Cape Town IT recruitment company DataFin has launched a bursary programme aimed at jump-starting the careers of financially disadvantaged individuals and encouraging young people to enter the IT industry.
"The bursary programme is part of DataFin`s commitment to the development of Cape Town as an IT hub," says Bev Sollinger, a DataFin partner. "The opportunity to help young people start their careers is fully in line with our objective to create a 'brain gain` rather than a 'brain drain`."
Key selection criteria are academic potential and determination. Applicants should have matric exemption, be interested in the IT field, and be available to study in the Cape Town city centre.
The successful applicant will be able to choose between the following two courses: IT Intellect Web Design (covering HTML, DHTML, Flash, ASP, scripting and database design and implementation) and IT Intellect Application Developer (covering the .Net course for application developers). Once the course has been completed, DataFin will help the candidate find employment.
The launch of the bursary programme follows a successful initiative undertaken by DataFin between 2001 and 2003, in which Christine Mshweshwe was selected as a candidate for financial assistance.
A former University of Cape Town student, Mshweshwe was unable to continue her studies due to financial restraints. DataFin gave her career guidance, paid for a two-year management assistant course at Cape College, and gave Mshweshwe in-house training during holidays and after hours.
DataFin then helped Mshweshwe find a job as an office assistant at The Jam Warehouse.
Anyone interested in applying for a bursary through DataFin should do so before the end of March. For more information, go to www.datafin.com.
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