Bergzicht Training and Development & Development opened its own on-campus training kitchen in collaboration with accredited training partner Chefs Training & Innovation Academy (CTIA) on Monday 26 September 2022.

The new kitchen will mainly be used by students on the accredited Food Service Assistance (FSA) training programme and has space to train 13 students.

Bergzicht is currently training its second FSA group of 2022 that is funded by the TK Foundation and is excited to introduce this new facet of its on-campus practical culinary training. FSA students will have access to food service training facilities with continued training support from their CTIA partner.

Benita Petersen, Training Manager at Bergzicht, said this event is momentous for the NGO. Not only does the campus-based kitchen increase the organisation’s capacity in terms of flexible planning; it also serves as an accredited commercial asset. “Hospitality in Stellenbosch is in high demand, [and the new kitchen enables us to help] meet this demand,” Ms. Petersen explained.

The kitchen will also be used in the basic kitchen skills module of the iPower self-leadership course, which all students follow before commencing their chosen advanced programmes.

At the launch celebration for the new kitchen, General Manager of the Lanzerac Hotel, Emile Langenhoven, noted how important it is for industry role-players to support the work Bergzicht does, see students grow in an integrated learning space, and eventually place them in work positions.

Rita Swart, owner of Fat Butcher, also attended the launch and encouraged students to embrace the qualities of a good work ethic and passion for the industry. Guest speaker, Jeanneret Momberg CEO of Visit Stellenbosch says, “We are extremely proud to be associated with Bergzicht” and that a world class visitor experience in Stellenbosch relies on the quality training of individuals in the hospitality industry of which Bergzicht plays an invaluable role.

Two programme beneficiaries, Robyn and Khanya, expressed their enthusiasm for the care and mentorship Bergzicht offers and said their ambition is to become chefs and to share their love of cooking with others.

Bergzicht also celebrated the newly installed battery inverter system in the Bergzicht Administration building that was partly funded by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. They are also deeply grateful for the sponsorship from Works Group, Chef Gear of 13 chef uniforms for this current FSA group.

The successful FSA students currently participating in the programme will complete the programme within 10 weeks and will become certified food service assistants on 1 December 2022. Prospective employers can contact Bergzicht’s Student Development Manager Nathalie Skippers at employ@bergzicht.org.za. Certified food service assistants will be able to serve as cooks, kitchen assistants and assistant chefs. Bergzicht alumni are employed in well-known restaurants, guest houses, hotels, and wine estates.

Renske Minnaar, CEO of Bergzicht, describes 2022 as a banner year for the NGO, which is also celebrating its first year-long accredited chef learnership programme (currently under way thanks to funder: The TK Foundation). This rigorous programme with ten months’ work integrated learning at top local internationally acclaimed establishments, is equipping students to earn further culinary qualifications.

To contribute to further junior chef initiatives to combat unemployment, contact Louisa le Roux at fundraising@bergzicht.org.za

MAIN PHOTO:
Back: Somilangaye Gulwa, Sinazo Kolisi, Khanya Shawn Nombakuse, Dimakatso Kunyane, Stephan Fraser, Jeannerete Momberg
Middle: Rita Swart, Emile Langenhoven, Emihle Sigijimi, Robyn Larochelle Diamond, Asavela Nkalitshana, Ana Siko, Meagan Taitai, Linda Dokodwana
Front: Jaydeen Greef
Absent: Tameron Pears

 FOLLOWING IMAGE:
Back (left to right): Khanya Shawn Nombakuse, Somilangaye Gulwa, Robyn Larochelle Diamond, Emihle Sigijimi, Meagan Taitai, Facilitator A. Van Breukelen, Linda Dokodwana, Asavela Nkalitshana, Dimakatso Kunyane and Sinazo Kolisi Front: Raydeen Greeff and Ana Siko
Absent: Tameron Pears