Nyanga schoolchildren were encouraged to study tourism and explore their country when Cape Town Tourism and representatives from the tourism industry visited Oscar Mpetha High School last week.

The visit was part of a Cape Town Tourism programme to create future professionals and leaders in the industry, said Matonie Tywakadi, the organisation's community tourism coordinator.

The programme was run annually and prioritised poor communities that would not ordinarily have access to such initiatives to ensure equal opportunity, she said.

“It is a fact that our township schools are disadvantaged. The children from the townships have no such opportunities to tour. Some cannot even go to town. We want to change that. During these visits, we give out vouchers for hotels and tour Cape Town in an open bus. In all, we raise awareness about career opportunities in tourism.

“We encourage them to take the subject seriously. We are trying to bridge the gap between what the learners are understanding and learning in the textbooks and what actually is the experience of people in the industry, so we are bringing stakeholders to them too.”

Pupils had a chance to ask questions during the workshop and meet with players in the tourism industry.

Tourism teacher Vuyiseka Masekwana said a growing number of pupils at the school were taking the subject, but many did not take it seriously.

“Most learners did not take tourism seriously and were unsure about career options. But I am happy that they came so that learners can hear for themselves what I have been telling them. This workshop has shown them various possibilities and changed their perception.”

She added: “The interest has been growing. We started with 71 learners to 95 this year. The aim is to have 150 next year.”

School governing body chairperson Dumisani Qwebe said such opportunities were rare in the township.

“Townships are known for bad things and most industries are scared to come and share information with our kids. We have to commend the Cape Town Tourism for this. May they continue with such a good job even in other areas,” he said.

Lindsey Gibaud, owner of Big Tree Marketing, speaks to the pupils.

Oscar Mpetha High School tourism teacher Vuyiseka Masekwana chats with Fuad Peters, owner of I Am Cape Town, with Kim van der Westhuizen, from Involv Africa, looking on.

#township

Helping pupils tap into tourism