There were scenes of jubilation yesterday as family and friends bade farewell to Yonela Temela, Khayelitsha’s first female licensed yacht skipper, as she left for a three-month summer camp in America.
Yonela, 19, recently graduated from the Royal Cape Yacht Club Academy where she earned a day skipper’s licence.
Royal Cape Yacht Club Academy manager, Lindani Mchunu, said they were very excited about Yonela’s progress. “Yonela joined the course via a non-profit organisation free tutoring, career guidance and mentorship to high school pupils in the townships, Emagqabini Education Academy,” he said.
Mr Mchunu said Yonela was a very dedicated individual who is enthusiastic about sailing.
Emagqabini Education Academy founder, Cindy Mkaza, said she was thrilled with the result of their collaboration with the yacht academy.
“We have now produced the first black woman in this field from Khayelitsha. She is a pathfinder and a role model to many young children,” said Ms Mkaza.
Yonela earned her skipper’s licence two years after she and 15 others joined the Royal Cape Yacht Club Academy programme. Mr Mchunu said there will be more like Yonela soon because currently they are training 80 pupils from the townships.
The Royal Yacht Club Academy offers a training programme for young aspiring sailors and introduce them to maritime careers.
Now with the help of the Royal Cape Yacht Club Academy, Yonela travelled to the State of Maine in America where she will be teaching other young people on the camp about sailing .
Yonela has also been featured on a CNN Inside Africa documentary. An excited Yonela told Vukani that it has always been her dream to get a skipper’s licence.
“I am over the moon and I just want to share my knowledge with other youngsters,” she said as she said goodbye to family and friends at the Cape Town International Airport yesterday morning, Wednesday June 12.