21 July 2015 | Zimkhitha Sulelo

Despite the foul weather last Friday, more than 60 students from Hout Bay boarded a City Sightseeing Cape Town red bus and made their way to the One&Only Cape Town hotel for a day of learning and career advice.

The career day was organised by Lalela Project, in partnership with City Sightseeing and the One&Only hotel, as part of Nelson Mandela International Day 2015. The aim was to expose the students to opportunities within the tourism industry.

After short welcome speeches and snacks, the students were divided into groups of five and were led to an exhibition room with 12 stations of possible careers to follow within tourism. Students were encouraged to spend 10 minutes at each station and to ask as many questions as possible, but most importantly to get hands on experience of what a day in the life of a chef, masseuse, fitness trainer, marketing manager or a barman is actually like.

Students with Oliver Nurock from Lalela Project

This is what two of the students who attended the workshop said about being part of the workshop and about what Mandela Day means to them.

Portia Mkhaphuza, Grade 12

“Mandela Day to me means being inspired to get up and do something that will make the day a little better than all the other days. It just reminds you to try your best to be a part of a community and help where you can. I have not decided what I want to do after Matric, and I am hoping by the end of the day I will.”

Celina Ingwana, Grade 11

“Mandela Day to me means that you take charge and use every opportunity you get to achieve what you want. Today I am learning how to express myself with confidence. I am sitting at a massage table, learning about massage and that is something I have never done before. I was taught that even for a massage you have to be able to communicate well with clients.”

Here is what the students got up to in pictures.

A day in the life of a Chef station

A day in the life of a massage therapist

The students got a chance to "dine" at Nobu

Flower arranging class was popular with students