When I attended the PYDA Graduation ceremony earlier this year - I was impressed by the level of engagement of these bright new graduates - and now a few of them have launched a business in the township, called KASI to KASI Wine Tasting Experience.
Hat's off to Yonela Zondwayo, Phelisa Ntsokotha, Siphesihle Tshaka. Zenande Fuzile and Masande Mlanjeni, who bring dynamism and energy, and have already passed WSET Level 1 and 2 and keen to pass on their knowledge of wine to their communities in the townships.
From Left to Right: Phelisa Ntsokokotha, Masande Mlanjeni, Zenande Fuzile and Yonela Zondwayo
From Yonela: 'Our vision is to put the footprints of quality wines into the streets of black community, and to ensure that people do get knowledge about wines, because we believe that in wines there's a future'
'At PYDA we learnt that whatever we set our minds to, we can achieve it, so it`s what motivated us to gather ourselves together and encouraged us to achieve our goal and thus started our own business.'
'We also learnt how to be self-reliant and self confidant, because we understand that what the industry demands is for us to stand in front of the people and share our knowledge and experience about wines, and PYDA has allowed us to learn the theory about the whole wine value chain'
Follow them on their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/KasiWineTastingExperience
Or, you can engage with these enthusiastic young wine ambassadors, Yonela on yonela@pyda.co.za or call him on 073 863 9376