Barista Trainees enjoy their success!

After 8 weeks of learning in our Barista Training Programme, two stars emerged! Cwayita Sizani and Momelezi Noyazi studied under our Opportunities Administrator and the guidance of our partner's from Urban Espress Coffee Co. 

The Barista Trainees worked hard and in the end were evaluated on the same standards as the World Barista Championship competitors. The two stars from our pilot programme have earned an 8 week learnership with Urban Espress in partnership with Ubuntu, which will allow them to further develop their knowledge of the service industry and their skill set as baristas. This opportunity provides them with vital one-on-one training, in a coffee shop environment, which will expose them to the job market.

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Cwayita Sizani is 22 years old. She lives with her grandmother, mother, uncle, sister and little brother, in Zwide. She matriculated in Pretoria before coming to PE. 

Sizani heard about the UP Programme from her grandmother who heard about it from a friend. 

Sizani describes herself as fun loving and caring, with dreams. She says the UP Programme gave her hope when she had decided to give up on herself. UP has helped her confidence, communication skills and she was able to get to know herself better. She says she has learned the value of hard work and that anything is possible with it. Sizani feels that Ubuntu has made her a better person as she has learned a lot from each and every person that she met. She has learned about Ubuntu and “ubuntu”.

Sizani has fallen in love with being a barista and is excited about the opportunity to explore this avenue further, as she feels coffee is amazing! 

Someday, Sizani would like to run her own business, where people can be able to see her as a safe pair of hands.

Momelezi Noyazi was born in Peddie. Curently he lives in Veeplaas in Soweto on sea. He lives with his aunt, 3 cousins, and brother. He matriculated last year at Ndzondelelo High School.

He was introduced to the UP programme by a friend that was a previous graduate.

During the 8 weeks, he has come across and gained different skills.  He says that he made sure that he participated in class and learned as much as he could. He says a workshop that stood out for him was when he learned about the concept of being a safe pair of hands.

He admits that at first he thought barista classes were dance classes and was pleasantly surprised when he found out that they were not! He admits the class was not easy, but he says he had to give it his all.

Momelezi says that he is grateful for this opportunity and that without Ubuntu he would have probably ended up on the streets doing the wrong thing, but Ubuntu has picked him up. He has learned how to live well and make a good living. He is sincerely hopeful that others would get this same opportunity in future.

He would like to say to others, of his same age, in the same situation: chase a dream with a dream and always work on that dream everyday of your life!