For many schoolgoers, words like ‘future career” are more a source of anxiety and confusion than excitement. The road show is meant to expose the youngsters to career options – from interior design to computer programming or sound engineering – and where they can study courses related to them.
Independent colleges offering courses for further education have their tables at the ready with information about studies towards a fruitful career. Vandenberg gives the learners 15 minutes to speak to the representatives. They jump to their feet and storm to the tables, asking questions and returning with hands full of pamphlets.
‘Hotel and tourism – the world’s largest industry is widely regarded as our best chance for economic prosperity,” one banner proclaims. The institution promises a dinner for two at Cape Town’s prestigious Mount Nelson Hotel to the students who can sing its theme song best. Another institution entices interest with promises of a cellphone to each learner who enrols for a full-time course.
Robin Campbell (17), currently in matric, wants to study marketing, but is not sure where. Another matric learner, Charlene Green (17) plans to study human resources management. Why? ‘Because it’s interesting and it pays a lot,” she answers.
The kids sit down again, ready for the next part of the Rocking Future Roadshow. Singer Kay Vee comes onto the stage. The kids roar with excitement as she begins Spirits, one of her latest hits.
Bradwin Arendse (18), who plays netball for the South African team, wants to study sports management once he has passed matric. He jumps on stage and performs a sexy dance with Kay Vee.
Gail Petersen, guidance teacher at Kensington High, says she ‘has never seen a presentation so vibrant.” She wants the show to visit the school every year.
The Rocking Future Road Show was Vandenberg and Kay Vee’s idea. When their band ‘was going nowhere” a few years ago, Kay Vee decided to target high school audiences. Private colleges wanted the same access to these youngsters to promote their courses to potential students. They hooked up and the road show started to roll.
Shows are performed free of charge at schools around the country, sponsored by the the colleges for further education.
Vandenberg and Kay Vee visited over 50 schools last year, the first year of the Rocking Future Road Show. ‘This year we’ll visit about 90 high schools,” Vandenberg says. He plans to get a sponsor for the show to make it possible to visit poorer areas, currently unattractive to private colleges.