The Motheo TVET College hosted a send-off ceremony to celebrate two students who have qualified to represent South Africa and Bloemfontein at the 47th WorldSkills International Competition in Lyon, France, from 10 to 14 September 2024.
Beauty Therapy student Keabetsoe Moloi and Graphic Design student Tlhalefo Mophosho will be accompanied by a national expert in Graphic Design, Mr Johannes Bothma, and two coaches in Beauty Technology, Keorapetse Wolff, and Auto Body Repairs, Vuyane Ndamane.
Moloi, who took a gap year before studying, mentioned that her mother came across a beauty and nail technology course at Motheo TVET. She then encouraged her daughter to apply.
“I later fell in love with beauty therapy and quickly realised that there’s so much I can accomplish with this course alone,” she expressed with gratitude.
The 20-year-old is looking forward to networking and meeting new people.
“I’d like to say without the grace and goodness of God I wouldn’t have made it this far. Right now, it all feels surreal and definitely adds more pressure in terms of the amount of people rooting for me. I’m hoping it’ll have my name mentioned in very high places. I’m hoping to open my very own beauty bar right after,” she said.
Tlhalefo Kingston Mophosho, who hails from Ratau in Thaba Nchu, mentioned that it takes an amount of skill and a willingness to constantly improve to compete at the WorldSkills International Competition.
“The selection process is rigorous, with local and national competitions to identify the best talent, and only the top performers advance to the international stage. It’s not just about being good at design but also being able to think critically, work under pressure, and adapt quickly to new challenges,” he explained.
He also highlighted that this opportunity means the world to him as he is looking forward to elevating his career when he returns.
“It’s a huge honour to carry the South African flag on such a global stage. I believe it will open doors for my career, allowing me to showcase my abilities to a global audience, network with top professionals, and learn from some of the best in the field,” he said.
Mophosho concluded by stating that he would like to encourage other young creatives to pursue their passion with determination.
“Competitions like these are a reminder that hard work and creativity can open doors you might never have imagined. I hope to make my country proud and inspire others to chase their dreams.”
Applications are open for the WorldSkills South Africa National Competition 2025 and the closing date is on 31 October 2024.
Follow this link to apply: https://worldskillsza.dhet.gov.za/application.aspx
Gypseenia Lion
