Inside the Workplace: A Reflection on our Recent Job Shadowing Experience

Teach For Zimbabwe partnered with freight services provider DHL on their Go-Teach program which aims to improve the employability of young people from marginalized communities in Zimbabwe. According to the DHL Country Director, Susan Katsukunya, ‘It is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and has been operating for 15 years globally. In Zimbabwe, we actively partnered with Teach For Zimbabwe last September.’

This past week Teach For Zimbabwe chose 40 A-Level students from our placement schools in Mutoko District for the job shadowing program. Job Shadowing provides students with first-hand exposure to different career paths, it allows them to explore various industries and gain insights into potential future paths. DHL and TFZ partnership yielded a job shadowing fair which ran from 13-15 September 2023 under the Go-Teach program.

The students had the Priviledge to visit DHL’s various departments. They aimed to observe professionals in action, witnessing their daily tasks, challenges, and responsibilities associated with different positions. This helped the students develop a realistic understanding of a particular position. 

The students also had a tour of Robert Gabriel International Airport and the tour was led by a Customer Service Officer at the airport. As they were touring the airport students identified the skills and the qualifications required to be a part of the airport crew in different positions. They also learnt about the importance of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Students also got the chance to visit Boka Tobacco Floor, where students got the chance to familiarize themselves with tobacco farming and how tobacco is stored.

Teach For Zimbabwe, CEO, Dr Siwela was thrilled with the program and in her own words said, ‘We understand the importance of collective collaboration in making our vision a reality; hence we are driven by the motto: It takes a village to educate a child. It is against this background that we partnered with DHL under the Go-Teach program. The world will never be the same for these youngsters.’

Over and above, job shadowing allowed the students to connect with different professionals in their fields of interest. Building relationships with industry experts like Rudo Boka provided the students with valuable mentorship, guidance, and potential future internships or job opportunities.

Find below the links to the articles of the job shadowing:

https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200016813/shot-in-arm-for-high-school-learners