It may seem as if Karamu High School students spent the day playing board games, but in actual fact, they took the first step towards exploring future career ideas.

In a way reminiscent of the Monopoly board game, the Futureopoly Event, proudly supported by the Graeme Dingle Foundation Hawke's Bay, saw the school’s year 10 and 11 students meet with 15 career providers.

Set up in the June Clarke Centre at Karamu High School, students rolled dice to determine which provider they would land on and whether they were to complete an activity or ask provided questions. Either task earned the students “dingle dollars” which could be exchanged for raffle tickets with prizes attached.

For Higgins Contractors, students used a digger to retrieve a tyre out of water. While Rockmybaby, representing early childhood education, had a sign language activity.

Karamu High School Deputy Principal Sarah Gunn said the aim of the event was to increase students’ awareness of career opportunities and build their confidence to make decisions about career pathways.

By offering a wide range of providers from around the region, Mrs Gunn says it opens students to pathways they might not have thought of, based on a realistic understanding of what it is like to work in different jobs.

“Students have different career pathways, so it is showing them the options that are available and that best suit them.”

Including year 10s in the event meant they were able to make important course choices as they entered senior school and NCEA.

Year 11 students Olivia Thomas and Esta Chaplin both found the event beneficial and walked away excited about their possibilities.

“I thought it was definitely the best career event we’ve had or that’s been available because it was so interactive,” Olivia said.

“I thought the selection of people and businesses that were represented was quite good because it opened options for me that I wasn’t thinking about.”

For Esta, who wants to go down a business route, seeing local providers and businesses, made it feel more accessible.

Fellow year 11 student Dean Te Huna particularly enjoyed speaking to Higgins.

With no real idea of what he wants to do after high school, playing Futureopoly was both “fun and informative”.

Although the event has been held at other schools since it was created a year ago, it was the first time for Karamu High School students.

The Graeme Dingle Foundation Hawke’s Bay Secondary School Coordinator Ashley Toye said the value the students got was worth more than the prizes at the end.

She said it tapped into the students’ innate competitiveness. “Having the game concept and getting to earn money and prizes means that students are excited and enticed to engage but the results are better at the other end.

“And because they want to earn the most money and win the most prizes, they were more inclined to do the interview because the interview was worth more than the activity.”

“The interview is where they get the value, but the activity is what keeps that business and sector fresh in their mind.”

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