By Heinrich Robertson
More and more students on the West Coast opt for workplace experience programmes as a way of gaining entry into the industry. West Coast College has just placed about 70 students into various work places, in which they will gain valuable experience and possibly get a job.
Ten college graduates are at the Wesfleur Hospital in Atlantis, which will see them not only gaining vital work experience, but it also doubles up as an internship in pursuit of obtaining the National Diploma qualification. Janice Davids, Fazlin Agalus, Simone Walburg, Whitney Jooste, Melna Maroetsi, Soraya Capoto, Jonita Abrahams, Florenchia Solomons, Tamion Everts and Jaqueline Retolla all grabbed the opportunity to kick-start their careers.
According to the college’s Placement Coordinator Mr Lumkile Ralarala, this is not only an opportunity to gain valuable experience but also a chance for the students to market themselves for permanent employment. “A lot of people finish their studies and still struggle to find a job. We at the West Coast College are very proud that we can assist some of our graduates with internships like these,” he said.
One of the interns, Soraya Copoto, from Atlantis says she wants to use this opportunity to get her career on track. She is currently following an internship in administration in the Health Department. She had some wise words. “My child is my biggest motivation to succeed in life. I want to be a role model and secure a future for me and my family. I use other people in my community as mirrors and I try not to make the same mistakes,” she added.
Janice Davids from Mamre studied the course Management Assistant at the Atlantis Campus and says she will do her utmost best to make a success of this internship. “This is a once in a life-time opportunity. A lot of young people only dream of an opportunity like this. I am truly blessed”.
Florencia Solomons was very excited when the college visited the hospital. She is responsible for administration in the stores department and says she is up for any challenge that may come her way. “Administration has always been my passion. My love for administration started at my previous job when one of my colleagues went on maternity leave. I had to take over from her and I immediately fell in love with her job,” she said.
All of the interns were excited and enthusiastically spoke about their experiences in the work place. It was clear that they enjoy the tasks assigned to them. Jeremy Solomons, their mentor in the medical records department, says he is more than satisfied with the interns. “All of them are very fast learners and adapted very quickly. I’m really looking forward to the ten months. I hope they’ll be able to learn something from me,” he said with a broad smile on his face.
The West Coast College invites prospective students to contact their Atlantis Campus at 021 577 1712 or visit the campus on the corner of Carl Uys and Neil Hare Street, Atlantis Industria.
