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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Green Renaissance Team helps save the rhinos

On World Rhino Day the Green Renaissance team - http://www.greenrenaissance.co.za/ together with a few passionate volunteers made and erected 282 wooden crosses at Sea Point in Cape Town to symbolize the rhinos killed this year in South Africa.
"When you have to make this many crosses you realize just how many rhinos have been killed, and walking through the crosses helps one to fully understand the plight of our Rhinos. One rhino killed is one rhino too many.
Sadly the crosses have now been taken down, not having been up for even 24 hours."

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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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Recognizing World Rhino Day

In recognition of World Rhino Day on Thursday, September 22, the Wilderness Foundation hopes to reach the “10,000 names” benchmark on its international Save the Rhinos petition (www.wildernessfoundation.co.za/savetherhinos/).
To date, over 9,500 individuals have signed the petition, with comments including, “Don't let the human race be responsible for the extinction of yet another species!” and “This shocking cruelty must be stopped immediately.”

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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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Umzi students can ‘see clearly’ now

Greenacres franchisee, Antonie Wolmarans with
Umzi Wethu students, Lerato Tau and Lifa Tshali.

Two students from the Umzi Wethu hospitality training academy in Port Elizabeth can now ‘see clearly’ thanks to the sponsorship of Spec-Savers.
Lifa Tshali and Lerato Tau received their glasses from Spec-Savers Greenacres franchisee, Antonie Wolmarans on Monday, August 29, 2011.
“These glasses are great,” says Lerato Tau. “I can see so well now, and it helps me to study harder. I used to get really bad headaches which affected my concentration, and the nurse recommended that I have my eyes tested. When I got my glasses, my headaches stopped.”

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