This major achievement follows a demanding, year-long curriculum at the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) which trained these historically disadvantaged young people for employment opportunities in the wine industry and related sectors.
These graduates, who received their qualifications on Friday 20 May, are now looking to launch their careers as a group of work-ready, well-rounded, confident graduates, who are ready to change in the industry and their communities.
According to Academy Programme Director, Nikki Munro, young people are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the labour market, and are increasingly reliant on academies where they can develop their ‘social capital’ in order to become highly employable in the competitive local job market.
“The Pinotage Youth Development Academy provides this platform for previously disadvantaged youth by ensuring a high-level training environment where students are taught technical sills across the entire value chain of wine, from vineyard through to the tasting room” says Munro, adding “it isn’t easy as students are required to achieve a 75% mark in order to graduate successfully.”
This learning is underpinned by personal development to build self-confidence and prepare the students for employment in the wine industry.
Munro highlighted the fact that PYDA graduates, through their ability to self-manage, personal leadership skills, and an understanding of the bigger business picture, are a new generation of young, vibrant professionals that greatly will benefit the local wine industry – as the curriculum at the PYDA is custom-designed to meet industry specific needs.
The PYDA programme launched in June 2013 with 25 students from the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington areas. After a successful first year, a second group of 25 students joined in June 2014, this time expanding to include Franschhoek within the catchment area.
The class of 2015 / 2016 has grown to a class of 30 students based at the Academy’s Bergzicht campus in Stellenbosch.