Established in 2013, the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) has now graduated 122 young people, according to program director Nikki Munro.
I attended the graduation on Friday 19th May at The Shed off Annandale Road, and the venue was abuzz with energy, bubbles, very, very high heels and cool socks and a bunch of energised and excited students, who were being capped after their year of Wine Sector training at the PYDA. The course included a WSET Level 2 training course, by Cathy Marston, who tweeted of these students "Those kids rock!"
And they do rock - see their spontaneous bursting into song at the graduation HERE
We are delighted to report great success already for one of the graduates, Avuyile Maqolo - who participated in the South African Wine Tasting Championships on Sat 3 June in the Cape Town Leg - and he was in the Top 15 tasters - out of nearly 200 participants!
The 2017 Graduates
The audience at the graduation was inspired by Denzel Swarts, a 3rd generation worker on the Simonsig farm, and now a senior manager there.
See a video HERE of his presentation
“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 program director Nikki 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.
I have had occasion to present to the students at their Bergzicht campus in Stellenbosch and I urge everyone in the wine industry to contribute where they can to the education, upliftment and employment of these energetic young people.
The PYDA now also offer a Wine Tourism program - currently running from Sept 2017 to Oct 2017.
wine.co.za is proud Media Partner of the PYDA - see more Photos HERE
Contact www.pyda.co.za for further info or if you are keen to employ any of these energetic youth!