Hospitality students receive the opportunity of a lifetime
Only 24 students were chosen from the 81 infor SPAR's Siyapheka Kitchen program at MRTT hospitality and tourism.
KANYAMAZANE – Aiming at contributing to the fight against unemployment, SPAR launched its Siyapheka Kitchen at the MRTT Hospitality and Tourism Academy.
Eighty one students were interviewed but only 24 were selected for the programme. Its main objective was to contribute to skills development. SPAR management director, Mr R de Vos, told the excited students that they had started the programme to curb unemployment and skills shortages.
“Our main criterion was to find people who wanted to change their world. We chose the 24 learners to skill them and employ them in various fields in the hospitality industry,” he said.
Ms Lucky Moeketsi of the Department of Education said the partnership between SPAR and MRTT came at a good time. She thanked the academy and said it should not only train the students, but also place them in various companies.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime, don’t play with it. If you do, you will not only be disappointing MRTT and SPAR, but also other youngsters who would love to have had this opportunity.”
One of the students, Ethel Nkosi said.
“This has changed our lives. I now wake up excited, realising the possibilities that will come with this initiative.”
She urged fellow students not to waste the opportunity, but make the most of it and create something that would also help other disadvantaged people.
