Umzi Wethu Success Stories - Nomaxabiso Manto

Nomaxabiso Manto (23)
Umzi 6

From soccer star to game ranger, Nomaxabiso has come a long way in a short space of time. The 23 year old from Port Elizabeth was one of the rising stars of the Grassroot Soccer Programme, playing for her home town team, City Lads F.C. “Xabi” as she is affectionately called by her teammates is now part of the Shamwari soccer team – the only girl amongst the boys!
Xabi chose to change her career path on the advice of her sister. “My sister told me that I will not be able to be a soccer player for ever. When I’m 40 I will need something to fall back on. That is when I decided to apply for the Umzi Wethu conservation academy.”

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Umzi Wethu Success Stories - Andiswa Sizani

Andiswa Sizani (24 years)
Umzi 1

Andiswa is the assistant shop manager at Shamwari as well as a waitress in the various lodges. Her responsibilities include counting stock and merchandising the other gift shops on the premises.
She has been working at Shamwari since she graduated from the first Umzi Wethu hospitality intake four years ago.
She started out as a waitress and bar tender, but worked her way up and was appointed as the trainer for new waitressing staff and bar tenders. She volunteered to work in the gift shop so that she could learn new skills and grow her knowledge of the industry.

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Umzi Wethu Success Stories - Simphiwe Mantile

Simphiwe Mantile (26)
Umzi 1

Four years after graduating from the very first Umzi Wethu hospitality intake, Simphiwe Mantile is a proud homeowner, husband, father and junior sous chef at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
The young achiever from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape grew up cooking for his family at home, but didn’t consider a career as a chef until he heard about the Umzi Wethu programme.
“I approached the Ubuntu Education Fund for a scholarship after graduating matric, and they told me about this new programme that was starting which trained people for the hospitality industry. I decided to apply for the first intake,” says Simphiwe.

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Umzi Wethu Success Stories - Vuyiseka Manxoweni

Vuyiseka Manxoweni (25 years)
Umzi 7

Vuyiseka Manxoweni has been working in the kitchens at Shamwari for one year. This is her first job following graduation from the Umzi Wethu hospitality academy in 2010. However, she gained very valuable work experience during her year at Umzi when she worked as a waitress and chef at the Port Elizabeth Stadium during the Fifa World Cup.
“It was very hectic at the stadium,” says Vuyiseka. “It was really busy, and there were loads of people. But the Umzi students were a good team and we participated in serving, cooking, preparing hot meals and also making dessert.”

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Umzi Wethu Success Stories - Ntobeko Ngcala

Ntobeko Ngcala (23)
Umzi 6

Ntobeko Ngcala is living his dream. Passionate about nature from a young age, “Ntobs” never considered that conservation could be a career until he heard about the Umzi Wethu programme. He was one of the volunteer guides for the Wilderness Foundation’s Pride of Groendaal project in the Eastern Cape, and was introduced to Umzi Wethu by experiential education manager, Lihle Mbokazi.
“I have always loved being in the bush. In nature you just feel different. It is a place of peace, and I am so happy to be in a career where I can share my passion,” says Ntobs.

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