Over the last year on the last Thursday of May, thousands of young women visited and spent a day at the more than 1600 companies around South Africa that have partnered Cell C on Take a Girl Child to Work Day®.

Cyabonga! Our most heartfelt thanks for the support of so many businesses, government departments, civil society organisations, institutions of learning and the general public who have made it possible for the campaign to benefit an estimated 350 000 girl learners across South Africa!

They crossed the threshold, not just of the many blue chip companies, public sector organisations, government departments, municipalities and civil society organisations, which you sit here and represent tonight ... but also the threshold of their dreams. And you have helped make those dreams reality.

The Cell C Cyabonga functions are a celebration of the power of collective care and concern, where on a single day South Africa’s public and private sector opens its doors and hearts to host our nation’s girl children and introduce them to real life work experience.

This contribution to the custodianship of the dreams of South Africa’s young women is immeasurable and has helped give the gift of self-worth. The first step on the road to self-fulfillment.