As Zakhona Mbelu (29) starts constructing the exact sandwich on the order slip in front of her at the Fedics-owned cafeteria at Sanlam’s headquarters in Bellville, she becomes completely engrossed in the task at hand. Yet her quiet demeanour belies the determination and tenacity she has developed over the years as well as her adventurous
After being unemployed for seven years, Nontuthuzelo Nqumana, 33, from Kayamandi in Stellenbosch was encouraged by her mom to improve her employability by registering for a few courses and programmes at Bergzicht Training. Little did she know that upon completing the iPOWER (Self-Empowering) Foundation Programme (previously Home Management), she would immediately be employed as a
After completing the Edu Care Programme at Bergzicht Training and countless job applications submitted to day and aftercare centres around the Western Cape, Danine van Rooi (29), took her own initiative and opened Little Miracles Day and Aftercare at her house in Rietpoel Street in Wesbank, Delft. The facility now caters to a growing need
For the last four years, local government and NGOs in Stellenbosch have joined hands to help change the fate of many poor, unskilled or semi-skilled, and unemployed youth in Stellenbosch and from the looks of it, that collaboration has been reaping many fruits. On 15 June, 13 students who completed Bergzicht Training’s City & Guilds’
Bergzicht Training graduates share stories of how their lives have changed thanks to the internationally recognised City & Guilds’ Professional Cooking and Food and Beverage Service Programme “I know my father would have been as excited as I am today and I know that he is smiling down at me. It was my father who
Bergzicht Training celebrated its 25th birthday on Monday, 6 March, and was fortunate to have co-founder, Cecile Kotze, as well as the new Chairman of their Board, Mr Nathan Motjuwadi, and more than 90 current students at the celebrations. During the celebration, Kotze encouraged the students to make use of the opportunities offered to them
Bergzicht Training alumnus and Muratie chef Marco Williams, 28, was the guest speaker at a recent canapé brunch event prepared by 14 students who completed seven weeks of the non- governmental organisation’s 10-week City & Guilds’ Professional Cooking and Food and Beverage Service Programme. Bergzicht helps poor, unskilled, semi-skilled and unemployed persons in the Western
When Krystal Mowers from Kylemore was 13 years old, she became a caretaker to her bedridden grandmother along with her mother and aunt. This experience would years later fuel her dream to become a frail care assistant. “My grandmother was bedridden and lived with my aunt most of the year, but during the holidays, she
When Jesika Jones from Vlottenburg finished her Educare course at Bergzicht Training in 2009, she turned her own home into one of the first crèche and day care centres in her community. “Before I started studying at Bergzicht many of the parents in my community used to ask me if I could take care of
If you had met Wesley Smith last year, you would have been forgiven for mistaking him as yet another young man focused only on partying and having a good time. Today, 21-year-old Smith from Idas Valley in Stellenbosch has changed his life around and works as a first assistant chef at the Wine Lounge of
