Chefs hats at the ready for aspirant group

Life will get a little sweeter for 26 intellectually challenged aspirant chefs who will attend HTA School of Culinary Art.

Head of department at the school, chef Kabelo Segone said these aspiring chefs would be trained in a year-long professional chef programme.

“Unemployed youth were targeted with the aim of them getting employed,” he said.

Segone added that the school had partnered with Tsebo Solutions Group, the programme’s main sponsors.

This was the first programme the school had undertaken with intellectually challenged students.

“They will learn everything from hygiene to cooking methods, how to handle and maintain knives, and how to do baked products. In-between, there will be minimal theory assessments as we want to assess them on their practical capabilities.”

Ultimately, the school and the company’s hope is that these eager chefs will be employed.

“We want them to be able to improve their lives while being able to serve the community.”

To be a great chef, Segone said it took a passion for the industry and a willingness to do the craft as being a chef was a skill.

“That is why we are known as artisans as we create with our hands.”

After a successful year, the students will be registered with the South African Chef’s Association.

To the new students, Segone said the more they put in, the more they would get out.

“They just need to put in a lot of effort into the opportunity they have been given.”

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