Westlake United Church Trust

“I will always be grateful’’ – Joe-Dean Roberts

Belinda Walsh — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:55:01 +0000

I am proud to say I was born and bred in Westlake. Despite the challenges, goodness is cultivated in Westlake and through WUCT. My life would have been completely different without the presence of women like Veronica Weier and Diana Forester from WUCT, who dedicated themselves to uplift and support vulnerable women like my mother and me. These acts of service made me want a better life. It also made me see that women are fearless and powerful.

The annual camp was live changing for me. It gave me the opportunity to experience a place outside of Westlake. For a weekend I had a bed, a hot shower and 3 amazing meals/day - things so foreign to me then. It changed my thought process. It made me dream of one day having my own bed and a shower with instant hot water. I am now living the reality. These are the little things we take for granted but it’s an opportunity that can nurture greatness.

I also attended Emmanuel Educare. I love education - it changes the mind. It is through education that I was able to better my life. I now have a degree from the University of Cape Town, a feat which I am extremely proud of because it took everything in me to achieve. Emmanuel Educare instilled that in me. Dream beyond your circumstances. They gave me the foundations that set me up for life.

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More than just shelf packing!

Belinda Walsh — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:39:03 +0000

We recently ran a merchandising course at WUCT in partnership with EDGE Merchandising Academy, giving local residents practical, job-ready skills for retail — and a real chance at finding work.

Practical Skills, Real Opportunity

Merchandising is often seen as simply stacking shelves, but it's a genuine, valued retail skill. For our community, where jobs are hard to come by, this course offered proper training with a clear path into employment.

This was a hands-on course covering the skills needed on the shop floor:

Shelf packing and product presentation
Planograms, stock rotation and FIFO
Stocktaking, pricing and labelling
Promotional displays and visual merchandising
Customer service and workplace behaviour
Health and safety, and loss prevention
Basic retail maths

Participants also practiced simulated retail situations, workplace basics like punctuality and teamwork, and CV and interview preparation.

''The merchandise training was very informative and enjoyable. I learned a lot about products, how they work, and how to use the knowledge in a practical way. The training was well presented and gave me a much better understanding of the merchandise. I also received valuable information and resources that I can use going forward. Overall, I gained a lot of knowledge and feel much more confident after attending the training'' Course attendee, Bronzene

LIndakuhle Mgaqwule (above) is the first of our course participants to secure a job.

''I found the training very useful, I am able to spot damaged products, manage PI labels that are missing and do the restocking. I am very excited about this new job!''

What makes this course valuable is what happens after training. EDGE places participants' CVs directly with major retail companies in Cape Town, giving local residents a real shot at employment, not just a certificate.

12 courses with a total of 80 people have attended. Thank you to Gary Bristow from EDGE Merchandising Academy, and to everyone at WUCT who helped make it happen.

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A Night of Drumming and Generosity: R77 000 Raised for Food Parcels

Belinda Walsh — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:32:23 +0000

At the end of May, 2026 we held a special fundraising evening in support of the Health and Wellness Department — and thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we raised an incredible R77 000 towards food parcels and improved nutrition for vulnerable members of the Westlake community.

The evening itself was a celebration of collaboration and community spirit, but the real story is what that money will now go on to do.

Why This Fundraiser Matters

Due to poverty, unemployment and financial hardship, many people in Westlake struggle to access enough nutritious food. The funds raised will directly support food parcels and better nutrition for those who need it most, with a particular focus on:

- Pregnant women

- Mothers and toddlers

- Families experiencing hardship

- Elderly members of our community

Through the Health and Wellness Department, this money will help us get healthy food to families who need it, and support education around good nutrition — work that has a real, lasting impact on health and wellbeing in our community.

An Unforgettable Start to the Evening

To kick things off, Drum Café led around 80 guests in an extraordinary drumming experience. Their three-person team had everyone mesmerised from the first beat, blending music, energy and humour into something both exhilarating and inclusive.

Our guests laughed — sometimes at their own expense — as we struggled to find our rhythm, before gradually coming together to create something genuinely impressive as a group. It was a joyful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.

A Team Effort Behind the Scenes

None of this happens without the people working quietly behind the scenes. WUCT staff transformed the venue on the Friday, right down to personalised table name tags. Staff from Emmanuel Educare, Jenna from our sewing room and many others pitched in to prepare a delicious meal, while our GM's daughters ran the wine bar all evening.

Thank You

To everyone who bought or sponsored a ticket, decorated, cooked, served, donated, sponsored prizes, or simply showed up with enthusiasm and generosity — thank you. This was a true collective effort, and R77,000 for food parcels is proof of what we can achieve together.

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Computer Course changing lives

fishgate@wuct — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:47:06 +0000

The International Computer Driving License (ICDL) course now runs every month in our computer room, and it's become one of the most quietly powerful things we offer. It's a globally recognized certification that proves proficiency in essential digital skills — the kind of skills that are often just assumed in today's job market, but that so many of our locals have simply never had the chance to learn. The course covers key modules including Computer & Online Essentials, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and Presentations, giving students a well-rounded, practical foundation they can actually use.

Each course takes on 12 students, and every group brings its own energy, its own struggles, its own small breakthroughs. The messages below are just two of the many we've received from course attendees over time, but each one is a reminder of the real impact these courses are having, far beyond the certificate itself.

It's easy to underestimate what an opportunity like this can mean to someone who has never really been given one — someone who needs a job, who is desperate to learn, and who is trying, often against real odds, to build a better life for themselves and their family.

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A Christmas Gift for Every Child

fishgate@wuct — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:33:58 +0000

Our goal was to give 280 Westlake children a Christmas gift this year. We asked our donors for help, and you came through — enough donations came in to make sure every child received something.

We hosted a Christmas party for 180 learners from our Emmanuel Educare Centre and 100 orphaned and vulnerable children from our Childcare and Protection programme. There was play, treats, and a visit from Santa. Each child went home with a gift bag of toiletries, toys, and clothing. For many of these children, it was the first gift they'd ever received. We are so grateful to our donors for making this possible.

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Vanessa’s Story

fishgate@wuct — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:21 +0000

Growing up in a diverse community like Westlake shaped my perspective on life and the decisions I made. I learned to approach life with humility and confidence.

Emmanuel Educare was the foundation of my growth and early development. I see it as the ‘Tree of Life’ - helping children build strong roots and produce good fruit.

Mrs. Lawrence was the principal, she led the school with strength and independence. Ms. Hazel taught me the values, knowledge, and skills I still carry today and shaped me into a confident girl, full of passion and integrity.

Emmanuel means ‘God is with us’ - and truly, if you’re blessed by a higher power, who can be against you? The word itself holds so much meaning. Today, I work at Reddam Pharmacy and tutor Grade 1-7 children part-time at WUCT. I am proud and humbled that the community that shaped me, now lets me give back.

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