HUGO Fihlani, 16, is bracing himself for a world-renowned skills competition, an initiative of WorldSkills, an international charity that organises world and national championships for vocational skills. It is held every two years in different parts of the world.

Next week, Hugo will for the first time take part in the regional competition, where he will compete with learners from other institutions. The provincial leg will be held in July, followed by the national phase, and ultimately the internationals in China next year.
Hugo’s passion for welding was ignited when he was a little boy. “My uncle was into welding, and he would take me with him to work. I fell in love with the trade. I was so grateful when I was enrolled at George Campbell because I knew that my future career starts here,” shared Hugo, who recognises that any other school would have stifled his ambitions.

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During the competition next week, and others to follow, he is excited to be able to meet his future employers, as well as his peers in the trade.
“It’s an opportunity for me to learn more skills, showcase my creativity and put my school on the map. This is what my future career is made of.”

He is confident that he will ace all the phases and make his way to China. The young man is armed with all the tools and personality. He believes attributes like attention to detail, creativity, consistency and composure go a long way.

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