On the 5th of December 2017, LIV Village hosted their LIV Culinary School graduation where 19 students obtained a professional cookery certificate. This course is an IHS curriculum, consists of five months’ theory and training in the LIV state-of-the-art training kitchen and then another six months of experiential learning hours at various restaurants and institutions in and around Durban. LIV Village’s vision is not only to look after orphan and vulnerable children, but also to uplift the local community through programs like the Culinary School.
The graduation ceremony took place at LIV Village and was a joyous affair with the students proudly dressed in their chef’s jackets as they received their certificates with the biggest of cheers from their families. They were addressed by Chef Luke Nair, Head Chef of the renowned Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, who encouraged them to stay passionate about food and to be grateful for humble beginnings. He continued to share his own story of growing up in a township and how he can relate to these students, but how working hard and having a positive attitude opened doors for him to cook for the famous and elite and that they can also reach such heights with dedication and commitment.
The LIV Culinary School is one of the initiatives of LIV Training to uplift individuals from the surrounding communities. The core mission of LIV Village is to rescue, restore, raise and release and the 5th of December 2017 was a successful releasing of nineteen stars who now have the opportunity to shine brightly and contribute to the hospitality industry of South Africa.
Click here to watch the story of Mthembeni Nthetha, one of the 19 students that obtained their certificate in 2017.
