The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Tokozile Xasa will on Tuesday, 8 March 2011, launch the Hospitality Youth Initiative (HYI) in Bathurst, Eastern Cape. The launch will be preceded by the site visit and interaction with beneficiaries in Grahamstown, the HYI head office, before moving to Bathurst for the launch and address by Deputy Minister Xasa.
The HYI in collaboration with the National Department of Tourism (NDT) and other industry players have joined hands to fund and support the youth programme to train 300 students per annum drawn from all nine provinces. A pilot project which started in November 2010 will be completed in September 2011. This initiative is one of the few programmes and projects funded and supported by the NDT to contribute to the skills development efforts that will eventually enable the youth to get jobs within the tourism industry.
The HYI programme has consistently achieved above 69% success rate and it is aimed at assisting youth 18-35 years to find meaningful employment in the Hospitality Service Industry at entry level. The programme consist of a combination of Soft and Attitudinal Skills and Hospitality Technical Orientation followed by an internship where the actual hospitality industry skills training takes place in one of the partner hotels.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Time: 09h00
Venue: Grahamstown and Summerhill Inn, Bathurst, Eastern Cape
Members of the media wishing to attend are requested to bring their Press Cards and IDs to be able to gain access to all the venues.
Alternatively send your names to:
Muponisi Nkuna
Tel: 012 310 3490
Cell: 083 471 0061
E-mail: mnkuna@tourism.gov.za
Howard Drakes
Cell: 083 633 2150
E-mail: howard.drakes@gmail.com
For more information contact:
Balosang Sanki Lerefolo
Media Liaison Officer: Deputy Minister of Tourism
Cell: 082 836 8703
E-mail: slerefolo@tourism.gov.za / balosang@gmail.com
