Eastern Cape tourism saw the graduation of 115 learners at the recent Hospitality Youth Training Programme (HYTP) graduation ceremony in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth.
The programme was initiated to combat unemployment among the youth, and arm them with skills in the food, beverage and accommodation services sectors, to be able to enter the markets as skilled, employable contributors. “We call upon graduates to be change agents in their families. Use the skills we have empowered you with to improve the quality of lives in your homes and communities, and assist us as government to eradicate poverty,” said Tourism Deputy Minister, Elizabeth Thabethe, who officiated the graduation ceremony.
Learners were recruited from the Buffalo City Municipality in East London and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in Port Elizabeth for a 12-month programme that consisted of 30% theory and 70% practical lessons where learners were placed at various hospitality establishments for experiential learning. They were introduced to hospitality fundamentals, core and elective unit standards in food and beverage, as well as accommodation services learning programmes.
Endorsed by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, Sports Sector Education and Training Authority, the programme is part of the Department of Tourism’s Human Resources Skills Development initiative, which is aligned with the broad-based benefits pillar of the National Tourism Sector Strategy of 2016 to 2026. “We have invested over R5m (€341 482) for the training of unemployed youth in the Eastern Cape because we have a responsibility to empower people as government,” said Thabethe.
The Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Councillor Athol Trollip, addressed the graduates and highlighted their ambassadorial responsibility as representatives of their cities and their country. He also acknowledged the Department of Tourism’s role in changing the lives of young people through skills development. “Our city is faced with almost 50% unemployment. So any opportunity given to young people is a step in the right direction. We commend the role that the Department of Tourism has played in skilling our young people and we are confident that they will represent us well.”
An imbizo (gathering) followed the graduation, where Thabethe engaged with the New Brighton community regarding the Department of Tourism’s programmes and initiatives that the public can tap into. These include the Enterprise Development Programme, Service Excellence, Skills Development and Tourism Human Resources Development Strategy, and Women in Tourism, all of which can help achieve sustainable tourism development and inclusive growth in the sector.
