As part of its continual drive to support skills development in the mining sector, mining consulting company SRK Consulting (SA) took part for the second time in nonprofit organisation (NPO) Kodumela Bokamoso Youth Development’s yearly careers day earlier this year in Limpopo to encourage matric learners to pursue careers in mining and the natural sciences.

Covering the secondary schools in the Seotlong and Mphahlele circuit, in Limpopo, SRK donated lunch packs and handed out marketing material to the students following a brief presentation made by SRK senior coal geologist Sello Nzama, SRK engineering geologist Siyamazi Ndlovu and SRK consultant Malose Ramashala.

The SRK representatives gave presentations on the life of geologists, career opportunities and university courses that learners could consider should they want to pursue a career in the field.

About 1 600 learners attended the careers day, which Nzama mentions was a success as it drew a bigger crowd than expected.

“This has motivated us to be part of this kind of initiative again next year as the feedback and interest from the learners keep growing,” he says.

This is the second year that SRK has had the opportunity to participate in such an event, which aims at encouraging the youth to pursue further studies on matriculating in the fields of the natural sciences and mining.

As a group, Nzama points out that SRK seeks to promote socioeconomic development, which will bring lasting benefits for those involved. To do so, informing the learners about educational routes that they can follow is one aspect of fulfilling the company’s mandate.

Kodumela Bokamoso Youth Development hosts leadership development workshops and life skills training events yearly as it addresses and tries to develop leaders within rural communities. Programmes run by the NPO focus on the needs of the different schools in the rural areas and it approaches companies such as SKR Consulting to assist in developing leaders from these areas.