GEORGE NEWS - There are some very exciting new developments at the well-known François Ferreira Academy (FFA), a top cookery school based in George.
In line with their commitment to train unemployed youths in the area and teach them skills in the hospitality and tourism industry, the François Ferreira Academy has partnered with Oubaai Hotel and Spa and Africa Skills Village to open the François Ferreira Skills Academy at the Oubaai Hotel.
Training already commenced with assistant chef courses.
In-house training
Students will be trained as table attendants and wine stewards and will be taught basic skills in customer service to give them the essential skills needed to set them on a career path. Oubaai Hotel will also take on some of the students to complete their practical training.
Vice-principal of the FFA, Denise Lindley, is excited at the collaboration, as Eden District Municipality recently held a skills summit in George to discuss the establishment of a skills mecca within the region.
She said, "At the same time that FFA and Oubaai were discussing their collaboration, they were contacted by a friend, Don King, who was playing golf at Oubaai for the weekend, and who was closing his training school, Ikusassa, a charity-based cookery school in Riebeeck West. King needed to find a home for the kitchen equipment and contacted the FFA. Not knowing anything of the talks taking place between FFA and Oubaai, he wanted to see if they would be interested in buying the equipment from Ikusassa."
Vice-principal of the FFA Denise Lindley is excited at the partnership that has been forged with Oubaai and Africa Skills Academy to prepare unemployed people for the hospitality industry.
Fully equipped kitchen
Oubaai has made available a venue of just under 700m² for use as the Skills Academy, and this has now been renovated and turned into a practical training kitchen with a demonstration area, and classrooms.
Students are transported there on a daily basis from the François Ferreira Academy in George to attend lectures. The Skills Academy is one of a kind in the Garden Route, and is poised for great happenings.
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