GEORGE NEWS - The George Civic Hall was packed with young people on 3 June for a sea career roadshow that connected potential candidates with exciting careers with MSC Cruises.

The event was hosted by the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM) skills development and employment initiative of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy.

This was the second such public awareness session for residents from the Garden Route to inform locals about jobs that will continuously become available across the world on MSC's cruise ships. The youngsters were keen to learn about the large variety of careers available at sea in areas such as hospitality, culinary arts and guest services.

Reginald Salmons, training and skills development co-ordinator of GRDM and co-ordinator of the GRSM, gave a presentation in which he highlighted the role of the GRSM in creating opportunities for the youth of the Garden Route. He said the initiative is aimed at exposing young people to recruitment processes, required documentation, industry standards, career guidance and access to local and international opportunities.

The Garden Route's mayor, Marais Kruger, said about 60 young people from the district have already benefitted by the opportunities the GRSM provided.

Allister Joubert and Nicole Niewenhuis of the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy shared their career growth from entry-level jobs at the academy and rising through the ranks within MSC Cruises. Their testimonies were a powerful motivation for the candidates who intended to apply for jobs.

Members of the public or prospective cruisers, specifically the youth who were unable to attend the roadshow, are invited to visit the MSC Cruises website, careers.msccruises.com, for more information.

Allister Joubert of the MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy. Photo: Supplied

Aims of the GRSM

The GRSM aims to reduce unemployment by connecting unemployed residents, especially the youth, with training, internships, learnerships, work-integrated learning opportunities and employment pathways.

The GRSM was launched after the Knysna fire disaster in 2017, which had resulted in many job losses, and since then, R135m has been invested in the programme, benefitting 2 760 youth district-wide.

The programme is primarily funded through external grants and partnerships. Among the funders are the National Skills Fund, various Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) and the private sector.

The speakers at the roadshow: Reginald Salmons (GRDM), Nicole Niewenhuis (MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy), Garden Route Mayor Marais Kruger, Allister Joubert (MSC Shosholoza Ocean Academy) and Dineo Ramasesane (GRDM). Photo: Supplied

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