​YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME CHANGES SIVE'S LIFE

By XOLISA MGWATYU
Amathole District

Sive Witboy in Stenden University

FOUR years back, Sive Witboy did not think that she would be one of the students at Stenden University South Africa – a campus of an international university that is situated in the coastal town of Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.

But today, the 23-year-old is one of the top student at the University, thanks to the partnership between the Department of Social Development and Stenden University, she was able to further her studies in Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality Management.

The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development through its Youth Directorate supports and implement integrated socio- economic programmes that facilitate the empowerment and development of marginalized youth. 

Witboy was one of the 22 students that were trained as chefs by Stenden University.“When I started I was not familiar with tertiary level but I was determined, I asked questions and studied hard. I still have not believe that I am a student at the University studying towards a degree in a career that I have always wanted having passed my grade 12 in 2010,” said the reserved Witboy.

For her it was not plain sailing to get to where she is now. In 2011, Sive applied for the National Youth Service (NYS) programmes offered by the Department. The programme offers youth that are not at school skills to better their lives. “They wanted three and I was in the fourth place and unfortunately I did not get it that year,” she said.  

However, she told herself she would apply for the programme the following year. In 2014, one call from the Department changed her life for the better. “I was told that I was nominated to do a Chef’s course through Stenden University,” she said.

“There was no hope that I would be able to register at a University, as my mother was earning a domestic worker’s salary and could not afford to send me to school,” she said Meanwhile, she became more active in her community of Komga and served in ward

committee and youth development programmes.

However, in 2012, she was invited by the Department of Social Development to take part in the National Youth Camp and again in 2013, she took part in the camp. “These were opportunities themselves to me, getting experiences of a lifetime while learning at the same time,” she said.

After completing the year long course, 22 chef students sponsored by the Department and trained by Stenden University were presented with work and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Eleven out of 22 students have been permanently placed at various hotels throughout the country, 10 students have been divided into two groups and given an opportunity to run canteens in Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City. And Sive received a bursary to study a three year Bachelor of Hospitality degree. “I could not believe my ears when it was mentioned that I got a bursary,” she said.

Stenden South Africa Academic Dean Dr Juliet Chipumuro said Sive was a very hardworking student and showed passion and dedication to her school work. “Our mission is to unleash potential in our students and that is what we currently doing to Sive,” said Dr Chipumuro.  She added Sive was an easy person and someone who has been longing to better her life.

Chipumuro said with campus sites in five locations located around the world, students are able to study at different sites, whilst following the same program that will lead towards their degree. “We call this Grand Tour. As a result our campus in Port Alfred is a cosmopolitan mix of nationalities and cultures as we typically receive over 100 students from The Netherlands and other European countries,” she said.

Witboy shared that after completing her degree, she sees herself managing a 5-star hotel around South Africa but mostly she wants to work in the Eastern Cape so that she can give back to the Province. “I was not confident but now I am, Social Development unleashed my potential so I owe it to them, and I will forever be grateful to them,” she concluded.