World renowned chef gives back through training
Chef Martin Kobald is now shifting his focus towards uplifting the industry within South Africa
RENOWNED Chef Martin Kobald, who owns a local school of cooking, is offering bursaries to subsidise fees for students wanting to study at ChefMLK School of Cooking.
The combined total of the available bursaries is worth R120 000 for the July intake. These subsidies will go a long way towards helping students fulfil their dreams and giving them the first step towards becoming internationally certified chefs.
Kobald is an Austrian-born chef extraordinaire who has honed his skills around the world.
He currently holds the title of honorary president of the South African Chefs Association (SACA) and serves as the former global chairman for the World Chefs Without Borders organisation.
In June 2014, Kobald was awarded the title of Global Master Chef from the Global Master Chef Society – an honour and achievement to become the third in South Africa to receive this accolade behind the masters, Dr Bill Gallagher and executive chef Manfred Muellers.
With his passion for food and helping others, Kobald is the convenor of the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger organisation and together with over 260 chefs from 45 countries they have raised a staggering R8-million.
This achievement allows the organisation to feed over 5 000 children daily for five years.
Following his years of international success, Kobald is now shifting his focus towards uplifting the industry within South Africa, which he is very passionate about, as well as his local community.
A recent skills audit conducted by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism indicates that over the next three years the hospitality sector will require 24 000 chefs or cooks.
Further, SACA has published statistics reflecting that there are currently 2 500 vacancies for pastry chefs and 12 500 vacancies in hot kitchens in South Africa.
Deserving students will be offered training at ChefMLK School of Cooking on the International City and Guilds Certificate in Food Preparation.
The City and Guilds qualifications are widely accepted by employers around the world as the benchmark for workplace excellence and provide learners with the skills they need to succeed in today’s fast changing economic environment.
This eight-month certificate level qualification will cover all the basic skills required within the industry, as well as serving as the stepping block for students to progress onto the diploma level in 2016.
Through his passion for the industry and uplifting skills, Kobald has taken on the challenge of training students to fill this skills gap and not only offers students the opportunity of world-class training, but also assists them with entering an industry that has high employment prospects.
ChefMLK School of Cooking is moving to new premises on Rietfontein Road in Glen Marais.
For details about the bursaries, call ChefMLK School of Cooking on 076-296-6916.
