The inauguration of Bergzicht Training and Development’s newly renovated training kitchen marked a significant milestone in a long-standing partnership between the Western Cape and Bavaria, one that continues to translate into opportunities for unemployed youth of Stellenbosch.
Funding for the kitchen upgrade was secured by MDL Thomas Huber, deputy chairperson of the Committee for Labour and Social Affairs, Youth and Family in the Bavarian Parliament, through the Christian Social Union and the Bavarian State Chancellery, with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation – a longstanding funder of Bergzicht.
Speaking at the inauguration, provincial minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, highlighted the 30-year partnership, describing education and skills development as the most effective tools for reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.
He praised Bergzicht’s employment outcomes, noting that 98% of graduates secured employment in 2025.
ALSO READ: Bergzicht graduates primed for the skillet
‘Something to hold onto’
Stellenbosch mayor Jeremy Fasser described the new facility as an investment in the future of the town’s youth. “This is about collaboration; this is about partnerships,” Fasser said.
For Huber, whose 2024 visit to the campus first inspired the project, the kitchen represents something larger than an infrastructure upgrade. “The true significance of this kitchen does not lie in the equipment,” he said.
“It lies in the young people who will use it. Bergzicht is far more than a training centre, but a place where opportunities begin and futures are shaped.”
Huber commended Bergzicht’s holistic approach, combining accredited vocational training with life skills, psychosocial support and ongoing mentorship.
Food service assistant student Simamkele Nkamisa thanked Bergzicht and its partners for giving unemployed people hope.
“As young people and even older people struggling to find employment, this opportunity gives us something to hold onto.”
ALSO READ: Bergzicht vocation training lauded
You must be logged in to post a comment.