The students who are part of the Emperors Palace Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme attended a three-day workshop at Emperors Palace during the school holidays.
The Southern Highveld Community Development Trust (SHCDT) – a Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club CSI initiative – and the Peermont Education Trust (PET) funded the programme.
Under the administration of the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT), the programme aims to help the students pursue their Hospitality Management degrees. Their tuition, accommodation expenses, books, a laptop and a stipend are covered.
During the programme, the students will learn how to cope and develop new skills while at university and improve their chances of graduating.
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Trust manager Thomas Masango welcomed the students on the first morning.
Then, trustee and Peermont Group training and development manager Malebo Mpepele did a presentation on personal branding before trustee Vusi Zwane discussed various topics with the group, ranging from emotional intelligence to employability.
Mike Sibeko from Leandra shared his road to owning his own company since being the first SHCDT bursary recipient in 2001.
On day two, clinical psychologist Asanda Madi spoke to the students about navigating university life, highlighting time and stress management, adjustment challenges, emotional regulation, coping strategies, identifying mental health difficulties and help-seeking behaviour and resources.
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Madi also spoke about mindfulness journaling and did a reflection session, which included subjects like guided reflections on the first six months of 2024, strategic goal setting and understanding how thoughts impact one’s behaviour and emotions, cognitive distortions and optimising thinking.
A former programme student and executive director of operations at CE Africa, John Maseko, addressed the students on teamwork, initiative-taking and dependability skills.
Masango introduced several multi-drawer challenges for individual and group sessions on the last day of the workshop.
The local students who are part of the programme are Owethusonke Radebe, Siyethemba Myeni, Busisiwe Mahlambi, Sizwe Mahlangu, Zothile Zwane, Unathi Radebe, Buhle Mokase, Siphamandla Mabena, Philisiwe Mayaba and Makwana Matladi.
