Career Planet: Career Discovery Center

Career Planet is a registered Not-for-Profit, Public Benefit Organization. It takes the internet and career related information free of charge to high schools and communities via online, mobile kiosks and a dynamic website. Our first mobile unit was launched in June 2008. Since then we have grown to 2 online kiosk units based in the Western Cape. Our plans for 2009 include expanding into the other provinces.

Services provided by Career Planet:

Career Planet website with sector specific information and career/training-related advertising
Mobile, online, career discovery kiosks with workshops
Teacher career guidance training
Group job shadowing & group ‘training‘ shadowing
Career readiness workshops
Sustainable self employment workshops
Online CV creation tool with search function for recruiters

BACKGROUND

Career Planet was launched in June 2008 by then Western Cape Minister of Education, Mr Cameron Dugmore. It is a unique, web-based career information service. Our resources are generated through career and training related advertising on our website and on the mobile kiosks to provide free services to schools and communities. These services include an interactive careers website, online mobile career discovery workshops, teacher training, career readiness workshops, job shadowing days and sustainable self-employment workshops.
Sector-specific advertising offers employers, recruiters and training providers the opportunity to brand their services directly to people who are searching for specific information.

Career Planet’s mobile online kiosks take technology directly to the schools and communities that need it most. Venues are selected for accessibility and safety – and these include schools, shopping malls, sports and community centres, universities and colleges. Our kiosks are staffed by facilitators who are familiar with the website and are able to direct users to the information that they are looking for.

Career Planets mobile kiosks travel to rural and urban schools and communities for 4-5 days per visit where our online services are available, free of charge, to whoever needs them.

Between January & April 2009 we have actively helped over 4600 people through our career workshops and interactive online expos. In addition to this we have had 23 531 visitors to our website.
Career Planet has the potential to make a significant impact on the prospects, career choices and access to opportunities for thousands of young people - particularly in poor, rural and urban communities. Our programs also include income generating activities and training for unemployed / retrenched/ physically disabled people.

Funders and Partners

Career Planet funding is derived from a combination of advertising revenue and project sponsorship.
We are extremely grateful to our funders and partners for the support that enables us to take Career Planet to schools and communities – particularly those in disadvantaged areas.

The building of our first mobile kiosk was funded by seda and the DTI.
Other significant funders and partners include the Western Cape Provincial Government , Theta, Buzz ISP, Career Junction , Oceana and PersonL.

Advertisers and supporters are promoted with a logo or banner on the Career Planet website with a link to their website

Our Mission: To link people with training and career-related opportunities by providing up-to-date career and skills development information with a strong focus on scarce skills and sustainable self-employment.

Our Vision: To become the leading provider of career information and access to skills training and work-related opportunities.

Our credentials

Career Planet is a Section 21 company

Registration no: 2007/007480/08
PBO number: 930025803

Alignment with the National School Curriculum:
Career Planet aligns directly with two of the eight Learning Areas of the Revised National Curriculum Statement for grades 8 & 9: Life Orientation and Economic and Management Sciences.

Target users: