Tebelo’s light shines for the vulnerable
PLETTENBERG BAY -
The dream of a community development project in Plettenberg Bay saw the light on Thursday 14 September when the Tebelo Lighthouse building at Holt Hill along the N2 highway was officially opened. Tebelo Lighthouse, a community development non-profit company, works actively in the community to improve the well-being of families and empower individuals through education and upliftment.
Dr Ellenore Meyer, a director of Tebelo, told a gathering of dignitaries and community leaders, including Bitou Mayor Dave Swart, about the dream her mother had a decade ago. "This [Tebelo] builds on a dream my mother had to provide food for the community," she said. "In Tebelo, today, we see that dream come true for providing a lighthouse for vulnerable people by equipping and supporting self-sufficiency and holistic health through access to education, nutrition and health."
Meyer said it was a first for Plett to provide education that ranks among standards internationally - "a great learning centre where everyone can benefit. We are teaching people not only to eat healthily, but also to grow their own produce."
She said discussions are underway to start with a year-long plant production course to support food security for the Bitou community through education and expansion of local food production in
partnership with local government.
"Tebelo has a long-term vision of hosting a tech-hub, expanding on farming with verticulture (cultivating plants on various levels) and offering a number of other skills development training opportunities that will enable health, nutrition and opportunity through education. We are open to partner
with other charities and individuals to support the people of the Bitou area to create equitable opportunities for all," said Meyer.
Tebelo partnered with Africa Skills Private College to run its first learnership programme, an artisan baking course, in September and November. Private sponsors have come forward and will support the five bakers. The bakers going through the Tebelo and African Skills bakery course, under the watchful eye of Jesse Dormehl, come from communities in New Horizons, Kranshoek, Kwanokuthula and Qolweni.
Dormehl said the goal is to set up the graduates with their own bakeries in their communities. Catherine Eybers, a partner of Tebelo and campus manager of François Ferreira Academy, which offers an international diploma in food preparation and cooking, oversees the programme.
"Everyone has to eat," she said. "When we empower chefs to feed their families - that's where you make a difference. We teach people to share their knowledge and teach each student to respect the ingredients they use where they come from and the environment."
She said the academy continues to find ways of changing the industry to allow people to start their own businesses.
"Mentorship is also a critical component. We never leave students to themselves. We continue to provide help, even after they have graduated. We keep mentoring them for as long as we can."
Elsie Harmse, CEO of UXi Artisan Development, the umbrella organisation that includes Africa Skills Private College, said candidates can get attendance certificates from many so-called training centres. But those involved in Tebelo, through UXi, get a recognised certificate as a qualified baker.