The graduates included 10 students who had completed their catering course through G & D Guesthouse and training, 9 students who had competed their sewing and patternmaking course through Clotex clothing and textile service centre and 31 students who had completed Life Skills training through KTC.

The ceremony was attended by a number of guests and some of the parents of the graduating learners.  The Master of Ceremonies Mr Theodore Motto started proceedings by inviting the learners to sing a song which they had learnt on the KTC life skills programme.  The students’ rendition of Josh’s Groban’s “You raise me up” really showed their enthusiasm and all in the audience admitted that it was sung with heartfelt emotion.

Some guest speakers at the ceremony included Bunita Köhler our very own National Coordinator who gave guests and students a little background about the work of Kolping and encouraged students to reach even higher for their dreams.  Clotex and G & D Guesthouse and training also had the opportunity to speak to guests and learners and it was interesting to note the partnerships that had been built up between KTC, Kolping South Africa and the service providers used for training.  Heather Erasmus from the Chamber of Commerce Mitchell’s Plain branch gave some inspirational words to the graduates and emphasised that they should always think big.  The main thrust of her speech was summed up in her closing statement which read “If you find a door of opportunity closed for you, kick it down!”  Mr Aiden Baron from Red Door took the opportunity to inform students about the services that his organisation offered.  This was specifically in the area of small business development.  This was relevant to many graduates as they were interested in starting their own businesses.

The graduation ceremony ended with a finger luncheon prepared by the catering students themselves.  All the students who graduated on this day had gone through the Kolping South Africa KTC life skills programme and the thanks from the students to KSA and the life skills facilitators was a testament to the change they had experienced through the programme.

If there are any Kolping members or members of the community at large who are unemployed and older than 18 with at least a grade 9 who wish to participate in the KTC life skills and hard skills training programmes, please contact Maureen Roberts (KTC manager) at 021 934 8361 or the national office at 021 975 9722