Umzi Wethu

In order to provide centers of excellence for our students, Umzi Wethu Academies are well equipped for both residential and academic life. The residences feature spacious living areas, comfortable bedrooms - all in naturally beautiful surroundings including indigenous gardens and organic vegetable gardens. Well equipped classrooms, complete with a variety of learning resources (computers, posters, books, dvd’s etc), ensure that our students have access to environments which promote curiosity and learning.

Umzi Wethu residential facilities are staffed by qualified professionals and caring parental figures. The residence provides a structured and safe home-like environment for each student during their time at the academy. Nutritional meals are provided along with necessary work uniforms and a small weekly allowance for basic supplies. Medical and dental care is made available to all students, as it is required.

Hospitality Academy - Port Elizabeth

The Umzi Wethu Hospitality Academy in Port Elizabeth is based at the Eastern Province Child and Youth Care centre. Here students are equipped to enter hospitality jobs in urban and rural establishments. The program is currently focused around the National Certificate in Professional Cookery (NQF 4). Students time at the academy is spent either learning the theoretical foundations in the classroom under the guidance of our qualified facilitator or gaining valuable practical work experience in the on-site Conynghams Coffee Shop and Ray Mhlaba Conference Centre. Extra specialised training in a wide variety of related topics such as 5 star service, barista training and wine stewardship are provided to enrich the student’s learning experience and better equip them for entry into the work place.  Students are also assisted to find casual work opportunities in related fields, such as catering and banqueting, in order to further develop their practical skills.  These practical opportunities, provided throughout the program, ensure that our students have a well rounded learning experience, which includes exposure to a diverse range of real world work settings.

Conservation Academy - Somerset East

The Umzi Wethu Conservation Academy is situated in the rural town of Somerset East. It is housed in two historic buildings which were previously home to the Bellevue School. These premises are provided in-kind by Wilderness Foundation’s local government partner, the Blue Crane Development Agency.  The Somerset East Academy focuses on training future conservation leaders as either field rangers or field guides. This academy is located close to the Boschberg Mountain Reserve and other private game reserves which allow for easy access to practical experience.

Umzi Wethu - Stellenbosch

The highly successful Umzi Wethu social investment project has been replicated in Stellenbosch under the leadership of the Sustainability Institute at the Lynedoch Eco Village.
The goal of the Wilderness Foundation has always been to replicate the Umzi Wethu project throughout the country.
The Sustainability Institute expressed interest in replicating the Umzi Wethu project in early 2010. Following an intensive feasibility study to ensure the organisation had access to the essential resources needed to replicate the project, they were given the green light for fundraising to begin.
The institute has hired an academy coordinator, Tracy Ward and the Wilderness Foundation’s Umzi Wethu project management unit will be assisting the Sustainability Institute and providing technical support and mentoring for the first year.
Establishing an Umzi Wethu academy in Stellenbosch offers access into the thriving wine industry in the Western Cape, and tentative job placements have already been secured at Spier Wine Estate and other Stellenbosch-based hospitality organisations.
The new academy will be rolled out in a very similar fashion to the current Umzi Wethu academies in Port Elizabeth and Somerset East, but will integrate various unique elements based on the sustainability initiatives at the Lynedoch Eco Village.
Students will be involved with organic vegetable gardening, recycling and will also be part of the house keeping and catering team at the onsite guest house and coffee shop.
The African Global Skills Academy (AGSA) will provide the necessary theoretical accreditation and nationally accepted accreditations, and an experienced chef will be employed to conduct the theory and practical training for the students.

About the Sustainability Institute
The Sustainability Institute is an organisation which shares a similar vision to the Wilderness Foundation, in that it understands how nature and society can work together to build a better future. The Institute’s commitment to sustainable living and livelihoods lends itself to the effective implementation of the Umzi Wethu model.