Stories of Hope: Episode 5 - Amanda Mthembu, Nqobile Mkhize and Snentokozo Ngcobo
Amanda Mthembu, Nqobile Mkhize and Snentokozo Ngcobo stories: They have completed the Professional Cookery learnership sponsored by Famous Brands and share their experiences and aspirations. They talk about the challenges they faced growing up with disabilities, their passion for cooking, and how the learnership helped them gain skills and confidence. Read about our Stories of Hope: Episode 5 below or watch the video.
(00:14) I am Amanda Mthembu. I am Nqobile Mkhize. I am Snentokozo Ngcobo. We are part of a group of learnership students that completed the professional cookery learnership through Edge Training. This learnership was sponsored by Famous Brands and we are currently completing practical’s at Suncoast Mugg and Bean.
(00:37) (Snentokozo, Amanda & Nqobile Represents a class of 40 Professional Cookery students sponsored by Famous Brands. The following learners completed their practical at Mugg and Bean however the class was separated across other franchises which fall under Famous Brands such as Wimpy Steers, Debonairs, Fishaways etc. this is their experience…)
Amanda Mthembu:
(00:44) I lost my eyesight at the age of 12, and that was challenge on its own from seeing with both eyes to just seeing with one and that was a challenge at school and everything.
Snentokozo Ngcobo:
(00:57) Growing up I never knew friends because I have always felt like they were staring at me looking at me like I’m different from them so because I had no friends, I grew up to be an introvert.
Nqobile Mkhize:
(01:12) Ever since I was very young whenever I met with other kids they made me feel like I was not human so another thing, they used to humiliate me and give me names and the reason for it was because of my condition.
(01:42) (Through the challenges there was HOPE)
Amanda Mthembu:
(01:46) Through everything, cooking was one thing I’ve always loved doing, fortunately a friend of mine recommended that I go to Edge Training because they have Professional Cookery learnership, and that learnership consisted of 2 parts the practical and the theory. I did my theory at Edge Training, and I learned that you must always clean as you go with everything that you do.
Amanda Mthembu:
(01:46) Through everything, cooking was one thing I’ve always loved doing, fortunately a friend of mine recommended that I go to Edge Training because they have professional cookery learnership, and that learnership consisted of 2 parts the practical and the theory. I did my theory at Edge Training, and I learned that you must always clean as you go with everything that you do.
Snentokozo Ngcobo:
(02:13) So, getting to Edge Training the theory part of the learnership was bit challenging for me because it was too much of work, and for someone who is studying on the side it becoming too much to handle but I always reminded myself why I did this learnership in the first place, and what I was hoping to achieve, with it,
Nqobile Mkhize:
(02:38) and I went to Edge Training, it helped me a lot because it has always been my dream to do this
Snentokozo Ngcobo:
“(03:09) And getting to do my practical the theory part actually helped me greatly because with all that we were taught, and how to handle ourselves in the workplace, and procedures to follow, and to handle a problem when facing one, we were able to use that in the workplace, and we were able to achieve many things, and we were actually able to survive in the work environment which we had to do like, every week,
Amanda Mthembu
(03:42) And now we are doing practical’s at Suncoast in Mugg and Bean. I am working on the grill; I make sure that before I put anything new on it I clean it.
Nqobile Mkhize:
(03:57) I went to Mugg and Bean for my training (practical) it awakened something within me to be able to live among people, of which I wouldn’t have before because I used to be an introvert but now I am able to work and communicate with people
Snentokozo Ngcobo:
(04:27) And then maybe few years later I am hoping that I will be able to open my own fast food restaurant or even a hotel maybe because it is something I always aspired to do, it is something that I have always been passionate about
Amanda Mthembu:
(04:52) We would like to thank Famous Brands for sponsoring our professional cookery learnership through Edge Training.”
Next Steps
We hope you enjoyed watching our Stories of Hope: Episode 5 which was sponsored by Famous Brands. If you areﾠinterested in changing the life of a student while maximising your BEE scorecard, reach out to Edge Training today! We are an accredited training provider with over 24 years of experience in the Skills Development industry. We offer various learnership programmes so you can find a learnership that best suits your needs. Reach out to one of our representatives today, we can’t wait to hear from you!