Skills Training and Work Experience in the Overberg

The Horticulture Skills students spent time on the tools this week learning to operate brushcutters safely and effectively. Being a certified brushcutter operator is a useful transferable skill for these students.

The Horticulture and Hospitality Skills students went on a field trip to Cape Agulhas and the Southernmost Tip of the African continent today. Visiting places like this is sometimes overlooked as a significant and inspirational experience for South Africans and is considered an activity reserved for tourists. But, the lighthouse at Agulhas and the Southernmost Tip precinct is part of the national and natural heritage of all South Africans. Experiencing beautiful places like a tourist allows us to share the inspiration and appreciation of the place; it can even change how we see and treat our natural heritage for the rest of our lives. It is also important when working within the eco-tourism and hospitality sector to understand first-hand what tourists are looking for when they visit our country. This is something that the hospitality skills students will be able to add to their life experiences, which will make them even better at their future jobs. It is a privilege to experience Cape Agulhas with the students.

From the Employability Programme, these young people have almost completed their 10 day practical workplace experience where they were placed in a range of local businesses from Klein River Cheese and Antjie's Opwipwinkel to Bossfit Gym and the Grootbos Florilegium Gallery. This opportunity to experience a real workplace is a fast-track programme towards employment where the focus is on work readiness, confidence and professionalism. We are grateful to the businesses who host these young people in a way that mentors the professional development pathway of the individual.