Celebrating Youth Month, Mandela day and our collective impact by shining the spotlight on our rising stars!
June was a month of celebration at Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa, as we honoured the rising stars in our own community and in recognition of Youth Month. Between these celebrations and the upcoming Mandela Day on July 18th, we thought this the opportune moment to share news of our very own success story with Ebrahim Petersen born from our CSI partnership with the Imibala Trust.
Our hospitality training program in conjunction with Imibala, now in its third successful year, has been a beacon of hope for school leavers with a passion for the hospitality industry. Under the guidance of our dedicated team, these young individuals have flourished, developing the essential skills and meticulous attention to detail needed to make their mark in the hospitality world.
Ebrahim Petersen, our 2023 ‘Employee Of The Year’, is a shining example. This 18-year-old front desk employee and porter, began his journey as a trainee at the hotel after being introduced to Imibala during high school, when he was enrolled in the Heart of the Helderberg 6-week trainee program thanks to encouragement from a teacher. Recognising his immense potential, we offered him a permanent position within just three weeks. His remarkable progression underscores the transformative impact of Imibala’s programs, demonstrating how support can propel promising individuals to success.
Reflecting on his experience, Petersen shared, “I have learnt that success doesn’t depend on how much you’ve grown as an individual, but it depends on how much knowledge you have obtained to be more flexible and productive in the industry. A word of encouragement to other trainees in the Hospitality Industry; be confident and never doubt your decisions. When you stand in front of a guest it could feel intimidating sometimes but being self-assured in what you say will always carry through to having a good relationship with your guests.”
In addition to this training program, we are delighted to showcase the incredible work done by the Imibala Trust through a special art exhibition. This showcase features the artistic creations of five talented young artists, all under the age of twelve.
Art holds a special place in the hearts of our hotel’s owning family and is the golden thread woven throughout all the curated corners of our contemporary interiors. The works of these ‘young Picassos’ now proudly adorn our foyer wall leading into the Magnolia Social Dining Lounge, offering guests an inspiring glimpse into the immense talent of these little artists and helping to highlight the great work being done by this local NPO partner.
Continuing with the spirit of contributing to the community we serve, our own hotel team will be marking #MandelaDay in a special way this year and through some creativity of their own…paintbrushes at the ready as team Erinvale gets set to unleash their creativity on July 18th as they work towards beautifying the Imibala Art Centre wall with a collaborative mural project at their HQ in Somerset West’s Bright Street.
The Imibala Trust provides a platform to implement programs that significantly impact the lives of children as they transition into adulthood. Recognising that children possess diverse talents and skills, the Creative and Performing Arts Department offers a range of classes in art, drama, pottery, music and ballet. These classes aim to foster self-expression and develop unique abilities that children may not otherwise encounter. We see this as a meaningful opportunity to make a difference and unite with others in the spirit of generosity and unity on this special day, where we feel even more proud to fly the South African flag high.
Supporting the Imibala Trust and its initiatives is a wonderful way to contribute to the future of our youth. Whether through sponsoring a school child, or getting involved in their various art and culture initiatives, your support can make a significant difference. For more information on how you can help, please visit the Imibala Trust website at www.imibala.com.
Join us in celebrating by acknowledging the incredible potential of our young people not just throughout Youth Month, Mandela Day and noteworthy days; but in small ways wherever you can. Together, we can do so much, paving the way for our next leaders and future Picassos, ‘Madibas’, changemakers and innovators.
