West Coast CoVE: Hands-On Training at African Dream Project

On 14 March 2024, the EU-funded Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Climate Smart Agriculture was officially launched at West Coast College’s Vredendal campus. African Dream Agri Projects Pty Ltd was one of the stakeholders which signed up to be part of the regional CoVE during the event.

African Dream Agri Projects is a private farming entity which has received financial assistance from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, as well as technical assistance from Raisins SA. The support aims to equip the entity to become a fully self-sustainable commercial farming operation.

This collaboration is another example of how vocational training can be enriched through partnerships between educational institutions, the private sector, government, and civil society. As Mr. Jacobs of African Dream Agri Projects noted, “With our involvement with the CoVE, we aim to contribute to the development of young future farmers as well as the skills development of our own employees.”

As part of this ongoing partnership, on 13 September 2025, students from West Coast College participated in a practical excursion to the African Dream farming site. The students gained valuable hands-on experience in sheep vaccination. In addition, African Dream Agri Projects will host four students for internships, further supporting their professional development.

This partnership highlights the value of combining vocational education with real-world experience. By working together, institutions like West Coast College and African Dream Agri Projects are helping students build practical skills that are directly relevant to the agricultural sector.