April 2021
From time to time we reconnect with recipients of our past Waitrose Foundation bursary programme. We recently chatted to Likhaya Batyi about his career journey from 2005 when he was employed at our grower partner Katco (Katriver Citrus), Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape.
Likhaya was initially working in the box making division and worked at Katco from 2005 until 2008. In 2008 his bursary application was successful and in 2009 he went to Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) to do his 3 year full-time Diploma in HR Management through Damelin College. After successfully completing his studies, Likhaya returned to Katco in 2013 and worked as a clerk in the packing material department. The following year he moved to East London to gain experience as a facilitator in English Communication and Maths Literacy at Media Works. In 2016 Likhaya was back at Katco, this time as a quality controller where he continued to work until 2018. He then moved over to Eden Agri Services, also in Fort Beautfort, and started working as an HR clerk, completing a one year internship in that same department until the middle of last year.
In September 2020 Likhaya was offered a permanent position as clerk in the HR Department of Eden Agri Services where he is now (at age 35) enjoying the opportunity to grow further in his career and apply all the learning and experience he gained over the years. We're very proud of Likhaya and his unique career journey and wish him the very best of success for the road ahead!
