ceu.uwc.ac.za | Community Engagement at the University of the Western Cape Welcome to the Community Engagement Unit CEU Staff CEU Staff (1) Volunteers Easter Sunday CEU Staff 1/8 UWC’s Community Engagement Unit (CEU) focuses on advancing the Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI). Drawing on an adapted version of Boyer’s Scholarships model, we position community engagement not as a peripheral activity, but as a rigorous, ethical, and transformative approach to knowledge production that should be infused throughout all the university’s activities. Grounded in reciprocity and co-creation, CEU’s work supports partnerships that bring leaders, academics, and communities into meaningful dialogue, where diverse knowledge systems are recognised and valued. Central to this is a commitment to centering the agency and voice of communities. We contribute to a research culture that is socially responsive, critically engaged, and rooted in the realities of post-apartheid South Africa. CEU’s contribution lies in expanding how societal impact is understood, enabled, and sustained. We support pathways for translating evidence-based research into institutional, societal, and global impact through collaborative, contextually grounded practices. This includes strengthening the design and implementation of community-engaged research, building capacity among academics, students, and partners, and fostering networks that enable sustained collaboration. One of our flagship projects is our Community-Engaged Learning Programme (CELP), a student training initiative that inspires UWC students to embrace leadership rooted in social justice and transformative scholarship. Our understanding of impact foregrounds social justice, mutual benefit, and sustained transformation. One of our key priorities is amplifying the visibility of UWC’s social impact engagements and research through our annual Social Impact Engagement and Scholarship of Engagement reports. Latest news Fisantekraal Wellness Centre CE Newsletter Issue #22 Project: Winter Hope (Garies, Northern Cape) Upcoming Events Wed 30 Sept Scholarship of Engagement Virtual Colloquium (2026) / Virtual Learn more 30 Sept 2026, 09:00 – 01 Oct 2026, 16:00 Virtual Theme: Community-Led Knowledge Ecologies: Co-Creation, Knowledge Translation into Practice, and Societal Impact Map email: ceu@uwc.ac.za Quick Links Visit Us Events Calendar Follow us ceu.uwc.ac.za

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Community Engagement Works Portfolio The various Portfolios of the CEU Staff Community Liaison Substance Misuse Training Community Engagement Database CE Stakeholder Engagement Scholarship of Engagement Community Leadership Training

Damaris Portfolio #1 Landscape Magazine 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. Read More Summer Secrets 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. Read More Wild Spirit 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. Read More Under the Sun 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. Read More Espinas Mezcal Ad 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. Read More May 28th 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. Read More

Our Team Members Acting Director Dr Samantha van Schalkwyk I am Acting Director of the Community Engagement Unit (CEU). Read More >> Community Liaison Damaris Kiewiets I am responsible for Community Liaison at the CEU. Read More >> PG Research Assistant Kristen Johnson My name is Kirsten and I am a CEU PG Student Research Assistant Read More >> CEU Administrator Liana Thomas I am responsible for the administrative functions in the CEU. Read More >> Research Assistant Sinako Mgudlwa My name is Sinako and I am a research assistant. Read More >> CEU Researcher Pearl September-Brown My name is Pearl and I am a registered psychometrist (HPCSA). Read More >> PG Student Assistant Emihle Gongota I am a PG Student Assistant – Social Media and Communications. Read More >> Quick Links Terms of Reference CE Resource Centre Donate Now Get Involved Our Events Latest News Free Newsletter Visit us UWC Portal

CEU Training Initiatives Filter by Level Advanced Beginner Intermediate Number of activities found: 6 Intermediate Community Engaged Learning Programme (CELP) Introducing students to the principles and practice of community engagement within the South African context. Beginner Du Noon This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Beginner Strandfontein Village This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Beginner Powerhour Workshop (Education) In-person Scholarship of Engagement for Societal Impact (SoE-SI)Power Hour Workshop with the Faculty of Education. Intermediate Malmesbury This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Advanced Nyanga (Site x-361) This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content.

Latest News & Announcements CE Newsletter Issue #22 CE Newsletter #22 (2026) 7 July 2026 Read More >> Pearl September-Brown Project: Winter Hope (Garies, Northern Cape) Winter Hope (Garies, Northern Cape) Read More >> CEU Staff Unizulu-led UCDP site visit Unizulu-led UCDP site visit 2 July 2026 Read More >> CEU Staff

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Founder & CEO The HECE Conference 2026 (Makhanda, Eastern Cape) Read More > Tech Lead Photo 2 This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Office Manager Photo 3 This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Product Manager Former Director This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. HR Lead Current Team This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Customer Support Lead SOE Model (Boyer's Aligned) This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. QA Specialist SPARE This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Content Strategist Debbie Green This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio.

My CEU Details Former CEU Director Prof Priscilla Daniels Priscilla Daniels is an Associate Professor and the former Director of the Community Engagement Unit at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). She served as Director of the unit since 2010 and concluded her many years of dedicated service with her retirement in December 2025. Her key responsibilities were facilitating and coordinating community engagement activities at the UWC that enhances enhance and promotes promote the scholarship of engagement through equitable partnership and citizenry to promote sustainable communities. Prior to this she was manager of the Community Higher Education Services Partnership at UWC and Chairperson of the Department of Human Ecology and Dietetics. ceu@uwc.ac.za +27 (21) 959 3124 View CEU staff Portfolios View our CE work Portfolios

Literature outreach CEU Staff member 2 August 2016 Nelson Mandela Day (2016) The Community Engagement Unit in partnership with Reading and Writing Solutions spent a wonderful time at Bottelary Primary School. Thank you to Mr Manichand Beharilal for donating books to the school and also to everyone who helped us with this literature outreach, especially the volunteers from RWS. Thank you to the school for affording us this opportunity and every learner from Gr R to Gr 7. We hope you enjoyed your lunch packs as much as we enjoyed spending time with you. Mandela day collection of toiletries and packaging of these items in aid of our 67 min arranged and coordinated by the CEU culminated in the handover to 114 residents of the Lily Haven old age home in Bonteheuwel. We would like to thank all staff and students from UWC for their contribution to making a difference in the lives of the aged. The care packs were greatly valued by the residents who wished to express their deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to making their day. < Previous News Go to Resource Centre Next News >

Project Details Risk behaviour and leisure engagement Risk behaviour and leisure engagement amongst youth in rural South Africa and America Project Gallery 1/1 < Previous Project Project Report Next Project >