Drinking Water and Waste Management: Securing the Expansion of a Hospitality Training School in South Africa

A non-profit international solidarity organization, the Nukakamma Hospitality School is a South African vocational training institution (NPC). Based in Addo, in the Eastern Cape province, it trains young people from disadvantaged communities for careers in the hospitality industry. Its educational model focuses on social impact: an intensive 6-month training program covering reception, professional cooking, pastry, and service, followed by a structured 8-month internship in hotels, lodges, and restaurants.

Since its inception, Nukakamma has trained and placed over 250 students across the South African and international hospitality sectors. The center currently accommodates approximately 60 boarding students and employs 30 staff members. Its mission is to create sustainable employment pathways for vulnerable youth while providing the hospitality industry with skilled and motivated professionals.

An Infrastructure Project

An audit conducted in November 2025 by volunteers from the Foundation revealed major deficiencies in the center’s water and waste management systems.

• Water-related challenges: The site relies on a non-potable municipal water supply delivered twice a week. The center has to purchase 320 liters of drinking water daily, lacks consumption meters, and has no quality control protocols in place. Risks include hazardous chemical storage and a major vulnerability in the event of a system failure.

• Waste-related challenges: The site generates 12 to 14 metric tons of waste per month without a certified weighing system. Key challenges include a lack of recycling traceability, inadequate sorting infrastructure, and an open composting area.

Support from the Veolia Foundation will help modernize and upgrade these infrastructures:

• Water system improvements: filters, UV treatment, meters, storage tanks, and pumps.

• Waste management improvements: baling press, recycling cages, and sorting bins.

A Sustainability Pilot Model for Training Institutions

This project removes the barriers to the center's expansion. To increase its intake capacity beyond its current occupancy (boarding students, staff, and lodge guests), Nukakamma must urgently secure its water and waste management systems. Consequently, this initiative positions the school as a sustainability pilot model for training institutions across South Africa.