The Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) facilitates education and training in the Wine and Wine Tourism sector, with 60 students being enrolled annually after a very rigorous selection process. And PYDA also makes sure that of the 800 applicants, all those who don't make it through to the final 60 accepted also have a positive development experience, walking away having learnt something valuable through the process.
The annual graduation ceremony is always a deeply inspiring milestone, and this year was no exception. Emotion filled the room when both students and staff unanimously voted for the same top achiever; Saziso Hesewu. With his mother present in her traditional attire, Saziso bowed down upon her tribal cloth to honour her, a deeply moving tribute that left not a dry eye in the house and made me profoundly proud to be South African.
The energy in the room was electric from the outset. The students set a stirring tone with a moving rendition of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika to open the ceremony, and spontaneous bursts of song rippled through the hall throughout the emotionally charged proceedings. As always, the graduates dressed to the nines, with high heels and flawless make-up making a bold statement, though I was surprised to notice the lads opting for a more classic look this year, skipping their usual signature fun socks!
Congratulations to the top students:
- The Top Academic Wine Student:
- The Top Academic Wine Tourism Student:
- The Staff & Student Choice of Student:
The PYDA is a remarkable organisation making a difference in the wine industry – with more than 750+ graduates already making their mark in the world of wine and hospitality, with more than 80% of each year's graduates finding meaningful work. You will be hard pressed to find a tasting room in the winelands without a graduate.
In 2027, they will celebrate 15 years of 'Launching Talent to be the Difference' and wine.co.za is proud to have been associated with them all these years, providing a platform to showcase their work and for a number of years also providing a workplace and internship for their students.
Keep an eye on the PYDA Spotlight Page for more.