What nationality are you?
South African
What languages do you speak (and at what level)?
English, Afrikaans (Excellent), Dutch/Flemish (well), German (understands well) and understand a little Swahili.
What country or area are you looking to work in and why?
Tanzania/Botswana/Mozambique. I visited the countries in 2006 and fell in love with the local children, residents and unspoilt nature. I also saw the need for education/upliftment programmes in many rural areas and would love to use my training/experience to help make a difference in the lives of these people.
What countries have you worked in?
Only Namibia and South Africa.
What countries do you have a visa to work in?
I have not applied yet – first trying to find a job there.
What field do you currently work in?
I am a qualified Language / Sport Teacher cum Communication Lecturer cum Health Journalist and have been combining/alternating these three careers for the past 20 years in order to make a wider impact and reach people from different backgrounds and cultures.
What fields have you worked in before?
Teaching/Education/Sport Coach/Journalism/Translation/Marketing
What qualifications do you hold?
4 year university degree – BA (ed) Sport & Languages, as well as College Assessor Qualification in International Communication as well as five awards for Journalism.
Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why?
Formal education. It provides a lifelong foundation/platform from which various skills and forms of expertise can be obtained. Formal education also provides one with a qualification which is essential in today’s world where only the best qualified people get employment and good salaries. Anybody can learn new skills at any time of their life, but a solid formal education is the basis of all careers.
Describe the benefits of working with others
Teamwork teaches one valuable social and interpersonal communication skills and creates a sense of belonging to a specific group or organisation. Working in a group also has the benefit of having various inputs and ideas and sharing tasks and responsibilities. Teamwork teaches one to respect, consider and listen to other people and to be less selfish and self-centered – thus helping to build character.
Describe the benefits of working alone
Depending on the kind of task/job, one can accomplish more work faster if one does not have to constantly wait for or rely on the assistance of less competent people. But even if certain tasks/jobs can be done by working alone, one is always part of a bigger purpose/organisation and can thus seldom work in total isolation. No man is an island and we need one another to be most effective/happy in our work and personal life.
What was your worst working experience?
Being an investigative journalist at a huge Media Company that restrained my freedom of speech/accurate reporting due to political and corporate influence. Teaching at a government school where Red Tape and bureaucracy/politics were considered more important than the welfare/education of the scholars.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career?
If you truly LOVE what you do and live your passion, your work seems more like play and you will automatically excel and walk the extra mile because it is what you love doing. Happy workers are more effective and conscientious. If you can combine your natural talents and passion with your training and experience, you are exactly where you are meant to be in your career and thus will be a happy/contented and motivated worker.
What unique skills do you have?
Intelligent, energetic, versatile and conscientious. Excellent Communication Skills (written, oral and non-verbal); Love new challenges and adventure; Very versatile and adapt easily to new challenges and situations; Good people skills – get on well with people from all sectors of life across all cultural/language barriers; Empathy with the underdog; Task-orientated and driven; Very strong sense of community conscience; Passionate about knowledge and wisdom – both learning new things and teaching/empowering others with knowledge; Passionate about health and advocating/researching good eating habits and lifestyles; Love outdoor activities and sport; Good at marketing and advertising ideas/products and services that have a positive impact on people and nature. Believe a healthy body houses a healthy mind.
What would you consider as your ‘dream job’?
Working in a less formal (not corporate) environment where I can apply and combine my training, skills and passion to help make a difference – either to people or the environment. Working in nature (with animals or tourists) or teaching less privileged children in an informal environment where one can combine formal teaching with Life Skills, outdoor activities, ethics and values and character building.
What are the most interesting aspects of your field?
Working with a wide variety of people/issues and helping to make a difference – either by journalism (newspaper articles) and/or teaching and Upliftment Programmes. A Life that Matters.
What are the least interesting aspects of your field?
Bureaucratic Red Tape and Politics can hinder both journalism and education if it interferes with/influences the trustworthiness of the outcome and degrades the nobility of the career. A Strong value system and ethical principles should apply in both journalism and education and both teachers/journalists should be impartial, unbiased and fair.
Please replace this with a question of your own
Are there any jobs available in Botswana/Mozambique/Tanzania where a qualified, versatile and experienced educator/journalist/Communication Lecturer can combine these fields of expertise to help make a difference?
How can potential employers contact you?
My contact details are: email: ewes@mweb.co.za Tel. (h): +27283842153 Mobile: +27842401540
