MBABANE — What if you could step into your dream career before deciding whether it is truly for you? For participants of Brave Girl 2026, that question became a reality on Thursday as Day Four of the empowerment programme took young women beyond the classroom and into real workplaces across Mbabane.
The Job Shadowing Day exposed participants to careers spanning construction, healthcare, hospitality, cultural events, information technology and innovation, giving them an opportunity to observe professionals, ask questions and gain practical insight into the working world.
At the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Siniketiwe Mazibuko, Nosipho Mngomezulu and Bongiwe Dlamini explored architecture, construction and occupational safety.
For Mazibuko, the experience brought her closer to a career she is considering, particularly her interest in seeing how architects transform ideas into physical structures.
Safety Officer at Mkotoka Construction, Siyabonga Shongwe, introduced the participants to construction-site safety, including scaffolding, safety harnesses, fall arresters, caution tags and fire extinguishers. The lessons were followed by practical demonstrations at a construction site.
“This field requires someone who is hardworking, dedicated and willing to learn,” Shongwe said.
At Mbabane Government Hospital, Hulisani Dlamini, Alwande Erika Minisi, Abalondwe Mtsetfwa, Tanele Khoza, Margaret Kashindi and Amanda Phungwayo received a firsthand look at the healthcare profession.
At the Eye Clinic, they were introduced to specialised equipment used to examine patients, learnt about eye diseases and explored how conditions are detected and treated.
The experience highlighted the intersection of medical knowledge, technology and compassionate patient care.
At Alliance Française, Neliswa Magagula, Bongiwe Gama and Nokubonga Langa explored the world of cultural programming and event management.
They interacted with Director Florent Brossollet and Cultural Events Coordinator Karyn Groening, learning about programmes such as Francophonie Month, Fête de la Musique, film initiatives and the Indalo Exhibition.
But the experience did not stop at observation. The participants were challenged to develop their own event proposal based on what they had learnt.
Groening said the organisation was committed to creating platforms where local creatives can showcase their talents while giving the Brave Girls insight into the administrative side of cultural work.
At Hilton Garden Inn, participants discovered that a career in hospitality goes far beyond checking guests in or cleaning rooms.
Zubenathi Dlamini and Asanda Dlamini explored housekeeping, Rixiki Saidi experienced bar operations, Asemahle Mavimbela was attached to the front desk, while Mukelo Dlamini gained kitchen experience, including preparing beetroot juice.
The participants learnt about guest relations, room categories, housekeeping standards, beverages, cocktail preparation and hotel operations.
Sales Executive Khetsiwe Mhlongo encouraged the girls to view hospitality as an industry filled with diverse possibilities, including finance, marketing, sales, food and beverage, management and entrepreneurship.
Her hope is that years from now, she will walk into a restaurant or lodge and find one of the Brave Girl participants running the business.
At Mbabane Municipality, participants explored the increasingly important role of technology, innovation and digital platforms in transforming city operations.
IT Officer and Mentor Sakhile Nkambule encouraged the girls to remain curious, ask questions and continuously develop their skills.
Meanwhile, Sibusiso Ncongwane from Innovation and Digital Platforms challenged the idea that innovation must always begin with technology.
“Innovation does not always have to start with technology. It can start with an idea about how something can be done better.”
Participants were also introduced to the municipality’s move towards paper-light administration, electronic information systems and the use of digital tools such as CCTV in supporting modern city management.
The Job Shadowing experience captured the heart of Brave Girl’s mission: giving young women the confidence and information to imagine themselves in careers they may once have considered out of reach.
In just one day, participants moved from construction sites to hospital clinics, hotel kitchens, cultural institutions and municipal offices. More importantly, they met professionals who showed them that careers are built through curiosity, discipline, education, adaptability and a willingness to learn.
The workplaces they visited were not simply places to observe. They became spaces where the girls could picture themselves.
Today’s job-shadowing participants could be tomorrow’s architects, healthcare professionals, hospitality executives, event managers, innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
And that is the real power of Brave Girl: letting young women try on tomorrow before they step into it.
Brave Girl is a residential empowerment programme for high school girls hosted at Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA. The 2026 edition runs from 10 to 15 August and combines exposure to science, technology, entrepreneurship and higher education with mentorship in leadership, resilience and decision-making.
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