A time to reflect and celebrate!
Its been an incredibly hectic and exciting few months at Umzi Wethu.
In April 2009 we celebrated the graduation of our Umzi 4 conservation students. 13 students graduated and we're please to report that to date we've been able to place almost all these students in jobs as field guides and field rangers. Initial feedback from employers has been overwhelmingly positive with our students fitting in to their new jobs excellently. Special thanks to all those employing partners who have helped us and our students to realise the Umzi dream!
No sooner had the graduation ended and the Umzi team had begun selection for our Umzi 6 (conservation) and 7 (hospitality) intakes. Selection took almost 3 months to complete with Pinky, Paul, Ntombi and Justin interviewing over 80 applicants and screening well over 150 applications in order to select the most suitable candidates for our new intakes. In July 2009 the new students began their journey with us and it has been an amazing time as students begin settling into residence life and getting into the Umzi vibe! For the team there are few better feelings than seeing a group of new Umzi students in their Umzi gear enjoying the excitement of new beginnings. The group dynamic between students at both academies has been excellent and we're filled with confidence that we're on the road to two more highly successful intakes. Thanks to everyone who has been involved in the selection process, especially our selection partners in the student's communities that identify students for us.
I must take this chance to introduce our excellent Somerset East Management Team - Chantelle (programme coordinator), Justin (facilitator), Lincoln (programme assistant) and Katie (house mother) - these are the people making Umzi happen at our conservation academy at the base of the beautiful Boschberg mountain.
Early August 2009 sees the Umzi 5 hospitality students graduating after an absolutely fantastic year at the Port Elizabeth academy. With only 1 week to go we're looking at a new record - all 20 students selected for this intake are certain to graduate on Friday. Well done to the entire team, staff and students for working incredibly hard to make this year the overwhelming success that it has been. Its with some sadness that we prepare for graduation as the lives of the staff and students become so intimately connected throughout the year. There has been a strong family spirit at the Port Elizabeth academy which I guess is exactly what Umzi is all about - creating home and family for those whose families have been devestated by poverty and other social factors. We've already begun assisting these students with job placement and have no doubt that within the coming weeks we'll have the majority of these students launched into the workplace - this is the ultimate goal of Umzi. This year we've formed a number of new employing partnerships with graduates entering work places both urban and rural - we now look forward to seeing our graduates soaring!
Wow - its great to reflect on how far we've come in just a few short years. With the continued support of all partners we venture into the next phase of Umzi with great expectation and excitement!
Warm regards
The Umzi Team
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