More than 3,000 learners from across Limpopo are being exposed to career opportunities in the green economy as government and environmental stakeholders seek to encourage young people to consider careers linked to environmental sustainability.
The learners gathered at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Sports Complex in Seshego for the three-day Green Careers Expo, held under the theme “Green Careers for Environmental Sustainability.”
Limpopo MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Tshitereke Matibe, joined Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swarts, and other stakeholders at the expo to engage learners about the growing range of opportunities in the environmental and green economy sectors.
The expo is aimed at providing learners with practical information to help them make informed decisions about their future careers.
Among the issues being covered are career guidance, subject choices, bursary opportunities, tertiary education options and emerging career pathways in the green economy.
The initiative comes at a time when environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important to economic development, with growing opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, conservation, waste management, environmental management and other green industries.
Through the three-day programme, learners from schools across Limpopo’s districts will have an opportunity to interact with professionals and institutions working in the environmental sector and gain a better understanding of the qualifications and skills required to enter the industry.
Matibe said initiatives such as the expo were important in ensuring that young people were exposed to career opportunities beyond traditional fields.
The expo also seeks to bridge the information gap facing learners, particularly those who may not have access to detailed information about tertiary education, funding opportunities and emerging careers.
With thousands of learners attending, organisers hope the event will inspire a new generation of young people to pursue careers that contribute to both economic growth and the protection of the environment.
The Green Careers Expo forms part of broader efforts to promote environmental awareness while equipping Limpopo’s youth with the knowledge and skills needed to participate meaningfully in the province’s growing green economy.
