On Friday 29 July 2011 the Umzi Wethu training academy for vulnerable youth celebrated the graduation of another 35 students from both the hospitality and game ranging academy. (Before you move on – scroll down to see the placement rates for Umzi Wethu, they make government sponsored initiatives look positively SILLY)
Five years ago, the benchmark Umzi Wethu hospitality academy was established after a feasibility study that assessed the job qualification needs of Eastern Cape parks and game reserves. Following its success, the Umzi Wethu game ranger academy was launched in March 2008 in the rural town of Somerset East. The ceremony on Friday marked the graduation of a total of 142 students since the project’s inception.
Headed up by the Wilderness Foundation of South Africa, Umzi Wethu is a one year, social development and intervention programme for displaced and socially vulnerable youth (those who have lost one or both parents, are child headed households or live in households with no formal income).
In his keynote address, Director of the Wilderness Foundation, Andrew Muir, drew parallels between his childhood stuttering impediment and the challenges facing graduates saying that he was teased remorselessly by uninformed children who decided that his favourite shop was Stuttafords and that his favourite song was 19 by Paul Hardcastle – an anti war song focusing on America’s involvement in the Vietnam War that used a stutter effect on the words “n-n-n-n-nineteen” and “d-d-d-d-destruction”.
Before Andrew spoke he was lauded by a Praise Singer, Mandilakhe Hloko – to great excitement and gasps of pleasure from the assembled graduates.
Andrew went on to say; “Essentially we are creating ambassadors for other vulnerable youths and orphans to look up to, and see a brighter outlook. Graduates from Umzi Wethu will serve as examples of opportunity and hope to both their own families and to the communities from which they come.”
How refreshing it was for me to sit and observe the intense pleasure that these graduates derived from their time of learning at Umzi Wethu. They demonstrated a warm glow of confidence and self respect, eager to celebrate the achievements of their peers and humble acceptance of their own.
A graduate from Umzi Wethu (2nd intake), Lincoln Meyer – now a project manager for the Wilderness Foundation in Somerset East – wore his heart on his sleeve as he told of his ascension from an “arrogant little brat” to a manager in the organisation. Lincoln only had praise for Andrew Muir as he said that his success was only due to being allowed to stand on the “shoulders of giants”. That his success was a miracle to him in relation to his difficult background was palpable to everyone present as Lincoln’s eyes glistened with emotion.
According to director of Social Programmes for the Wilderness Foundation, Pinky Kondlo, “the goal of Umzi Wethu is to fulfil the employability potential of resilient, motivated youth who have been displaced by HIV/Aids and poverty,” and they have certainly achieved this.
At the end of the ceremony I was approached by one of the former graduates, now in a management position at a prestigious Guest House in Port Elizabeth, who asked me if I my daughter was still taking dancing lessons. Then, it dawned on me – this former Umzi Wethu graduate had been one of the waitrons doing in-house training at the Conyngham Coffee Shop four years ago. At that time the Apprentice Longhair had been taking dancing lessons next door and I had made it a habit to have a cup or two of coffee and work from Conynghams Coffee Shop – what a demonstration of a great memory and confidence and a great advertisement for the Umzi Wethu programme.
The project harnesses the power of the wilderness, promotes personal wellness, provides credible training, and secures sustainable job placements for graduates in the hospitality and eco-tourism industry.
Umzi Wethu is one of the most successful social intervention projects in South Africa and won the prestigious Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2008.
The graduation of this year’s 17 game ranging students included five individuals selected for additional field guide training. “This additional training includes FGASA level 1 and a driver’s license to equip them to work as field guides in private game reserves,” says Umzi Wethu academy manager, Paul Longe. “The field guide training is still underway, and will be completed in August this year.” Ten of the game ranging students have already been placed in jobs or internships at various game parks in the Eastern Cape.
The graduation included another 18 hospitality students who began their training as chefs and waitrons in July 2010. The placement for these students begins in August 2011 as they are currently assisting in the training of the latest hospitality academy intake.
The Umzi Wethu graduate job placement rate is 95%, job retention rate is between 80-85%. The jobs are well paid and support the graduates’ extended families. Further research into the success of the project over the last five years has revealed that 7-10% of graduates have either advanced to junior and middle management positions in eco-tourism industries, or have been enabled to pursue tertiary education.
If you are a Guest House or Game Farm owner it looks like Umzi Wethu has become the go-to place to find staff.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- Soccer Laduma Sets Out a Bonus and Deposit Guide for SA Punters This Spring - 30 September 2026
- Alu Door & Window Centre Readies Mpumalanga Homes for the Summer Storms - 30 September 2026
- If AI Can Now Do the Work, Who Checks the Work? - 29 September 2026
- UK Music Titans Marc Marot & Jeremy Marsh Join #MEX26 in Cape Town - 29 September 2026
- The Countdown On – Mind Matters Is Taking Over Cape Town Before Taking the Conversation Global - 28 September 2026
