NICE – Namibian Institute of Culinary Education

NICE was initiated by Wolwedans and supported by the Deutsche Entwicklungsgesellschaft.

Described in its project proposal as an investment in training, opportunity and socioeconomic empowerment/development, NICE will consist of a vocational training project and a Chefs’ Finishing School that are linked to a profit-generating restaurant section which  will give the students full-on practical exposure to their profession. The restaurant section will be the main funding body of the training facility, making NICE self-sustainable in the medium to long term.

The primary objective of NICE is to produce 10–12 professional chefs for the Namibian hospitality industry every year. After 11 months of intensive practical training, they will be rated as senior chefs and be equipped to take up management positions in lodges and hotels throughout the country in the field of cooking and food and beverage management.

In addition NICE will run crash courses in cooking and hospitality for quicker and more broad-based results. Such courses and workshops will constitute an additional form of income for NICE and the restaurant. Also envisaged are cooking classes for private individuals and courses that focus on speciality cuisine.

This text originally appeared in the June / July 2007 Travel News Namibia publication.