The programme is open to all beneficiaries who are currently completing their matric, or who completed their matric in 2012. Beneficiaries interested in applying to the programme are required to submit preliminary or final results and a short motivating letter. From these applications, a short-list will be created and beneficiaries will be interviewed.
Over the course of 2014, the selected beneficiaries will rotate through FedGroup's various departments, gaining important skills and hands-on experience. They will also be remunerated and taught how to save and invest their money.
According to Mphogo, Iteke is not a programme for beneficiaries looking to entertain a gap year, but for those looking to build a strong foundation for future success. "Through Iteke, we are giving our beneficiaries access to the tools that they require for optimal development. We are presenting them with an opportunity to unlock their full potential. Whether, at the end of the programme, our beneficiaries look to pursue a career in financial services or not, they will graduate from Iteke with a sense of independence and an understanding of interpersonal and corporate communication," he says.
Mphogo is not only the inspiration for Iteke, but will head up the programme as a mentor to the beneficiaries. "At FedGroup, we believe that education is the key to a successful future. We are a family that sees a future, where others see underprivileged. In 2005, FedGroup invested in me, my education and my future. I would like to extend this investment to beneficiaries who may find themselves in a similar a position to what I was."
He hopes to inspire the selected beneficiaries and mentor them in the same way he was mentored. "My aim is to have beneficiaries walk away as role models to their communities. I hope to make them realise that opportunity is not finite. As young people we need to maximise each and every opportunity that comes our way to the best of our ability," he explains.
In addition to being mentored by Mphogo, Iteke participants will have the opportunity to work alongside some of South Africa's leading financial services professionals. Their interaction with these professionals will provide them with a well-rounded business education. Graduates will also walk away with a certificate in Business Administration - a valuable asset to any CV.
Applications for the Iteke Learnership Programme will close on 31 October 2013. Beneficiaries will be selected towards the middle of November and will start the programme in January 2014.
