Written by Emma Langtry
This year, we have formed a close partnership with CATHSSETA (the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority) to empower learners through comprehensive training programs, providing them with a pathway to a brighter future. At Green Skills Training and Development, we are honored to work alongside these learners and are excited to share their remarkable stories in their own words.
In the spotlight for 2023, we introduce you to three exceptional learners: Vatelynn Van As, a previously unemployed learner; John Khewsa, an employed learner; and Piwe Ludidi, a graduate intern. Join us as we delve into their inspiring journeys with Nature Connect and their respective host sites.
Vatelynn Van As, a previously unemployed learner that was placed in Steenbras Nature Reserve, shares some of her highlights with us as she nears the end of her learnership, “This opportunity would not have been possible, if not for Nature Connect and I am forever grateful to them. The things I am learning and the things I am exposed to are very informative and bring me joy.
The management of the Steenbras Nature Reserve allowed me to lead and learn at the same time, seeing and experiencing the wildlife including: baboon interaction, awareness of leopards in our area and the large volume of flora seen and reported by both learners and visitors alike.”
John Kheswa is one of our employed learners who works at Mosselbank. He enthusiastically expresses, “I learnt on this learnership how to engage with other people in a meaningful way. I also gained lots of new experience: with plants and animals, maintenance on tools and structures, first aid, and also new things about the people around me. Stuff that I know will help me with my work, especially for looking after our beautiful and bountiful nature reserves.”
John’s group had finished their last module for their NQF4 Nature Conservation certificate in September. They will soon be seeing the fruits of their hard work and diligent studies. John was moved by his experiences and sent his gratitude as the group parted ways, “I can’t believe our learnership is almost finished. I would like to thank all Nature Connect members for supporting us even when it was not easy. Thanks to all my fellow students. Be blessed, I will miss you all.”
Piwe Ludidi is one of Nature Connect’s interns based at Agulhas National Park.
“The journey with Nature Connect and Agulhas National Park has been an interesting one, filled with invaluable experiences. The internship has provided me with the opportunity to work with professionals and specialists in the environmental management field and learn from them. There is something new to learn everyday as the park is made up of diverse yet interconnected ecosystems. Through the trainings that Nature Connect has provided, I am equipped with skills that I can use even beyond the internship. It is truly a rewarding experience”
As the year is slowly coming to an end for many of our learner programmes, the Green Skills team wishes our learners only the best. We hope to hear more from them in the near future as we begin our post-programme aid, where we post free events for them to attend, as well as helping them with job applications, and sharing job adverts and opportunities for them to apply themselves. We are doing our best to help our hardworking learners flourish and put their training to the test.
