Following a meeting of the Trustees of the prestigious AfriAsia Cape Wine Auction last week, some of the proceeds of last year’s hugely successful Auction have been allocated to The International Wine Education Centre (IWEC) to fund Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) wine courses for students at the Pinotage Youth Development Academy.
The AfriAsia Cape Wine Auction is an exhilarating global showcase of South Africa’s finest wines. The annual Auction offers a chance to buy things that money can’t ordinarily buy, and then channel all of that cash back into the area that needs it most ‐ education. Trustee and founder of the Cape Wine Auction, Mike Ratcliffe, revealed that R10 million‐worth of funding has now been made available for a wide range of educational projects to benefit wine‐related industry personnel – an increase on the R7 million distributed the previous year. A further R3 million will be allocated later this year.
The IWEC applied for funding to teach the Pinotage Youth Development Academy’s 30 students a WSET Level 2 course. The PYDA’s vision is to launch talent to be the difference. This is done through developing 18 to 25 year olds in the Cape Winelands for employment in the wine industry and related sectors. The PYDA twelve‐month programme teaches technical skills across the entire value chain of wine, uniquely‐combining such skills with personal development.
According the PYDA’s Principal, Nikki Munro, although the students were well‐trained in SA wines, a technical area which graduates felt would add to their skills set is knowledge of wines of the world. She says “A WSET course will enable them to gain this knowledge and expertise during their programme which would enhance their employability. Given its global appeal and value it would add to their solid foundation as they launch their careers.”
Siobhan Thompson, head of WOSA and a trustee of the Cape Wine Auction Trust commented on behalf of the board of trustees “This project was the right fit for the Cape Wine Auction Trust philanthropy model. This model looks at education in the winelands holistically; supporting it as a process from cradle to career. Giving the Pinotage Youth Development Academy graduates the internationally‐accredited Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) wine course does more than simply broaden their knowledge of international wines. It also gives them the accreditation and confidence to seek employment at high‐end establishments both locally and abroad.”
Cathy Marston, owner of The IWEC and current WSET Educator of the Year says “Anyone would be impressed with the work being done by the PYDA and the incredible talent they are nurturing through their programme – I have seldom seen a smarter, livelier bunch of students, filled with curiosity, enthusiasm and energy! Having seen first‐hand the difference an internationally‐recognised qualification such as WSET can make, I am very grateful to the Cape Wine Auction for making this opportunity available to this really‐deserving group of young people.”
The courses will be run in March 2016 by Cathy and other WSET‐approved educators, just before the students graduate in May ready for work. 100% of the first PYDA graduates are now in full‐time employment and job opportunities are still opening up for the students who graduated this year. With a WSET qualification under their belt, everyone hopes that the current intake will have similar employment success in their chosen careers.
