Internet Solutions and Merchants hosted disadvantaged youth from townships in Johannesburg and Cape Town at their offices for a day called ITWoW. The event aimed to expose the youth to careers in IT and equip them with skills to enter the workforce. Over 200 youth participated in panel discussions, career sessions, and creating online profiles. Testimonials praised how the event inspired the youth and exposed them to new opportunities outside their townships. The companies hope to continue the event to guide youth towards completing their education and changing their futures through technology careers.

2. This is why we invest in ITWoW
We invited the NPOs we support with connectivity (including Afrika Tikkun, Infinite Family, Columba
Leadership and the Dimension Data Saturday School programme) to identify interested students from
Diepsloot, Alexandra, Cosmo City and Thokoza, and hosted them at our Johannesburg and Cape Town
venues.
The day’s activities included interactive panel discussions and a speed-dating-style activity where learners
could engage with professionals from Internet Solutions and Merchants to understand the importance of
ICT and the value of its skills in the future world of work.
The learners also had the opportunity to log into MyCalling, a web-based programme, to create a personal
profile, compile a CV and complete a psychometric test. These profiles were downloaded from the
platform and learners will be able to update them throughout their careers.
By offering a combination of insights and practical tools, ITWoW better equips these young people to start
their journey into the world of work, no matter their career path.
Importantly, we believe that ITWoW demonstrated how a career in technology – and joining a company like
Internet Solutions – can change South Africa and the world for better.

3. Testimonial 1:
Hear what Karabo Seduma, from our esteemed NPO
partner Afrika Tikkun, had to say about our IT WoW
event:
"IT WoW is incredibly beneficial as the children who
are involved come from township environments and
often time’s these learners tend to think within the
confined walls of the township. Having learners visiting
the IS offices it’s an invaluable opportunity as they get
to be exposed to a different environment that inspires
them to see things differently. Also, being able to learn
from individuals that are already in the IT industry was
a key source of knowledge and guidance for many of
the learners who wish to pursue such careers. They
were able to discuss their dreams and aspirations and
visualise their future path with those who had already
embarked upon it - "When you can dream it, then you
can achieve it.”
Please continue with these events as every year we
bring different young people who come from different
family backgrounds – IT WoW is an eye-opener for
them as it exposes them to different careers and of
course having IS employees sharing their personal
journey with the youth is the key as youth are able to
gain an understanding of what it takes to be successful
in the field, regardless of their backgrounds.
Thank you so much for investing in the lives of the
youth of South Africa."
Into The World of Work
Event:
Testimonial 1: Hear what IS crew member
Tereza Durao had to say about being
involved in our IT World of Work Day: "It
was lovely to meet all the young people at
the Into the World of Work on 1 July 2017. I
have been part of these days since their
inception and have to say that this one was
filled with the kind of anticipatory energy I
had not experienced at previous sessions. I
noticed that all the learners showed a real
interest and eagerly asked questions and
took part in all the activities that were on
offer. I have a selfish reason for taking part
because I’m at a point in my life where I
want to give back, to share my experiences
and to gain and learn from this interaction.
“It is vitally important for the learners
because although many of them were
really not interested in IT, they learnt new
things and also that good IT sits at the root
of many businesses. For us, it is also
important to cultivate the next generation of
eager staff who will come in with new
ideas, new mores and new energy."
What is IT WoW day?
● To commemorate Youth Day, staff
are invited to spend a day with
young, disadvantaged individuals
from the beneficiary network of
Merchants and IS
● Staff provide information on their
careers
● The main focus of ITWoW is to
expose the youth to the IT industry

4. Numbers of pupils and volunteers:
Johannesburg had 120 pupils and 75 volunteer
participants
Cape Town had 80 pupils and 44 volunteers
Schools and NPOs that attended and the communities
– in Johannesburg:
Organisation School/Centre name
Infinite Family Realogile High School (Alexandra)
Afrika Tikkun Uthando Child and Youth Development Centre
(Braamfontein)
Afrika Tikkun Alexandra Child and Youth Development Learners
(Alexandra)
Afrika Tikkun Diepsloot Child and Youth Development Learners
(Diepsloot)
Columba School Thabo Secondary (Naledi, Soweto)
Columba School Highlands North (Johannesburg)
Columba School Blue Eagles (Cosmo City, Randburg)
DD Saturday School
areas
Soweto, Germiston, Thokoza, Midrand, Alexandra,
Turffontein
Columba School Sophumelela High School (Weltevreden Valley
North, Philippi)
Columba School Manyano High School (Ilitha Park, Khayelitsha)
Columba School Glendale High School (Weltevreden Valley,
Mitchells Plain)
Schools and NPOs that attended and the
communities – in Cape Town:

6. Day’s activities
Learners were divided into multiple groups who rotated through different
activities, including:
• A common workshop designed to prepare pupils for the day ahead
• A talk show session
• One-on-one sessions where pupils speak to volunteers individually
• My Calling session where pupils put together profiles and CVs and
underwent an online psychometric test

7. Testimonial 2: Hear what Karabo Seduma, from our esteemed NPO partner
Afrika Tikkun, had to say about our IT WoW event: "IT WoW is incredibly
beneficial as the children who are involved come from township environments
and often time’s these learners tend to think within the confined walls of the
township. Having learners visiting the IS offices it’s an invaluable opportunity as
they get to be exposed to a different environment that inspires them to see things
differently. Also, being able to learn from individuals that are already in the IT
industry was a key source of knowledge and guidance for many of the learners
who wish to pursue such careers. They were able to discuss their dreams and
aspirations and visualise their future path with those who had already embarked
upon it - "When you can dream it, then you can achieve it.” Please continue with
these events as every year we bring different young people who come from
different family backgrounds – IT WoW is an eye-opener for them as it exposes
them to different careers and of course having IS employees sharing their
personal journey with the youth is the key as youth are able to gain an
understanding of what it takes to be successful in the field, regardless of their
backgrounds.
Thank you so much for investing in the lives of the youth of South Africa."

9. Testimonial 3: With our IT World of Work Day being such a success, we
asked a few attendees for their thoughts. Read what Jenna Braham from IS
Ignite had to say: “I absolutely loved Into The World Of Work. Any young
adult who receives exposure to the work environment has an advantage as
this helps with decision-making and subject choices. I believe this
programme is highly beneficial to the schools invited. They get to interact
and ask questions, see what a working world looks like, feel inspired to
succeed in their lives and careers and learn valuable lessons like creating a
CV. They are made to feel special and motivated to do their best in school,
which is extremely important with the high stress and life problems they
might be surrounded by. This programme allows for the young adults to
become creative in their career choices and gain knowledge of the skill sets
they never knew existed. Each person the young adults come into contact
with might have a different education and career journey, making it that
much more beneficial. The one-on-ones really give them a chance to open
up and ask questions. I love that Internet Solutions is a part of this. I
voluntarily help run the CSR initiatives at Ignite which allows me to
participate in all the events. We aspire to get as many people involved as
possible and they genuinely love events like these. Thank you for an
awesome day.”

10. Our Objectives
● Expose young minds to a multitude of careers and
opportunities available in the 21st-century economy
● Equip participants with skills that make them more
employable
● Encourage participants to stay in school and to work
hard
● Remind them that they matter and the future rests
with them

11. Our expectations
• The purpose of the activities was to share the
skills and attributes required for the job role and
the hard work and commitment required to be
successful.
• We wanted to encourage the youth to remain in
school and complete their education.
• The learners would have received a measure of
guidance from the group leaders.

12. We would like to thank everyone involved for their support during
the event – every little bit counts. We truly did set out to change the
lives of our youth and feel that the event was a momentous
success!