Stenden October / November - Stenden South Africa

tenden October / November
In this issue
Welcome Note
Rest in Peace, Dr Mabindisa
Cleaning up the flood damage in
Ingubo
A Big Welcome to Uilkje Lageveen
Cape Town was Going Down
Excursion to Mama Matthews
Application training
Bathurst Country Affair
Introduction week
Internship Overviews
Visit our Website:
www.stenden.ac.za
STENDEN SOUTH AFRICA NEWSLETTER : OCTOBER AND
NOVEMBER 2012
Welcome Note
The past month has been a busy, bittersweet one. The floods in the Eastern Cape caused much
devastation, but it was inspiring to see everyone band together to help the flood victims as best
they could.
Introduction week was a big hit, as was the Bathurst Country Fair. Both events brought a lovely
little bit of attention to our area of the Eastern Cape, which was very motivating to see. It is nice
to know that small towns also have the ability to do big things.
Our second and third year students all went on trips to different parts of the country. This
enabled them to see that what is out there once they reach the hospitality industry in the
working world. One of the people who will help them get to this point is the newly appointed
Uilkje Lageveen. We wish her everything of the best in this new position, and are certain that
she will flourish as the new Academic Coordinator in the field of Community Development.
Connect with Us:
It is with sad hearts that we convey the passing of Dr Kholisile Issac Mabindisa. He truly was
instrumental in the foundation of Stenden South Africa.
Rest in Peace, Dr Mabindisa
It was a sad day indeed when we heard of the passing of Dr Kholisile Isaac Mabindisa, a man
who was so instrumental in helping Stenden South Africa become what it is today. His passion
for education earned him many accolades throughout his life, all of which he used to help
improve the educational experiences shared by his students.
Being awarded a PhD from the Univeristy of Albertas, as well as fulfilling his role as the
Registrar of Fort Hare University, Dr Mabindisa dedicated so much of his time to the field of
education right until the end. He was also known for his involvement in community enrichment
activities – a true testament to how kind he was. Athabasca University Press recently published
his memoir, The Praying Man : The Life and Times of Henry Bird Steinhauer, as a nod to this
man known by many to have a heart of pure gold.
Stenden South Africa would like to offer our condolences to all of Dr Mabindisa's family and
friends at the difficult time.

tenden October / November
Cleaning up the flood damage in Ingubo
The recent flooding in the Eastern Cape caused considerable devastation to so many who live
in our surroundings – the roads caved in, houses flooded, and some even washed away. The
lifeblood of any community is the support that can be lent from one member to another, and this
occasion saw our entire community band together.
Donations of clothes and non-perishable goods came in from far and wide, and were much
appreciated by their recipients. A team was onsite to divide the clothes and food stuffs into
parcels that could be distributed amongst the flood's victims. Volunteers also made themselves
available to play with the children affected by the tragedy, giving their parents some time to
unwind and process the magnitude of their situation.
Further efforts will be made to try and help flood victims get back on their feet. Fundraisers will
be held at various points throughout the rest of the year – please support them as it could really
make a difference in the lives of so many.
A Big Welcome to Uilkje Lageveen
Uilkje has been selected to fill the position of Academic Coordinator – Community Development.
As a Stenden graduate, we are sure that she is more than capable of fulfilling the position and
being a great asset to us.
After gaining experience in Uganda doing her fieldwork, Uilkje lectured in our Department of
social work and art therapy, and in 2011, she completed her Masters in Educational Sciences.
With her experience and vision, we are confident that she will flourish in this new position, and
we wish her everything of the best.
Cape Town was Going Down
28 September saw the second years embark on their much-anticipated journey to Cape Town.
This tour was organised as a means to provide students with some exposure to the hospitality
industry and to help them get an idea of the various different institutions that they could
complete their internships at.

tenden October / November
Amongst the places they visited, the world-class One and Only Hotel, The Twelve Apostles
Hotel and Spa and the Cape Royal Hotel, all of which formed highlights of the trip for some very
excited students. The trip was not all about just learning, however, as activities such as trips to
the SAB factory for beer tasting and cheese and wine tastings at Fairview Estate were also
greatly enjoyed by the students.
A visit to Grand West Casino and Entertainment World proved to be both fun and educational,
as students were treated to a talk by the casino's General Manager, who was willing to answer
any questions the students had, as well as converse with them on more private, one-on-one
terms, leaving many of them motivated and inspired.
Overall, it was a great trip that ended in many students staying behind in the Mother City in an
attempt to prolong their time there. Great fun was had by all, many memories were created, and
invaluable lessons were learnt.
Excursion to Mama Matthews
Since July of this year, students from Germany, the Netherlands and Aruba have joined us,
following the minor Entrepreneurship. The practical focus of this course is to empower small
businesses in townships, while the theoretical part is centred on lectures and workshops. This
course also taught its students about building community development, and adds to their
understanding about the Eastern Cape, and how it differentiates from their own personal
backgrounds.
Two of these students – Francceska and Sophie, worked with Mrs Matthews, a spaza shop
owner. Each day, Mrs Matthews uses her passion for cooking to create delicious, wholesome
meals for her customers. Over the years, Mrs Matthews has created a brand for her shop, and
she now has an effective marketing strategy that draws regular customers to her shop every
day. After tucking into some of Mrs Matthews' delicious cuisine, Francceska and Sophie
encouraged their classmates to try the food as well, so much so that they have regular lunch
trips to the shop!

tenden October / November
Application training
7 November saw the third year students embark on a trip to the Stenden Madolos campus for a
few days, as a series of valuable lectures were being conducted by Mr. Leon van Achterbergh,
Mr. Andre Steyn and Mr. Kevin Aitchison.
These lectures were set up and designed to be presented in a relaxed and easy environment,
all for the purpose of educating students on how to go about putting together their CVs,
presenting themselves at interviews and so forth. The main aim of the event was to help
students prepare themselves for what they can expect in the field of hospitality, as well as alert
them to the potential job opportunities that lie in that field.
Throughout the weekend, the students catered for the group, making sure that everybody had
enough brain food to help them stay awake and alert. The final day of the conference allowed
some time for students to get feedback on the CVs and covering letters that they had prepared,
ensuring that the best possible guidance could be given to them.
The students would like to say a big thank you to Mr van Achterbergh, Mr Steyn and Mr
Aitchison for dedicating their time and patience to helping their students step into the working
world.

Stenden October / November
Bathurst Country Affair
The inaugural Bathurst Country Affair was an absolute success! Lovers of food and wine, as
well as 6 celebrity chefs all invaded Bathurst, and a truly fantastic time was had by all. With
Stenden as the main sponsor of the event, a competition to win three years of free tuition was
held, with the following judges having the final say as to which candidate most deserved the
award:
• Taryn Gilson from the prestigious Mantis Collection,
• Hennie Clerk, General Manager of the 5 star world renowned Oceana Game Reserve,
• Ilse - a well-known hotelier in the Area
• Dr Wouter Hensens – our Academic Dean
• Angela Bezuidenhout – one of our Alumni and General Manager of Portofino Guest House
• Louise Swanepoel – Hospitality Expert and Owner of the Grand Hotel and original founder
of EISS/Stenden SA
Each candidate had to give a presentation detailing the reasons that they think they are most
deserving of the bursary, and were then assigned to different chefs and had to cook with them.
In the end, it was Angelique Kossopalove who won the judges' votes. A big congratulations and
welcome from us to her!
Jeremy Mansfield, the radio personality and one of the event's biggest supporters said that it
was a fantastic occasion, and he hopes to see it blossom into one of the country's leading
culinary events. A big thank you to everyone who was able to support.

tenden October / November
Introduction week
Introduction week was fun-filled, packed with activities and festivities that really showed the
newbies a good time! Throughout the week, talks were held all over campus, the topics of which
varied between everything from module discussion to intercultural sensitivity. It was a great
chance for everyone to get to know everyone else, as memories were created and experiences
were shared.
At the end of a busy day, everyone had a chance to unwind at the fireside as we put some meat
on the braai, relaxed, and recapped on their activities of the week, which included tours of Port
Alfred and the townships.
We look forward to building and sharing many more experiences with all of our new students.
Internship Overviews
Our students have been gaining some experience in the working world, signing on for
internships at various places throughout the country. Below is a brief overview of where each of
them are, as well as what they are doing there:
Chris Page and Lenise Le Roux: Chris and Lenise are spending their internship days at a five
star country lodge and spa called Indigo Fields. Chris is focused on the management side of the
business, and is spending his time learning about that, while Lenise is more interested in the
administrative side, lending her skills to that department for the next little while.
Tjedu Radinaane and Priscilla Mooketsane: Tjedu and Priscilla are based at the Quality
Assurance and Assessment unit in Botswana. Tjedu is spending most of her time at an
approvals clinic, where she has been trained and has become well-versed in the moderation
process. Priscilla, on the other hand, is working in the external verifications centre. Her tasks
focus on making sure that everything runs smoothly and is up to standard.
Mat Mathaio: Mat works as a teacher at the Tourism and Hospitality department at Maun
Technical College. He is doing very well, and the department head is very impressed with both
his work ethic, as well as the standard of his work.
Amy Macleod: Amy has already completed her internship, where she really impressed the staff
at Fairmont Zimbali. During her internship, Amy focused on sales, marketing and public
relations.