News & Events

Today, the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) celebrated an important milestone in the lives of 21 women who successfully completed an accredited Professional Cookery course.

The graduation ceremony, held at Nurture Shared Services in Kuils River, recognised the achievements of 20 school volunteer food preparers and one PSFA staff member who had successfully completed the training facilitated by Eliopax Development Services.

PSFA Director Petrina Pakoe and Jabu Mvubu, CEO of Eliopax, proudly presented each graduate with their certificate, marking the culmination of their hard work, commitment, and dedication.

The occasion was made even more special with a selection of gifts for each graduate, including a Lucky Star goodie bag sponsored by the Oceana Group, a beautiful bouquet of flowers sponsored by Woolworths and a Mantelli’s food hamper sponsored by Fresh Fruit Logistics.

The keynote address was delivered by Kim Palmer, CEO and Founder of On the Ball College, whose inspiring and uplifting remarks encouraged the graduates to embrace their achievements and the opportunities ahead.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, Cape Town singer Mujahid George entertained the guests with a selection of songs that soon had the graduates on their feet, dancing and thoroughly enjoying their special day.

More than just a certificate

For these women, the qualification represents far more than the completion of a training course. It provides them with valuable, accredited skills that can open doors to new opportunities, improve their prospects of earning an income and potentially enable them to establish their own catering businesses or secure permanent employment.

The initiative reflects PSFA’s commitment not only to providing nutritious meals to vulnerable learners but also to investing in the people who make its feeding programmes possible. By equipping its volunteer food preparers with practical, recognised skills, PSFA is helping to create opportunities for personal growth, greater financial independence and a more secure future.

A message from PSFA’s Director

Petrina Pakoe congratulated the graduates on their achievement, saying, “At PSFA, we believe that feeding the future is about more than providing nutritious meals to children. It is also about investing in people and creating opportunities that can change lives. These women give so much of themselves to ensure that children receive a daily meal, and it is incredibly rewarding to see them given an opportunity to invest in their own futures. We hope this qualification will be a stepping stone to greater independence, new opportunities and lasting success. We are immensely proud of them.”

Thank you to our supporters

An occasion such as this would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our valued partners. PSFA extends its sincere appreciation to:

• Nurture Shared Services for sponsoring the beautiful venue and providing logistical support.
• The Oceana Group for sponsoring the Lucky Star goodie bags.
• Woolworths for sponsoring the bouquets of flowers.
• Fresh Fruit Logistics for sponsoring the Mantelli’s food hampers.
• Mujahid George for providing wonderful entertainment and making the celebration extra special.

We also extend our appreciation to Eliopax for facilitating the accredited training programme, and to Kim Palmer for her inspiring keynote address.

To our 21 graduates: congratulations! May this achievement be the beginning of many exciting opportunities. We wish you every success as you take the next steps on your journey.