MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

umzi wethu

Luphumlo Joka speaks at the Umzi Wethu Graduation

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Luphumlo Joka speaks at the Umzi Wethu Graduation of 49 Students in Conservation and Hospitality. Umzi Wethu is the education arm of Port Elizabeth based Wilderness Foundation Africa. #graduation #tourism #wfa #alanstraton #mype #ridingthejoy #celebration @worldwide_experience @mantiscollection @wildernessfoundation #mbda @mbda___ - Taken by the Editor whilst wandering aimlessly about pretending to be in the know. https://youtu.be/TyCosZ8COuE   … [Read more...] about Luphumlo Joka speaks at the Umzi Wethu Graduation

Support for Our Home

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Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) believes in supporting non-profit organisations that contribute to the empowerment of youth in local communities. One such organisation is Wilderness Foundation Africa  and through the Umzi Wethu project (part of its Youth Development Programme) the youth are being trained and uplifted. Umzi Wethu means "our home" in Xhosa and that is exactly what Wilderness Foundation Africa provides for its students.  The project was established in April 2006 … [Read more...] about Support for Our Home

Phakamisa Kolisi

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Join Port Elizabeth and MyPE in congratulating Mover and Shaker, Phakamisa Kolisi from Umzi Wethu: Orphaned in his teens, Phakamisa Kolisi learned to cook when he was left alone to look after himself and his younger brother. Both siblings were passionate about expressing their creative gifts, with the younger brother going into the creative arts industry, and Phakamisa making waves in the hospitality industry. In 2007, Phakamisa heard about the Umzi Wethu hospitality academy in Port … [Read more...] about Phakamisa Kolisi

Gaining a better view on conservation

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Two students from the Umzi Wethu conservation training academy in Port Elizabeth now have a better view on conservation thanks to the donation of glasses from Spec-Savers. Emelda Eachells and Sigqibo Manene received their spectacles from Spec-Savers Greenacres on Friday, April 05, 2013. Spec-Savers is a long-term sponsor of the Wilderness Foundation’s Umzi Wethu skills development and job placement programme. "Thanks to the sponsorship, we are able to send all of the Umzi Wethu … [Read more...] about Gaining a better view on conservation

Lebogang Gontsana and Noluthando Masimini

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Join Port Elizabeth and MyPE in congratulating Mover and Shakers, Lebogang Gontsana and Noluthando Masimini from Wilderness Foundation: Hospitality students from the Umzi Wethu hospitality academy have been given the chance to be mentored by Michelin Star chef, John Hodder from Ginger restaurant, and Mario Paul from the Beach Hotel's Crest Restaurant. This is through a relationship that Umzi Wethu has developed with the PE Hotel group. The Umzi Wethu model is one of the Wilderness … [Read more...] about Lebogang Gontsana and Noluthando Masimini

Hope Springs Eternal

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Just the other day I was chatting to an old mate, Bob, who has been involved with the training of young journalists for a few years now and he made a very encouraging statement that he was training aspirant journalists of a much higher calibre now than when he started. This was put down to the current crop having benefited from 12 years of schooling in a normal environment. Jump forward to one of the most joyous occasions in my jaded year - the annual Umzi Wethu Student Graduation ceremony … [Read more...] about Hope Springs Eternal

Off to one of my favourite graduations this Friday

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On Friday July 27, 2012 the Umzi Wethu training academy for vulnerable youth will celebrate the graduation of its 10th and 11th intake of students. The ceremony will mark the graduation of a total of 177 students since the project's inception seven years ago in 2005. There are currently two Umzi Wethu academies managed under the Wilderness Foundation banner, a hospitality academy in Port Elizabeth and a conservation academy in Somerset East. A third hospitality academy (the first rollout of the … [Read more...] about Off to one of my favourite graduations this Friday

Celebrate Positive Change in the Individual With Lwazi Xinwa

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I received a short note and link to an article on the Wilderness Foundation Blog today from Claire. Now those of you who actually read MyPE - thanks Mom - will know that I was blown away by the joy of life and living as shown by graduates at Umzi Wethu last year. See: Andrew Muir Tells of his 'favourite' Shop and Song. But, back to today's inspirational story which I have re-published below (Visit the Wilderness Foundation Blog for more 'inspirational, feel good, South African's making a … [Read more...] about Celebrate Positive Change in the Individual With Lwazi Xinwa

Hey Jamie, How About Employing Thembelani?

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A young Umzi Wethu graduate from Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, has excelled at the SA Chefs Academy in Cape Town. Thembelani Wiseman Gunya (22) was the second Umzi Wethu graduate to receive a grant for further education at the SA Chefs Academy, where he spent a year under the mentorship of some of the finest chefs in the country. Umzi Wethu is a project by the Wilderness Foundation and was developed as a social investment project focussing on securing sustainable job placements in hospitality and … [Read more...] about Hey Jamie, How About Employing Thembelani?

R500 000 to Local Academy in recognition as the Benchmark for Job Creation and Skills Training

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On November 9, 2011, the Wilderness Foundation will showcase its two successful Umzi Wethu academies to sponsors and the media. The occasion will also mark Absa's handover of R500 000 towards Umzi Wethu training for 2012. One of the main focus areas of the Wilderness Foundation is social intervention coupled with experiential environmental education. The international award-winning Umzi Wethu project was founded by Andrew Muir, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation in 2006 and is one of the … [Read more...] about R500 000 to Local Academy in recognition as the Benchmark for Job Creation and Skills Training

Local Social Entrepreneur up for 2011 World Entrepreneur Award

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Wilderness Foundation executive director, Andrew Muir has been selected as one of the four finalists for the 2011 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards Programme in the Social entrepreneur category. This year marks the fifth awards ceremony, opening up opportunities for the winner to gain access to the Schwab Foundation's global network, providing unprecedented opportunities to engage global decision makers. "I am honoured to have been selected as a finalist," says Muir. "I believe … [Read more...] about Local Social Entrepreneur up for 2011 World Entrepreneur Award

Young Adults Celebrate Workplace Skills Training

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Eleven young adults completed the inaugural Umzi Wethu Livelihoods Programme on October 6. The programme is one of the Wilderness Foundation's social intervention projects aimed at the youth of the Eastern Cape and will benefit up to 300 job seekers per year. "The Umzi Wethu Livelihoods Programme aims to equip job seekers with the skills required to find work and to become valuable employees," says facilitator, Heinrich Terblanche. "The programme combines an established job readiness training … [Read more...] about Young Adults Celebrate Workplace Skills Training

I can see clearly now

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Two students from the Umzi Wethu hospitality training academy in Port Elizabeth can now 'see clearly' thanks to the sponsorship of Spec-Savers. Lifa Tshali and Lerato Tau received their glasses from Spec-Savers Greenacres franchisee, Antonie Wolmarans on Monday, August 29, 2011. "These glasses are great," says Lerato Tau. "I can see so well now, and it helps me to study harder. I used to get really bad headaches which affected my concentration, and the nurse recommended that I have my eyes … [Read more...] about I can see clearly now

Andrew Muir Tells of his ‘favourite’ Shop and Song

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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 … [Read more...] about Andrew Muir Tells of his ‘favourite’ Shop and Song