Thousands of applications were received, 7 were selected from Africa, including Ms Simnikiwe Ngcawa, the only TVET College representative to participate in the Community College Initiative Programme 2019-2020. 

Simnikiwe will be spending her 25th birthday as a Northampton College Student in Pennsylvania, USA refining her technical skills in Business Management and Administration: Banking and Finance.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program provides opportunities for individuals from other countries to develop leadership capabilities, professional skills, and English language proficiency, while studying at a community college in the United States.

Simnikiwe Ngcaws completed a National Certificate (Vocational): Finance, Economics and Accounting Level 4 and Accounting Technician AS(SA) Level 4 December 2018. Maintaining her Top Achiever status, she achieved 17 distinctions of her 21 subjects completed for the duration of her NC(V) programme. Her growing interest in Banking and Accounts is what set the ball rolling for her to complete an application for the CCI programme, driven by the support of her lecturers and peers that she had what it took to succeed. “What better way is there to improve your chances of employment than gaining more knowledge and skills from another institution in another country?”said Simmikiwe.

An active college student, she has participated in campus activations from SRC, MOT and community outreach programmes.  All these attributes contributed to her successful study application.

At a gift handover and farewell, Ms Charlene Matthews, False Bay TVET College Fish Hoek Campus Manager said “Simnikiwe is a dedicated hardworking student who is a role model to other students at the College.  She has proved that her circumstances do not define who she becomes.  She will not let her background determine or stifle her future endeavors. We are very proud of her and we have faith that she will keep the False Bay TVET College Flag flying high.”

CCI Program participants are recruited from historically under-represented and under-served communities. After completing the program, participants return home with new skills and expertise to help them contribute to the economic growth and development of their country.

Participants study in one of the following eligible fields: agriculture, applied engineering, business management and administration, early childhood education, information technology, media, public safety, and tourism and hospitality management.