Over 300 excited learners from across Gauteng attended Lanseria International Airport’s Career Expo at the airport on Mandela Day. As a key enabler of learning and education, Fundi’s stand was an anchor point at the event: offering guidance and support to these aviators of the future, and giving many a helping hand-up to ensure their dreams of the future take flight.
As part of its Mandela Month commitments, Lanseria International Airport launched its inaugural Mandela Day Career Expo this year, welcoming 300 learners from the surrounding area and communities – inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals. With many of these students still unsure about their future careers and the options available to them going forward, Fundi was an essential contributor to and supporter of the event.
“While the aviation sector remains under pressure, this is a space that unlocks transport, travel and tourism. As such, there are so many related and valuable career options available to all of the learners who attended,” notes Sphiwe Masuku, Fundi’s Head of Brand and Marketing. “Our role was to help bring many closer to finding them, as well as sharing critical information around funding and the resources available to support them.”
With many high school learners facing critical choices regarding subjects, tertiary institution selection and funding applications, they must be guided to make the best possible, most informed decisions. “South Africa’s high first-year drop-out rate, as well as ultimate throughput rate at most tertiary institutions, is evidence of this,” explains Masuku. “Because so many students still don’t have access to the resources or experts they need to make arguably some of the most important decisions of their lives, many live to regret what they chose. In a best-case scenario, they might find that subjects could be carried over into another field of study. In the worst case, they could complete a degree that will unfortunately not move them towards their ideal career or end up giving up and dropping out – carrying study debt well into the future.”
Masuku notes that exposure to events like this is a critical first step for learners to understand the career options and requirements in this space. “Getting an understanding of the realities of the job from the pilots, airhosts and hostesses, ground staff and tourism operators here today is invaluable in terms of narrowing down possibilities for the future. Students will also gain a firm understanding of why certain subjects like maths, science and hospitality are so important in school – and will be encouraged to stick with them.”
To make further “insight-led” decisions possible, Fundi also contributed 20 FundiMatch Career Assessment Licences (valued at over R20 000) to beneficiaries of the expo today. “FundiMatch is a careers platform powered by psychometric assessments. It has been designed to lead learners towards careers that they are well-suited for. Twenty top learners will now be able to test their aptitude for aviation studies and careers, with the assessments to be coordinated with the respective schools and learners,” adds Masuku.
In her keynote address, she reinforced messaging around access to funding – and where and how students could start their search for it well in advance of planning their tertiary journeys. The team also provided goodie bags for all 300 students attending the event; sharing valuable resources and information to support the students' educational journeys, including directing them to the FundiConnect.co.za website; packed with career guidance, support, tools, tips and bursary information.
Fundi additionally sponsored an R10 000 incentive awarded to the top students from the cohort attending the event. “This incentive is valid until the end of 2025 and applies to students who pass matric at the end of this year and are accepted into an accredited aviation institution or for an accredited aviation course. It will give them a starting point for this exciting adventure.”
“It was an honour and privilege for us to be part of this event,” says Masuku. “This expo aligned perfectly with Fundi’s mission to unlock potential and create opportunities for the youth. We hope to inspire learners to give flight to their aviation dreams, and build a bright future for the sector,” she concludes.
Fundi is South Africa’s leading education finance and education fund management solution specialist. The company’s purpose is to help others realise their purpose. It is positioning its brand as Africa’s single source for all services that enable the education and learning journey.
Fundi’s innovative solutions span finance and education loans; end-to-end bursary administration; and cashless digital devices for students. Its “all things education” approach incorporates a full-suite offering including online student accommodation, as well as data and airtime purchases. Its full range of supportive educational services reduces administration and increases productivity for students, parents, bursars and institutions. A seamless customer experience is the company’s intended strategy.
Fundi is passionate about making a tangible difference in the life of every African through education. In 2019 it launched its own NGO – the Fundi Foundation (NPO number: IT001931/2019 PBO). Committed to partnering with public and private institutions to facilitate access to quality education for the “missing middle” in particular, the fund supports beneficiaries in both the secondary and tertiary education spaces.
The Foundation actively demonstrates Fundi’s long-term commitment to enabling education dreams and making an impactful difference in society. It is a universe of all things that enable education and learning for those who can’t help themselves.
Fundi Foundation is managed by a board of trustees made up of management at Fundi, with financials audited by PWC. The fundraising initiatives at FundiFoundation fall under five pillars, namely R10GoesALongWay, Leaders4learners, 12for12, RebuildSA, Fundi Bursaries and Fundi Capital.
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