BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
SHISELWENI – More than 350 Form 4 and Form 5 science learners from four high schools in Shiselweni have been introduced to aviation career opportunities through the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority’s (ESWACAA) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Strategy Pre-Launch Community Activation.
The learners from Makhava, Mpakeni, Ndunayithini and Lulakeni High Schools and gathered at Sigwe Inkhundla for the community activation. The initiative seeks to expose young people to aviation career pathways and encourage learners to consider opportunities within the aviation sector as they plan their future studies and careers.
The focus on Form 4 and Form 5 science learners provides an opportunity to introduce students to aviation-related careers while they are still making decisions about further education and their professional interests.
The activation also aimed to demonstrate that aviation offers career opportunities beyond becoming a pilot, with the sector requiring professionals with different technical, operational and specialised skills.
By taking the programme to schools and communities, ESWACAA is creating opportunities for learners outside major urban centres to interact with the aviation sector and gain information about possible career paths.
The community activation also included initiatives aimed at supporting learners and local safety efforts. Through its Dignity Campaign, ESWACAA donated sanitary towels to 40 students in need, supporting access to menstrual hygiene products.
The Authority also donated a gazebo to the Royal Eswatini Police Service’s Hluthi Crime Prevention Unit to support its community safety activities. The donations formed part of ESWACAA’s corporate social responsibility efforts, complementing the main focus of the activation on youth development and aviation career awareness.
The NGAP programme comes at a time when the aviation industry continues to require a pipeline of trained and qualified professionals to support its future operations.
The Sigwe activation therefore provided a platform for ESWACAA to begin taking the NGAP conversation directly to young people while building awareness of opportunities available within aviation.
As the Authority moves towards the formal launch of its NGAP strategy, continued engagement with learners could help connect young people with information, training opportunities and potential career pathways in the aviation sector.
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(Courtesy Pic)
