Lighting that spark

The Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) in Stellenbosch, which is the business and education hub of the wine industry, is a Not For Profit Company (NPC) run and managed by a committed, dynamic and enthusiastic multi-lingual local South African team with a strong ethos of student support. The organisation develops talented, previously disadvantaged 18–25-year-old youth for employment. Its innovative programme combines personal development skills with industry-specific vocational training and practical work experience.

Since its inception, PYDA has had considerable success. In year one (June 2013 to May 2014), there was a 95 percent retention rate (one student was excluded on disciplinary grounds). Six months after the programme, 100 percent of the 24 graduates were employed. Achievement highlights included Phelisa Moni, who is employed at Spice Route in Paarl, being selected for the Burgundy Exchange Programme; and Dillon Uren, working at Anthonij Rupert Wyne in Franschhoek, receiving an award for achieving wine sales of over R80 000 in one day – their highest figure recorded to date! He was also recently promoted to assistant tasting room co-ordinator.

All 25 of the second group of students (June 2014 to May 2015) who joined the programme graduated. Within six months of completing the programme, 80 percent of graduates were either employed or following further training and education opportunities. Jacques Johannisen was selected for the Burgundy Exchange Programme and spent six weeks in France last year, gaining international experience in winemaking, and is now a wine advisor at La Motte in Franschhoek.

Graduates have highlighted how invaluable the personal development skills that form the foundation of PYDA’s programme have been in assisting them to navigate and deliver in the workplace. The following have been identified as the most useful of these: assertiveness, communication, empathy, boundary setting and managing emotions professionally.

Equipped with skills gained during the PYDA programme, students have found a diversity of career opportunities in the wine industry and related sectors. Success stories include Isipho Fayo, who is a tasting room assistant and waitress at family-run farm Delheim in Stellenbosch. Other examples are Sisanda Makhamba, who is a wine advisor at Warwick in Stellenbosch, where Lwando Bontshi is a cellar assistant. Nwabisa Mashiqua is the wine shop manager at Schoon de Companje, a popular bakery in Stellenbosch. Shane Mumba is the assistant tasting room manager at Jordan in Stellenbosch Kloof, while Sinethemba Makangela is a tasting host at Hartenberg on the Bottelary Hills side of the town. On the other hand, Ruth Faro, who is working at Bosman Family Vineyards in Wellington while studying Viticulture NQF 5, is a lab/chemical assistant.