Even more alarming is that in this age group, a significantly large number of young women find themselves without employment, without career prospects or any plan for the future.

The Institute cites a lack of career guidance in schools as one of the most common reasons, something the Cell C Foundation through its various Girl Child initiatives seek to address.

“Given the number of young women who are unemployed and therefore vulnerable in every possible way, the education and mentoring of girls is critical, but there is another pressing reason: young women need to be encouraged to dream and to believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to,” says managing executive of Cell C Foundation, Suzette van der Merwe.

This is the reason why iconic Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day, introduced to the business community in 2003, now benefits an estimated 50 000 young women every year. And the number of corporate companies who have supported the initiative rose to 520 this year.

Its key purpose is to encourage schoolgirls to dream, to let them know that their ambitions are achievable, to allow them to experience time in an actual work environment, shadowing top executives. It is a practical step towards enabling them to make the connection between what they learn at school and their future career goals.

Cell C also has a Girl Child Bursary Fund that currently provides tertiary education for 20 beneficiaries in partnership with the Tomorrow Trust.

The need is so great that Cell C further invested in a mentorship programme for young women that complement their focus on gender equity and women empowerment.

This is why iconic businesswoman, Dolly Mokgatle, has agreed to be the Cell C Girl Child Institute of Mentorship’s patron. “Mentorship is a long-term investment and is a powerful concept – it’s about being a cheerleader and providing support and recognition to the next generation,” Mokgatle says. “Mentors are often older, more experienced and wiser and have the potential to light the spark in a young person’s life.”

In keeping with its mission statement – to support gender equity - Cell C has a workforce of which 56 percent are female.

Van der Merwe says: “Our CEO, Jose Dos Santos has been very clear in his directive that as a company we need a large female workforce. Women empowerment and creating opportunities for young girls is at the foundation of Cell C’s ethos. Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with knowledge, skills, self-confidence and social and economic status. These qualities enable women to become actively involved and participate meaningfully in our economy. That is why Cell C is passionate about this campaign and thankful for the support from Corporate South Africa and civil society.”

She adds that there has been some criticism of the exclusion of boys, but says it is not about excluding one gender. “Competent and confident young people will take this country forward and Cell C endeavours to set the tone and the pace. I like a term I recently heard used by a 16-year-old boy who said he was not a feminist, but an equalist. That is our vision too at Cell C, – a world where male and female have equal opportunity.”

For more information, visit www.cellc.co.za. Alternatively connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.