Transformation in South Africa and especially in the winelands is a long process. So I am always excited to see development and training happening and making a difference in people's lives..
EZIKO COOKING SCHOOL
Eziko is a cooking and catering school in Langa, which was founded in 1996 by Victor Mguqulwa, who really wanted to make a difference in his community.
Over the years many of his students have gone on to work at hotels and restaurants and make a better lives for themselves. So I was delighted to be invited to see the first real wine education taking place there last week. Although I can't believe it has taken 20 years for us to get wine training to the townships!
The International Wine Challenge has sponsored WSET (Cathy Marston) to give training to this group and they were exposed to wine varieties and and bubbly and general wine education for the Level 1 course.
From what I hear, this is just the start of this collaboration and there is more to come. In my humble opinion, I think hospitality is the one area where wine and wine-exposure can be fast-tracked into the black market. I have seen wonderful young sommeliers and wine stewards blossom and shine and this education to the foodie world will have similar effects.
WINE TRAINING SA
Wine Training SA, which is run so energetically by Emma Burger, is a non-profit organisation that has offerered an extensive training programme to cellar workers in the South African Wine Industry since 1987 - namely the SKOP courses which has recently been renamed Senior Kelderassistent Ontwikkelings Program or in English Senior Cellar Assistant Development Program.
Last week saw another 80 students graduate from this program with the top SKOP 3 students being:
William Koerkop – Distell
Alvino van Wyk – Klein Constancia
Heinrich Carstens – Overhex
NJ Steyn – Simonsvlei
Godknows Chiringmatambu - Goudini Wines
Jacqui Lukas – Graham Beck
Daniel Siljeur – Robertson Winery
Ian Jooste – GWK
Cliften Klukowski – Orange River Cellar
Frans Louw – Orange River Cellar
Special awards
Jacqui Lukas – Graham Beck (Top SKOP 3 student)
Steven Anthony – Orange River Cellar (best assignment)
Shaun Engelbrecht – Spier (best wine tasting student)
PINOTAGE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
It was a week filled with educational activities, with the PYDA also having their graduation ceremony, upskilling 30 new young energetic previously unemployed South Africans between 18 and 25, preparing them for tourism and hospitality jobs. This is the 3rd set of students graduating.
The Academy is the inspiration of the UK based Dame Hilary Cropper Foundation. Through their work with existing South African NGO's, the Foundation's Trustees recognised that the talent and potential among historically disadvantated youth is too often unrealised due to lack of opportunity.
Of the 30 students who graduated last week, 21 out of the 30 passed WSET level 2, 1 with distinction, 6 with merit which is really a brilliant achievement - well done to them all!
Many of these graduates have gone on to make a real difference in their lives, which is really what education is about.
WINE TECH STUDY GROUPS & SA WINE CELLAR WORKER PROGRAM
The WineTech Study Groups and SA Wine Cellar Program cycle for 2016 is also about to begin, an initiative driven by VinPro & WineTech... which works with some of the top cellar workers in furthering their studies. More about that soon.
Long live education, long live.