Sivuyile

“At the age of 19, I joined the culinary group in the hospitality program at the Amy Foundation. Everything was so new, but the workshops and lessons were very enjoyable. This sparked an interest in cooking for me, and I realised making good food was becoming my passion. With everything you do, challenges always present themselves. For me, it was speaking English. Luckily the course forced to me communicate in English even when it was easier to speak in my native language. The Amy Foundation taught me you can only achieve your goals through hard work and determination. At the end of the course, I was both ten times better at English and cooking. The course was invaluable, because it also taught me kitchen etiquette, and how to act professionally and present myself.”

“Thanks to the course, I was given the chance to do an internship at the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa and at Cafe Frank. After that, I did a 2-year trainee program at the Vineyard Hotel. Through the hotel I completed my diploma with the South African Chefs Academy, specializing in pastry.”

“After acquiring useful information and skills for many years, I entered a cooking competition, and thanks to everything I learned, I won an internship in France for three months. It will be my first time outside of SA, and I am so excited.”

“The Amy Foundation is like family to me. They are still helping me to this day, including paperwork for my trip. They have taught me so much and am so grateful to them. Hopefully my story can inspire others that the sky is the limit. I started with very humble beginnings, and now I am accomplishing so much. It’s thanks to my strong character, and the Amy Foundation who helped me build it.”