to do, what would you be doing?
Include this question when pursuing your career choice. Reflect on it and use it in discussions with family and friends. Choose people who will listen to you in a non-judgmental way and with constructive feedback.
When we finish school and are faced with a career decision, we are also under pressure to choose a certain path, from parents or our social circle. Usually, the advice is towards the familiar and conventional job career choices; becoming a lawyer, doctor, accountant…all to secure your future and financial stability.
The question is what future are we securing? Numerous articles and research discuss the unknown with the jobs of the future due to the magnitude of changes brought by technology. Automation and artificial intelligence is said to already replace 50% of the jobs force in the USA. So what will be the jobs of the future and what skills will we need to ensure we are equipped?
In the past, mastering one skill used to be the norm. Be good in one thing, master it and you will become successful. Unfortunately, today, mastering one skill is not enough. In his book, Adam Scott, ‘How to fail at almost everything but still win big’ the author claims that it’s better to develop a variety of abilities and sometimes fail than mastering a single skill. Having many skills, increases your market value and will help you adjust to the world’s constant changes as well as help you stand out from the competition.
How is this helping parents or the decision makers? It may help alleviate the pressure of acquiring one single skilled profession. It may change our perspective that failing in a specific job choice may just be a stepping stone towards another route. Acquiring a variety of skills, already from school is vital if we are to become ready for the jobs of the future.
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Mar 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
Let there be light.
Let there be light
‘ I want you to know that you have changed my life completely. ‘
Privy to dwindling resources, in a time of water shortages and contemporary complications of the political kind that have dire effects on our ability to switch our lights on and off… there is hope yet. We refuse to let the darkness persist. A country that has the ability to stay hopeful breeds a population that is able to do the same in times of cynicism. Our collective history is one that has been filled with dark tales but rays of sunshine have managed to seep in.
On the particular day that brought me to this account, my special ray of sunshine came in the form of a letter in the drawer next to my desk. This discovery just happened to take place as I was perusing a vintage ORT South Africa folder- a forgotten letter in one of the ORT South Africa files nearly as old as myself, containing a testimonial from a particular student dated the 12th of December 1999. As i skimmed through the hand-writing, the words were reminiscent of the newly appointed President’s ‘Send Me’ SONA speech and peaked my imagine. In this context, it would be safe to desribe it as a proverbial light bulb moment.
As an ORT South Africa intern and familiarising myself with an organisation that is actively making a difference I can’t help but want to embody this difference that I see. The unfortunate nature of modern civilisation – and my generation in particular- has shaped many a millennial into taking for granted the efforts of many ordinary citizens within non-profit organisations like ORT South Africa. As the Y-Generation that has a centralised focus on their individual selves , we need to remind ourselves of the values of Ubuntu that should be ingrained as a united as a people of the African continent.
‘ I want you to know that you have changed my life completely. ‘
the letter reads..
‘ I can see where I stand now because of this foundation, not to me only that you have brought light but to all the young and old that you have helped. ‘
The long standing impact that these programmes have, shaping individuals and ultimately shaping their communities and the world, the discovery of this letter lead me to a journey of contemplation. ORT South Africa is affiliated to the international mother organisation World ORT which was established in Russia in 1880. The universal theme that underpins this organisation is not blatant hand-outs but rather a hand up. Being a player in the international arena is further proof of the organisation’s consistency and determination to make the world of difference to me, to you and to everyone that it can possibly reach. It’s important to remember always… It may be dark at fist, but surely there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 27, 2018 | Uncategorized
While South Africa is considered an entrepreneurial leader in sub-Saharan Africa, its weakest link in terms of its entrepreneurial ecosystem does happen to be start-up skills. This poses the question, what skills can local youth be taught, in order to improve their appetite for entrepreneurship? Some crucial skills that have been recognised that can be taught for the betterment of entrepreneurs include information gathering, organizational skills, rational decision making and oral communication skills just to name a few.
Though the number of youth entrepreneurs in South Africa may have dropped, it is notable that more than 50% of all entrepreneurs are youth.
ORT SA skills training facilitator, Rugare Gapare is training aspiring entrepreneurs, giving them Business Enterprise skills at the South West Gauteng College in Soweto. Five participants are active business owners and six were youths who were on work experience attachment at the college, who had previously done some business training. The benefits of the programme provide the opportunity for the youth to gain the relevant and necessary skills and tools and manages to do so through experiential learning. The opportunity presents life-changing self-improvement for those wanting to become entrepreneurs and knowledge to better position others in the workplace. The group was a vibrant mix of knowledge and experience. Judging from their comments, the beneficiaries were certainly advanced by the training in various ways and are going to put into practice what they learned from the sessions.
Previously used corporate clothing was also offered and nearly everyone took something, citing that they needed it themselves or for their relatives.
If anyone has clothing to donate for these young people starting out in the careers, please let us know: info@ortsa.org.za or call 011 728 7154
