A hospitality school focusing on training within local communities to meet the expectations of game lodges and hotels.
Sundays River Valley, Eastern Cape, South Africa

"Living instead of surviving"

Addo African Home Eco Lodge established the NukaKamma Talent Development Center (NTDC), a hospitality school aimed at alleviating poverty in the region by creating new job opportunities and improving living conditions for local communities through professional training. This initiative enables students to secure the best positions in premium lodges and game reserves within the area.

NTDC is a non-profit organization founded on a unique hospitality school concept developed by NHS Training PTY.

Our mission

Learning a technical skill is the best way to get a job, earn a living and improve your daily life.

Our mission is to teach, train, and certify young people from townships, equipping them with valuable technical skills for life. At the same time, we aim to support lodges and hotel establishments by providing them with qualified, skilled individuals for their workforce.

Our offer

Hospitality and catering training

NukaKamma's main focus is to provide training for young people who have left school without completing their studies. NukaKamma trains technical skills in hospitality and offers entrepreneurship training to those graduates who want develop their own businesses.

Our Hospitality School offers 4 different specialities at the moment : cooking, service en salle, bakery and accommodation services.

Why?

NukaKamma aims to be the "Link".

Youth unemployment is a growing issue in South Africa, and hotel schools remain largely inaccessible to many communities in the townships. Additionally, many companies in the hotel and tourism sector face challenges in recruiting locally trained staff for various roles in lodges, game reserves, and the hotel and catering industries. NukaKamma aims to address this skills gap by offering relevant training and providing qualified young individuals who are equipped to pursue successful careers in hospitality.

How?

Offering top-level skills

We’ve created a ‘learning by doing’ program that supports students over the course of 12 months. By the end of the year, they graduate as SETA-certified professionals. The program combines hands-on experience, theoretical learning, and sessions with renowned international chefs who visit to share their expertise. NukaKamma is backed by a network of world-class chefs.

For who?

Training young people from local communities

Our students are primarily young individuals from disadvantaged communities who did not complete their schooling and are seeking to gain technical skills in the hospitality industry to secure employment or start their own businesses, contributing to the local economy. As tourism grows, hotel establishments need to enhance their service standards. Many of our students face challenges like limited education, lack of economic opportunities, and insufficient job-seeking skills. Our selection process emphasizes motivation, commitment to the community, and a strong desire to work collaboratively with others.

NukaKamma Objectives

Education

Create educational initiatives, including teaching, vocational training, and the sharing of knowledge and skills, designed to address the basic needs of individuals living in extreme poverty, with a focus on women and youth.

Local communities

Collaborate with local communities throughout South Africa and Africa to create positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

Economic inclusion

Promote social and economic inclusion for historically disadvantaged, isolated, and marginalized groups and communities by creating job opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing technical skills.

Cultural exchange

NukaKamma fosters cultural exchange between South Africa, France, and other countries that align with the organization’s goals. International chefs spend 8-10 days in residence at NukaKamma, sharing their expertise with the students. Additionally, our students will engage in exchange programs with French training centers to experience a unique cultural exchange. French students will come to NukaKamma for immersive learning, while South African students will be sent to French schools and restaurants to gain valuable international experience.

Network of partners

NukaKamma is supported by a network of partners, including private and public organizations, all of which share the organization’s mission. We are backed by a network of 126 renowned chefs.