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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2015
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MARKETPLACE
“So far we have 35 Grade 11
students who have commenced
classes. We are looking forward to
seeing them through to successful
careers in the built environment and tech-
nical professions.”
The ‘Go for Gold’ initiative was estab-
lished in 1999 in response to the high level
of youth unemployment in South Africa.
“One of the things that make us unique is
that we were actually started by a company
in the construction industry to look at trans-
forming the built environment and technical
professions in South Africa,” Mullins says.
‘Go for Gold’ has developed a four-phase
model aimed at developing future skilled
graduate professionals. Phase 1 consists of
scholars being transported to a Go for Gold
campus to further their studies in mathe-
matics and science in particular. They are
also taught computer skills and life skills.
This training continues until the end of
Grade 12 when all the candidates are inter-
viewed for built environment internships,
which comprises Phase 2.
Phase 3 involves attending a tertiary
institution, with these studies sponsored
by the relevant companies. The final phase
is full-time employment in the construction
industry. Each phase’s successful candi-
dates become involved in mentoring those
candidates in lower phases.
Mullins says that the programme offers
comprehensive skills training and devel-
opment that ultimately results in gainful
employment. “As we can well imagine in our
own career paths, fromhigh school to univer-
sity and then onto our first jobs, and then
consider how all the gaps and challenges in
that process are exacerbated further if you
come from a difficult socioec-
onomic background. Thus we
try and address those gaps by
working closely with individual
candidates and mentoring them
constantly along the way.”
organisation opens in Gauteng
EDUCATION
-to-
EMPLOYMENT
‘Go for Gold’, a non-profit education-to-employment organisation
established in Cape Town in the Western Cape in 1999, has
established a new branch in Johannesburg. “We are very excited
about the fact that we are opening our first branch in Gauteng,”
says Bridget-Ann Mullins, ‘Go for Gold’ co-director.
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BOTTOM LEFT:
Francis Chemaly,
director of H&I Construction and ‘Go
for Gold’ board member, delivered
an address at the official launch
of the ‘Go for Gold’ Johannesburg
branch.
Wesley Mullins, an alumni of ‘Go for Gold’
now working at Sutherland Engineering,
shared his experiences on his journey from
Grade 11 to date.
Mullins adds that ‘Go for Gold’ is making
a significant contribution to inculcating
professional skills in the construction
industry in South Africa. “The statistics on
the number of qualified engineers in South
Africa are atrocious. We not only need more
engineers, but we also need to foster more
engineers from disadvantaged communities
in order to be able to impact on youth unem-
ployment and poverty levels.”
The ‘Go for Gold’ programme also
provides an opportunity for mathematics
and science teachers to brush up on their
teaching skills. “Our Saturday classes are
open to teachers from the schools we work
with. We do share our resources with them
as well, so there is a definite spill-over
effect,” Mullins says.
Looking at 2015, Mullins reveals that ‘Go
for Gold’ aims to consolidate its presence in
Gauteng following the establishment of its
new branch. “We are piloting in Gauteng and
we really want to ensure it works because
we believe that, due to its size, Gauteng can
be three times as big and successful as the
Western Cape.”
‘Go for Gold’ is also working in partner-
ship with another non-profit organisation
in Port Elizabeth in order to set up a similar
education-to-employment initiative in the
Eastern Cape. “That is really exciting as it is
the first time we are collaborating in such a
joint venture.
“We have also started looking at
consulting work to see how we can share our
model and our expertise while still remaining
true to our core purpose. We want to grow
nationally, so that we are able to use this
successful education to employment model
to influence other industries as well.
From left, Noxolo Mgudlwa,
project manager for ‘Go for
Gold’ in Johannesburg and Pheli
Mbambo, HR executive at SAFCEC.
From left: Zanele Mira, Thobisizwe Sithole,
France Mathabela and Nomhle Pontshi, Grade
11 learners from Lesiba Secondary School in
Daveyton, in the Go for Gold Programme.