Kelebogile Ramokgopa (nee Rakhudu)
Lecturer, Tshwane University of Technology. South Africa
Young African Leaders Alumni 2016
Grooming the Future Marketer’s Initiative
Grooming the Future Marketers was inspired by the fact that most of our graduates are not well prepared for the job environment and are often overwhelmed when they have to start looking for jobs, since they don’t know what to do and what’s really expected of them. This initiative started from the idea of getting the student to dress up for class as if they are going out into the industry. From that, it grew into an opportunity to help groom them for the industry. The initiative aims to equip the students with the right information and tools to help them understand that the marketing industry expects from marketing graduates, from their first year in university. The students are also on an entrepreneurial journey, and have since established their own enterprises which help them generate money, develop their skills and build up their resumes.
The YAYA Secrets of Sistahood Mentorship Program and Women’s Network
The Yaya Secrets of Sistahood Network is an initiative that is aimed at empowering the girl child. This initiative is aimed at empowering young girls and ladies. Women empowerment is the topic of discussion in our era, because of the voice that many women have discovered and are learning to use to stand up against the social issues that are facing women and children nationally and internationally.
This initiative came alive in July 2011, when I decided to just take a risk to make it happen. I networked with my sister, Mrs Mapato Ramokgopa, together with some friends of mine who were willing to get involved and asked them to find mentees that they can mentor in their communities, churches or schools. I also took it upon myself to mentor more young girls this year, as I adopt a student and mentor her every year. The mentees are also part of the secret Facebook group and some of them have started using it as a platform for self-expression and developing their identities. They have also networked with other mentors on the group and have even met them at an outing that we went to for Women’s month. I communicate with my mentees on a regular basis, via Facebook. Email, WhatsApp, twitter and face to face. We have individual sessions and group sessions where we meet and talk about everything (structured and unstructured discussions). I also give them monthly assignments and tasks to work on, which help expose them to many issues that most of them are not aware of, which can help broaden their perspective on life.
We registered Secrets of Sistahood as a company in 2013 and even though we haven’t made profit from the organisation, we have managed to mentor over twenty-five (25) girls between 2011 and now and are still growing stronger.
The challenges faced with establishing the two program are very similar, I guess because they were both conceptualised in the same year, 2011.
This initiative came alive in July 2011, when I decided to just take a risk to make it happen. I networked with my sister, Mrs Mapato Ramokgopa, together with some friends of mine who were willing to get involved and asked them to find mentees that they can mentor in their communities, churches or schools. I also took it upon myself to mentor more young girls this year, as I adopt a student and mentor her every year. The mentees are also part of the secret Facebook group and some of them have started using it as a platform for self-expression and developing their identities. They have also networked with other mentors on the group and have even met them at an outing that we went to for Women’s month. I communicate with my mentees on a regular basis, via Facebook. Email, WhatsApp, twitter and face to face. We have individual sessions and group sessions where we meet and talk about everything (structured and unstructured discussions). I also give them monthly assignments and tasks to work on, which help expose them to many issues that most of them are not aware of, which can help broaden their perspective on life.
We registered Secrets of Sistahood as a company in 2013 and even though we haven’t made profit from the organisation, we have managed to mentor over twenty-five (25) girls between 2011 and now and are still growing stronger.
The challenges faced with establishing the two program are very similar, I guess because they were both conceptualised in the same year, 2011.
- Funding and sponsorship was a major challenge, as it was really difficult to get people to invest in the projects. I started both projects from my pocket, then working only as a part-time lecturer at the university. So I had to make a lot of sacrifices to get them going, because I wasn’t willing to give up on both visions.
- Getting support was also a major challenge, because people didn’t believe in the dreams and visions. I had to work hard to get the support that I have today, through believing in the vision myself and the impact that both programs would have on our youth.
My message to another woman:
Know yourself, be authentic yourself and believe in yourself and in your abilities, that’s a starting point, because if you don’t, no one else will do it for you.
It all starts from within.
Surround yourself with people who will help you grow and who will push you to becoming the best version of yourself.
Network a lot.
Take risks and build your empire with the bricks that are thrown at you, yet be humble and remain humble.
It all starts from within.
Surround yourself with people who will help you grow and who will push you to becoming the best version of yourself.
Network a lot.
Take risks and build your empire with the bricks that are thrown at you, yet be humble and remain humble.