A group of BCom Honours students in Industrial Psychology recently spent their Saturday morning making a meaningful difference in the lives of Grade 12 learners from local agricultural communities through an engaging career development workshop hosted at Villiera Wines near Stellenbosch.

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The workshop, organised in partnership with the Pebbles Project Trust, brought together eager learners from nearby wine farms to explore the many possibilities available to them after matric. The Pebbles Project Trust is a non-profit organisation committed to supporting children and young adults from agricultural communities by providing access to education, opportunities and essential services.

For the Industrial Psychology students, the event was more than just an academic exercise — it was an opportunity to guide, motivate and empower young people as they begin planning their futures.

The initiative formed part of the practical component of the Occupational Psychology and Counselling module, coordinated by Industrial Psychology lecturer Mrs Marietha de Wet. The module equips students with practical career counselling skills, giving them the opportunity to apply theory in a real-world setting.

Mrs De Wet not only laid the foundation for the partnership with the Pebbles Project Trust, but also played a central role in preparing for the workshop. She oversaw the development of the learner workbooks used during the sessions and guided students throughout the planning process to ensure the workshop would be engaging, practical and relevant to the learners’ needs.

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Five themes

To ensure the workshop addressed a wide range of career paths and interests, the honours students divided themselves into five groups, each focusing on a specific theme related to post-school opportunities. The groups conducted research, prepared presentations and designed learner workbooks tailored to their topics.

Student Ayanda Fambisayi described the experience as both meaningful and rewarding. “We had the opportunity to really connect with the learners. Through the workbooks Mrs De Wet had helped us to develop, it was fun to interact with them through quizzes, games and, of course, lots of sweets!”

“But more than anything, I enjoyed the opportunity. Things like this do not just happen; people have to make it happen, and I’m grateful to the University, Mrs De Wet and Pebbles who gave us this opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the life of learners to better their future.”

She also praised her fellow students for their teamwork and creativity. “I’m especially proud of my teammates, for the collaboration and creativity that went into designing the workbook.”

The workshop explored five important pathways available to learners after matric:

• Employment: Learners received practical guidance on entering the job market, including discussions about internships, compiling CVs and cover letters, matching interests to occupations, and navigating the South African employment landscape.

• Entrepreneurship: Students encouraged learners to think creatively about solving challenges within their communities through business ideas. Discussions included the characteristics of entrepreneurs and the steps involved in starting a business.

• Tertiary education: This session unpacked the differences between degrees, diplomas and certificates, while also guiding learners through application processes and financial planning for further studies.

• Mid-level skills development: Learners interested in vocational careers gained insight into apprenticeships, learnerships and opportunities available through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, as well as the growing demand for artisans in South Africa.

• Gap year planning: For those considering taking time off after school, discussions focused on personal growth, volunteering, budgeting and developing meaningful gap-year plans.

Class representative Annaliza Lubbe said the experience proved educational for everyone involved. “While researching mid-level skills development options, I was surprised at just how many options there are after school,” she explained.

She also praised the enthusiasm of the Grade 12 learners. “The learners kept us on our toes: they really wanted to be there and asked a lot of relevant questions.”

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Thoughtful conversations

The workshop sparked thoughtful conversations and inspired learners to think more seriously about their futures. While some were still undecided about their career paths, others already had clear ambitions ranging from engineering to hairdressing. One aspiring entrepreneur impressed facilitators with her initiative after sharing that she already runs a tuck shop at her school — a business she started on her own.

According to Ms Ingrid Cupido of the Pebbles Project Trust, the workshop arrived at exactly the right time for the learners.

“It boosted our Grade 12 learners, and was the perfect opportunity for them to think about their strong and weak points and decide about their future. Those who wanted to study further could still work on improving their marks,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mrs De Wet believes the project has significant potential for growth. “I hope to broaden the focus of the youth development initiative to include young farm workers and envisages future development workshops that will support their career and personal development needs as well.”

Although the compulsory practical component of the honours students’ coursework has now been completed, the impact of the initiative will continue. Several students have committed to volunteering their services beyond the requirements of the module in support of young people in local agricultural communities.

The workshop reminded learners that there are many possible routes to success – and that with guidance, preparation and determination, their future goals are within reach.