Swiss Hotel School students bring joy to residents at Forest Farm Centre
Swiss Hotel School hospitality students turned classroom theory into meaningful community impact, hosting a vibrant day of connection, entertainment, and generosity for residents living with cerebral palsy.
Second-year students from the Swiss Hotel School demonstrated the power of experiential learning by hosting a thoughtfully planned charity event at the Forest Farm Centre.
Hosted on April 17, the initiative formed part of their academic curriculum, requiring students to conceptualise, organise, and execute a full-scale event from start to finish.
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According to the school’s practical training co-ordinator Melani Muller, the project challenged students to take ownership of every aspect of event management, from budgeting and sourcing a beneficiary to co-ordinating catering, entertainment, and guest engagement.
Rather than opting for more widely recognised charities, Muller said the students chose Forest Farm Centre, a lesser-known organisation that provides care for individuals living with cerebral palsy. “We chose this charity specifically because it is one of the lesser-known charities. We didn’t go for something like SPCA or maybe a children’s home, which would have been easier in a sense.
“We wanted to challenge ourselves and wanted to engage with the residents. We wanted to spend time with them, get to know them, build their spirits up a little bit as well, and just give them a lovely day.”
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The event featured various activities, including arts and crafts sessions, music, and a lively dance performance, followed by a shared lunch. In addition to creating a memorable day, the students raised R15 000, along with essential goods, which were donated to the centre. “It looks like everybody’s enjoying themselves. We’re seeing a lot of good engagement from the students, so we’re very proud of them for what they’ve done today.”
One of the residents, Loraine Venter, said: “I enjoyed the people coming here today, and it was a lot of fun. We did a lot of painting, a lot of interaction, and a lot of talking. I like it when people come here and entertain us. It was wonderful. It was great, and we enjoyed it.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Swiss Hotel School second-year hospitality students bring warmth and joy to residents at Forest Farm Centre through a charity event. Video: Xoliswa Zakwe #Sandton #Swiss ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Forest Farm Centre’s general manager Heather Dietrich noted the significance of community involvement, especially for residents who have limited opportunities to engage with the outside world. She praised the students for their professionalism and enthusiasm, adding that such initiatives are invaluable in fostering inclusion and social connection.
Event manager and student Katerina Azeredo explained that the choice of Forest Farm Centre was driven by compassion and a desire to support individuals across all age groups living with cerebral palsy. “People here at Forest Farm have been phenomenal, in terms of everything. We are grateful they allowed us to host this event.”
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