In an effort to introduce female learners to experience the working environment, Tipfuxeni Communiy Counseling Centre last Thursday brought four students from two local secondary schools to the Mirror offices as part of the Take A Girl Child To A Workplace campaign.

The four are Mpho Sioga (18) in grade 10 at Masedi Combined, Nhlaluke Kwinika (15) from Elim Senior Secondary School, Ritah Chauke (19) from HS Phillips High and Christinah Sekele (17) from Masedi Combined School.

These learners spent several hours interacting with Mirror journalist Nthambeleni Gabara with a view to understanding a journalistic career and its working environment.

Nhlaluke described the campaign as an eye opener to her. "Experiencing the working environment in the media industry will remain as something great in my lifetime. As of now, I know how news is gathered and the challenges faced by reporters," she said.

Ritah Chauke added that, while the newspaper is important in terms of informing and educating society about all activities taking place in their respective areas, she said others view it as a problem. "I know that, in whatever you do, you will always be challenged, but the challenges in journalism are tough because by reporting certain stories, some members of the community develop antipathy towards the author. I don´t want people to dislike me, so I don´t think I can make it in this profession," she said.

Christinah Sekele said that, as most of the girls are not taking education seriously because they still strongly believe in ´one blanket, one job´, the campaign made her consider education seriously.

All the girls thanked the staff of Mirror for allowing them to experience the working environment in their offices.

"I think all of us have learnt that, in order to succeed in this profession, you must be committed, dedicated and informed. We also realised it that if one is not computer literate, one cannot make it in today´s world," said Mpho Sioga.

The co-ordinator of Tipfuxeni, Mrs Thokozile Eister, said that the campaign was a build-up event for the child protection week campaign to be hosted very soon. She said that girls were placed at the Makhado Municipality and other government departments.

"The purpose of the campaign was to bring understanding of the importance of work in each department as well as to motivate our girls in choosing a career," she said.