November 11, 2024, Cape Town, South Africa – Knight Piésold Southern Africa recently hosted a Job Shadow Day for Grade 9 and 10 learners from the Desmond Tutu Secondary School and members of the Mbekweni Eco Club. The event, held at Knight Piésold’s Cape Town office, aimed to spark interest in STEM careers among youth and provide a firsthand glimpse into the world of engineering.

The day began with a warm welcome breakfast led by Vincent Nteta, co-founder and financial officer at Mbekweni Eco Club, and Mishqa Meyer, office administrator at Knight Piésold’s Cape Town office. Learners received notepads and pencils, symbolizing the start of their engineering journey, and were introduced to the Knight Piésold team and the activities ahead.

Waseemah Isaacs, director of roads at Knight Piésold’s Cape Town office, kicked off the program with an insightful introduction to Knight Piésold, explaining the company's roots in civil engineering and the distinctions between consulting and construction work. This introductory session provided learners a foundation for understanding what consulting engineering entails and how it differs from other engineering disciplines.

Throughout the day, learners were exposed to various engineering disciplines through engaging presentations:

• Water and Hydropower: Altaaf Mohamed, senior civil technologist at Knight Piésold’s Pretoria office, shared insights on the company’s projects that harness water for sustainable energy.
• Mining: Nicole Niekerk, civil engineer at Knight Piésold’s Sandton office, gave an engaging overview of mining engineering and the unique challenges it presents.
• Roads: Ian Britten, principal technologist at Knight Piésold’s Cape Town office, covered the importance of infrastructure and the role that safe, sustainable roads play in connecting communities.
• Infrastructure: Sonet Gerber, senior civil technologist at Knight Piésold’s Cape Town office, presented a look at the company’s infrastructure projects, emphasizing the complexity and importance of developing resilient structures.

To round out the presentations, civil technician JP Coetzee and draughtsperson Deneill Stuurman, both from Knight Piésold’s Cape Town office, introduced the learners to engineering modeling, demonstrating how advanced tools bring complex designs to life and how digital innovation is central to modern engineering.

A highlight of the day was a site visit to Viognier at Aan de Wijnlanden Estate. This hands-on experience allowed learners to see engineering principles applied to real-world projects, emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship and innovation in every project. This experience ignited a sense of possibility for many, allowing them to imagine themselves one day designing and managing impactful projects.

The day concluded with a certificate ceremony in recognition of their participation in the program. This event underscored Knight Piésold’s commitment to fostering a passion for engineering and STEM education in the next generation. By exposing learners to diverse engineering disciplines and real-world applications, Knight Piésold aims to inspire and empower young minds to explore the many opportunities available in the rapidly growing STEM industry.

As the learners returned to school, they carried with them a deeper understanding of engineering and newfound enthusiasm for the possibilities that lie ahead in STEM careers. Knight Piésold remains dedicated to nurturing this interest, helping to shape future leaders in innovation and sustainability.