NZMA and St Vincent de Paul team up
New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA) has teamed up with St Vincent de Paul for a ‘‘win-win’’ initiative for the Hamilton campus and the community.
NZMA Waikato is a training provider that runs hospitality, retail, business and contact centre training.
Their relationship with St Vincent de Paul kicked off last year with hospitality students volunteering to cook and serve lunch to the homeless once a month.
That initiative was extended and now NZMA students volunteer their time and expertise to work in St Vincent De Paul shops throughout the Waikato.
The St Vincent de Paul stores include one in Chartwell, one in Glenview and two in Frankton. Student’s first shifts began in February.
The scheme is the brainchild of senior tutor Krissy Witehira, who is passionate about helping those in need in the community.
‘‘The biggest thing is the students are physically working in a real life environment,’’ Witehira said.
‘‘Doing theory every day isn’t going to help with employment.’’
Since the students have been working at the St Vincent de Paul stores, NZMA has seen almost double the number of new students enrol in retail training.
Witehira said the old intake of seven students has risen to twelve.
It is a 20-week programme,
‘‘ The students are physically working in a real life environment.’’