My CEU Details SMU Trainer Melanie Burke My information will be updated shortly not available +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

Project: Winter Hope (Garies, Northern Cape) CEU Staff Winter Hope (Garies, Northern Cape) Winter has a special way of reminding us that small acts of kindness can create lasting warmth. Our Project Winter Hope initiative in Garies, Northern Cape, was an incredible success, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed, partnered with us, and helped make a meaningful impact in the lives of community members. On behalf of the Community Engagement Unit (CEU), we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our partners from the UWC Library, particularly Khanyisa Yekwani and Gerald Louw, for their dedication and support throughout this initiative. A special thank you goes to Dr Shirlene Neerputh, Director of the UWC Library, and Shehaamah Mohamed, Deputy Director Learning and Teaching, Library Services, for the valuable partnership and collaboration that made this project possible. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our internal support team and leadership: our Acting Director, Dr Samantha Van Schalkwyk, Nathan Lawrence from the UWC Centre of Performing Arts (CPA), and Damaris Kiewiets, our Community Liaison Officer, for their commitment and contributions. To our valued partners, Change Agents South Africa NPO, thank you for walking this journey with us. Special appreciation goes to Olin Kiewietz, who led this project with passion and dedication, as well as Change Agents South Africa Chairperson, Jayson George, for the continued support and commitment to promoting social impact. Throughout our visit to JJ Lambert Primary School, facilitated by Juffrou Fagmieya Januarie and her team, and the Garies Town Hall, a number of meaningful activities took place that touched the lives of many community members. The Community Engagement Unit (CEU) led a workshop, “Die Stem van Garies,” which focused on community mapping and centring the voices of community members. This workshop was facilitated by Nathan Lawrence (UWC Centre for Performing Arts), Damaris Kiewiets (CEU Community Liaison Officer) and Dr. Samantha van Schalkwyk (Acting Director, CEU). Khanyisa Yekwani and Gerald Louw from the UWC Library also facilitated a workshop for youth and their parents on the dangers of the online world and digital safety awareness. One of the highlights of the programme was the Dignity Clothes Shop initiative led by Change Agents South Africa. Donations were carefully displayed, and community members were given the opportunity to choose items according to their needs and preferences. Children selected toys of their choice, individuals picked clothing items and shoes, while adults also received blankets, soup, socks, and other essential winter items. A particularly touching moment was reaching out directly to vulnerable members of the community. Five elderly community members were visited in their homes, with the oldest being 91 years old. These moments reminded us that community engagement is not only about providing material support, but also about restoring dignity, sharing compassion, and building human connection. Our outreach also extended to Joe Slovo Community Health Centre-ER, where we donated baby clothing and boxes of sanitary pads to support families and address important community needs. This initiative demonstrated the true power of collaboration, compassion, and collective action. Together, we did more than provide warmth this winter; we shared hope, restored dignity, inspired smiles, and fostered a genuine sense of belonging. Thank you to every donor, volunteer, staff member, student, and partner who contributed towards making this initiative a success. Together, we continue to build stronger communities and create meaningful change. < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

< Back Community Engaged Learning Programme (CELP) Duration: Duration: xx No of Parcels: Duration: xx Served: Level: Intermediate About the Community Engagement The Community Engaged Learning Programme (CELP), offered by the Community Engagement Unit (CEU) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), introduces students to the principles and practice of community engagement within the South African context. Grounded in the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI), the programme connects academic learning with societal needs by encouraging students to apply their disciplinary knowledge to real-world challenges. Through this approach, CELP aims to cultivate socially responsible graduates who are equipped to contribute meaningfully to social transformation, equity, and sustainable development in a post-apartheid society. Objectives ingredient 1 ingredient 2 ingredient 3 ingredient 4 ingredient 5 ingredient 6 ingredient 7 ingredient 8 Outcomes The Community Engaged Learning Programme ( CELP) , offered by the Community Engagement Unit (CEU) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), introduces students to the principles and practice of community engagement within the South African context. Grounded in the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI), the programme connects academic learning with societal needs by encouraging students to apply their disciplinary knowledge to real-world challenges. Through this approach, CELP aims to cultivate socially responsible graduates who are equipped to contribute meaningfully to social transformation, equity, and sustainable development in a post-apartheid society. CELP is designed as a reflective and experiential training programme that integrates theory with practice. The training is structured through facilitated sessions that introduce key concepts, including community engagement, the scholarship of engagement, diversity consciousness, leadership for societal impact, and community entry. A central component of the programme is the development and implementation of a community engagement workshop or volunteering project, in which students apply their learning in real-life contexts and critically reflect on their experiences, leadership, and impact. The objectives of CELP are to develop students’ understanding of community engagement as both a professional and personal commitment to social change, to foster diversity awareness and inclusive practice, and to build community-engaged leadership skills. The programme further aims to strengthen students’ capacity to act as active citizens by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to design and contribute to initiatives that promote social justice and community well-being. Ultimately, CELP supports the development of reflexive, ethical, and engaged graduates who can bridge theory and practice and work collaboratively with communities to co-create sustainable solutions to societal challenges. For more information on the CEU’s Community Engaged Learning Programme, please contact : ceutraining@uwc.ac.za #IAmUWC Previous Next

Social Justice

The annual UWC Academic week of the DVC: Academic Upcoming Event 0 DAYS TO THE EVENT UWC Academic Week The yearly UWC Academic week When 06 Sept 2021, 08:30 – 10 Sept 2021, 16:30 Where Webinar Are you available for this Event ? Details

< Back Du Noon Duration: 30 Minutes No of Parcels: 145 Served: 4 Servings Level: Beginner About the Community Engagement This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Objectives ingredient 1 ingredient 2 ingredient 3 ingredient 4 ingredient 5 ingredient 6 ingredient 7 ingredient 8 Outcomes Step 1 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 2 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 3 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 4 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Previous Next

Community Liaison at the UWC, support, volunteer, assist, donate, uplift Community Liaison The purpose of community liaison is to facilitate circular and equitable engagement between the university and its different community associates to collectively bring about positive societal/broader impacts. The CEU suggests a Community Engagement (CE) typology which presents the different types of Boyer’s scholarships, engagement, communities and stakeholder partners for each of the respective types. This is so that there is a spectrum though which the different types of engagement, communities and initiatives can be classified and accommodated. Our Community Associates Civil society as a community refers to those citizens/members in a specific community, interest groups, business sector, public sector, private sector as well as NGOs, NPOs and CBOs. Read more >> Student Community Read more >> Scholarship is the defining characteristic as an institution of higher learning and which involves research, teaching and learning. Read more >> UWC have student and community representation on their senates, and some professional advisory committees for courses and professional degrees. Civil Society Scholarly Community Ways to Give / Get Involved Visit us in Person Community Engagement Unit (CEU) University of the Western Cape (UWC) Robert Sobukwe Rd, Bellville, Cape Town, 7535 South Africa Map Make contact Get in Touch Join our Forums Our BLOG Online Click to Support Quick Links Terms of Reference CE Resource Centre Donate Now Get Involved Our Events Latest News Free Newsletter Visit us UWC Portal

The HECE Conference 2026 (Makhanda, Eastern Cape) CEU Staff 5–7 May 2026 The HECE Conference 2026 The HECE Conference 2026 hosted by Rhodes University in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. Dr Samantha van Schalkwyk, Acting Director of the Community Engagement Unit (CEU), and Damaris Kiewiets, Community Liaison Officer, participated in the Higher Education Community Engagement: Reparative Futures for the Cultivation of Humanity Conference, hosted by Rhodes University from 5–7 May 2026 in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. The conference brought together academics, researchers, students, government representatives, and community partners from South Africa and abroad to engage in discussions on higher education, social justice, and community engagement. Dr Samantha van Schalkwyk presented a paper titled “Community-Engaged Learning as Epistemic and Relational Repair at the University of the Western Cape.” Her presentation explored how the Community Engaged Learning Programme (CELP) offered by CEU at the University of the Western Cape, supports community-engaged learning as a humanising and socially responsive educational practice. The paper highlighted the importance of recognising communities as partners in knowledge creation while promoting ethical responsibility, dialogue, and social accountability among students. Damaris Kiewiets, together with Keith Cloete from the Department of Health and Wellness, Western Cape Government, presented “A Living Model of Dialogic Partnership: Co-Governance, Co-Inquiry, and Legacy-Making in Community Engagement.” Their presentation focused on the value of sustainable partnerships between universities, government institutions, and communities in addressing social challenges through collaboration and shared responsibility. The conference provided valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among institutions committed to strengthening engaged scholarship and socially responsive practices within higher education. Participation in the conference reflects the CEU’s continued commitment to meaningful community engagement, collaborative partnerships, and the advancement of socially responsive and inclusive higher education practices. < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

SoE Colloquium 2025 CEU Staff member https://www.ceu.uwc.ac.za/event-details/ceu-colloquium2025 22-23 Oct 2025 See our Events section for the planned details of the upcoming 2025 SoE Colloquium The annual SoE Colloquium by the CEU at the UWC < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

2026 Winter Drive CEU Staff 3-5 July 2026 2026 Winter Drive in Garies (Northern Cape) The University of the Western Cape (UWC) Community Engagement Unit (CEU) and Library are partnering with Change Agents South Africa to make a difference in Garies (Northern Cape). This winter let’s come together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most. The UWC Community Engagement Unit and UWC Library, in partnership with Change Agents South Africa, are collecting donations of warm clothing, blankets, non-perishable food items, toys, and children’s books and stationery. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps bring warmth, comfort, hope, and smiles to individuals and families during the colder months. Join us in making a positive impact because every donation counts. < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

Co-creating Knowledge for Social Justice (Dr DE Arendse) CEU Staff https://www.ceu.uwc.ac.za/event-details/co-creating-knowledge-for-social-justice 13 May 2026 Repairing the historical silence of the South African Cape Coloured corps < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

< Back Malmesbury Duration: 15 Minutes No of Parcels: 300 Served: 4 Servings Level: Intermediate About the Community Engagement This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Objectives ingredient 1 ingredient 2 ingredient 3 ingredient 4 ingredient 5 ingredient 6 ingredient 7 ingredient 8 Outcomes Step 1 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 2 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 3 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 4 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Previous Next