Category: Feature

The reality of homelessness in Woodstock

It’s no secret that there is a significant homelessness challenge in Woodstock, and on the streets of Cape Town overall. It is an ongoing issue with solutions being implemented and managed constantly as the city moves. Although this is a problem requiring a solution involving logistics, strategy and implementation, it’s imperative to remember that we’re dealing with people and not just an anonymous social issue. Each of these individuals has a story, and deserves a future. Here’s how we’re tackling it:

Abigail, our social worker, is working on a sewing project specifically for homeless women. The project will employ women living on the street to earn a weekly or fortnightly stipend for their work. This work will involve sewing and stitching items that they can then sell. We’re hoping to have it up and running by June.

To get this going we need help from the community. The premise of a community is one person, or a group of people, helping others. So we are appealing to you, our community, for financial support and donations of things like material – whether new or scraps – and sewing equipment to be used. Furthermore, we would like to extend an invitation to business owners to offer some of their time to train these women on how to market and sell the products they make.

The vision behind this project is to give these women a purpose and add value to their lives. Their lives are not just on the street. Their lives are not just going to work and returning to the streets. They need an environment to work in that’s clean and safe so that they can earn money. The greater vision is perhaps even to help them set up small businesses in future.

At WID, we believe that we can truly make a difference – more than just keeping Woodstock clean and safe – by working together. If you’d like to find out more about this project or get involved, please email us at info@wid.co.za.

Local coffee for your daily grind

Local coffee spots in Woodstock have almost become an irreplaceable part of the business landscape. Thank goodness, because it’s almost impossible to think of starting the day without your dose of java! Investing in your immediate community is what sustains it, so we always advocate the importance of supporting local business whether that be an ad agency, a craftsman, an artist of a coffee shop. We’re fortunate to be surrounded by some local gems offering a caffeine fix, so we’re going to share them with you.

Before we do, we’re going to give you some safety tips so you can do a coffee run without a security risk:

  • Make your coffee shop visit a social one – ask if anyone else at your workplace would like to join you. This way, you spend some time with a colleague and you don’t have to walk alone.
  • When you’re walking, whether alone or with someone else, try to keep your cellphone and any other valuables out of site. Walk with purpose, and don’t stop unnecessarily.
  • When you’re in a coffee shop, don’t leave your bag or laptop unattended if you need to go to the bathroom or even to pick up your coffee from the counter. Be aware of the other people around you.

Now, these are the places you’ll want to go:

Early bird gets the worm: Flatmountain Roasters

This cosy coffee shop is one of the few in Cape Town that is open as early as 06h00. So whether you’re out for that sunrise run and need motivation to get you through or you simply have an early start for work, this place is for you. The local coffee barista, Gosh, makes one of the best cortados you’ll ever have. Enjoy waking up with the city holding a steaming cup of yum!

It really is a science: Espresso Lab Microroasters

Coffee is more than an art – it’s a science, and Espresso Lab proves just that. This coffee shop serves some of their brews in glass beakers alongside a timer. Why? So you know when your coffee is at the perfect drinking temperature. Their website also features brewing formulas if you need another fix at the end of the day for you to make at home.

Ancient artisanal art: Rosetta Roastery

Set in the Woodstock Exchange, Rosetta Roastery is the sort of local coffee shop that will make you want to build a monument to their beans. Just as coffee itself dates back hundreds of years, we hope that this spot will live on and on too. They are famous for single origin coffee and the baristas will gladly explain what this means. This is not a place you run in and out of because of how relaxed the vibe is, so use your lunch break wisely and stay a while.

If you see our patrol vehicle nearby, we’re probably grabbing our own cup of hot stuff at the start of a day, so come say hi. Alternatively, if you ever need our help, call our 24/7 control room on 021 462 1205.

Kids at the heart of the community

Over December, WID, together with SAPS, the City of Cape Town, Metro Police and the Cape Town Multi-Service Centre ran a kids holiday programme. The aim of the programme was to target children that roam the streets and have to do what they can to survive. The programme educates these kids so they’re a little more street smart and prepared for some of the challenges of day to day living.

The programme caters to between 150 and 250 children with different activities each day to teach them much-needed principles and skills. Some of these included specials talks for SAPS, health and safety tips, outings to various service stations and social activities too.

Picture11December 2016’s holiday programme took the kids to Granger Bay, the Fire Station and out into the community for a solid waste cleanup. At the end of the programme the kids were awarded with certificates and party packs for their attendance.

This programme would not have been possible without a willing community looking to serve and take care of even the smallest members. Thank you to each and every person who got involved and for the teams who took time out of their days to teach a thing or two.

Woodstock Improvement District soars to new heights

2016 has been a momentous year on several fronts for Woodstock Improvement District (WID). Projects that have been in process for 10 years have finally come to fruition, the WID team has worked more cohesively than ever before and we’re seeing positive change around every corner with new life coming into the suburb of Woodstock.

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Come with us as we revisit some of our proudest moments of 2016. When we look at how far we’ve come, we gain courage to pursue greater excellence in the future – bring on 2017.

Never too old to party

WID, together with the South African Police Service, hosted a red carpet event for the elderly in Woodstock in early December. It’s our responsibility as a community to look out for each group of people that makes our society what it is – the elderly included. In speaking to some of the attendees, we were delighted to hear them say that they felt spoilt and special. It was an occasion to celebrate the wisdom of those who have gone before us and give them the respect and appreciation they deserve. There was even a Senior Citizen of the Year competition.

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The wheels on the bike

At our heart is the desire to help wherever we can – sometimes in ways you don’t expect. Each person deserves kindness and it costs nothing to extend a helping hand. In October, a man by the name of Kumza arrived at our offices complaining that his bike had been taken apart. We phoned Nils Hansen at Woodstock Cycleworx and he was more than happy to help. He and his team pulled together and fixed Kumza’s bike ensuring that he could get home safely. This small act by a local business made the world of difference and we’ll continue to support people where we can in 2017.

The watchful Woodstock eye

The area of Woodstock faces, on a daily basis, issues including drinking and fighting in public, motor vehicle accidents, theft from motor vehicles, burglaries, robberies, damage to properties and fires in public spaces. The security team that governs the area consists of two vehicles, four foot patrollers and two law enforcement officers that cover the ground from Monday to Friday. In the evenings and at weekends there are also two vehicles to keep an eye on the area. It may sound like a small team, but they have handled more than 3 200 incidents in the 2015/16 period.

When you look at the reports, the figures and the numbers, I am sure you will agree that the WID hasn’t nearly finished making an impact yet. Coupled with your support and active co-operation, we will continue our duty and you will see the benefit of a safer community to work and live in.

A helping hand for Woodstock

The primary mandate of Woodstock Improvement District (WID) is to provide safety, security and cleaning services in the Woodstock area. A big part that is sometimes forgotten about is the impact of social upliftment in the community.

Abigail Abrahams, Woodstock’s own Mother Teresa and WID social manager, is the lady behind the many heart-warming things that happen to help those in need. It’s a tough job to keep track of who needs help, but Abi does this by walking the streets, connecting with people in the area and getting to know each family and individual in need – personally. She also gets assistance from the WID drivers who drive her to hot spots in the area. She is so well-known and revered in the community that some of the vagrants even pop in at the office if they need advice or help.

Poverty and homelessness are big issues in Woodstock, as it brings all sorts of destructive activities to the area and the streets. However, these people are also our eyes on the street and are often willing to help as soon as they see that someone cares for them and actually want to help.

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Over the years, WID has formed relationships with a few organisations so that they know who to contact when help is needed. St. Anne’s and ACVV help with assistance for mothers and children, and if they don’t have the capacity to help, Social Services (for children), or shelters like the Haven Shelter (for adults) are contacted. The ultimate goal is to get every person in need placed in a home or shelter, as there are currently 65 homeless people in the area and this is still increasing. WID also assists with getting IDs, going to SASSA to apply for grants, gives counselling and advice, refers clients to drug rehabilitation centres, and assists with typing CVs so unemployed people can find work.

To get a better understanding of why there are so many homeless people, it is important to understand how they got there and what the reasons are. Many of these vagrants are rejected by their families or they’ve come out of prison and land up on the street. Prostitution is also a big issue among the women on the street, as many of them see this as a way to earn enough money to support their drug addiction.

WID currently works with SAPS and other organisations in the community on a holiday programme that will start on 12 December. This programme will focus on child development and keeping children off the streets during the festive season. Pamphlets will also be handed out to raise awareness for the ‘16 days of activism for no violence against women and children’ United Nations campaign that kicks off from 25 November till 10 December.

In 2017, WID will focus specifically on providing those in need with food hampers and clothing. “If we can make these people feel good and look good, they should have more confidence to go for interviews or to go back to their families at home,” says Abigail. To make a success of this initiative, the help of the community will be greatly appreciated and will make a big difference. To do your part and give back this festive season, please donate old clothes by taking them to WID offices at 41 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock. For any other donations, or to help with volunteer work or projects during the holiday period and next year, please send an email to abigail@wid.co.za or give us a call on 021 462 7321.

Lastly, to keep Woodstock safe for everyone is a public effort and we’d like to ask every business and resident in the community to help us by giving us a call or sending us an email if there is anything we should know about. Let’s make this festive season a safe and blessed one for everyone in the area.

Art and about in Woodstock

Woodstock is known as a cultural hub jam-packed with artistic events, exhibitions and galleries around every corner. All of these serve to promote international work but more importantly, local talent. New galleries are constantly popping up and we’ll keep you in the loop on our events page. To get you started on what to look out for, the following five galleries stand out:

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  1. The Lovell Gallery

In 2014, Christian Sulger-Buel and Tamzin Lovell Miller partnered to launch Sulger-Buel Lovell in London. Christian had been collecting African art for over 35 years, and Tamzin opened her first gallery in Cape Town in December 2009.

The collection at the Lovell Gallery has a focus on fresh quality pieces with a majority focus on local artists, making stunning pieces available to art lovers at rather affordable prices. It has a main gallery where solo and group shows are displayed, as well as a smaller gallery upstairs with a variety of more contemporary works.

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  1. Goodman Gallery Cape Town

The Goodman Gallery has branches in Woodstock and Johannesburg, and is home to a fantastic collection of contemporary art by local as well as international artists. They will be hosting a major exhibition at the Woodstock gallery, titled ‘Africans in America’ from 17 November to 17 January, which you don’t want to miss.

The exhibition will be conceptualised and curated by Liza Essers and Hank Willis Thomas; and it runs concurrent to a major international academic conference. Follow their Facebook page for more details.

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  1. WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery

For curators and collectors looking for sculptures, paintings, performance pieces, installations or drawings, the WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery has become one of the most popular spots to find these artefacts in Woodstock.

WHATIFTHEWORLD intends to stimulate and facilitate critical debates and dialogue within the art community. They also have a very impressive history in publishing artist monographs and catalogues, and have been the host of a series of noteworthy exhibitions, continually looking for new ways to represent established and upcoming South African artists.

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  1. SMAC Gallery

SMAC Gallery represents a number of established and emerging South African artists as well as international artists. They strongly encourage international exchange by hosting and offering exchange programmes to well-known international artists, as well as artists from the African continent. Don’t miss the upcoming exhibition, ‘Degreened’ by Frances Goodman that will be on display from 29 October to 3 December.

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  1. Blank Projects

Blank Projects is an independent exhibition space that showcases multiple new developments and pieces of contemporary South African art. What makes this a great space is their willingness to feature experimental work and the regular flow of new and exciting exhibitions and artists. Don’t miss the current exhibition, ‘ASSEMBLE’ by Kyle Morland on display until 19 November 2016.

Keep your eyes on our social media profiles for follow-up posts on some more impressive galleries in Woodstock.

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Take a walk on the Woodstock side of graffiti

Art and graffiti is synonymous with Woodstock; from wall art to architecture this suburb is a masterpiece to behold. One of the most iconic elements of the Woodstock area is its intricately and strikingly detailed urban canvases. Walls, buildings, fences, houses, road structures, bridges – all have been beautifully tainted with this thing called art. More specifically, graffiti art.

Graffiti has often been seen as a symbol of rebellion, key demonstrations of propaganda and an overall recklessness. However, it has come to be so much more. The art of graffiti is a comment on society; it tells the stories of a community and the evolution of an environment or group of people. From simple illustrations to more accessorised literary statements and humorous caricatures, it’s become a key part of our history and our day-to-day lives.

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The first stop on your soon-to-be graffiti journey in Woodstock should be Sidestreet Studios on Albert Road – this has become the unofficial heart of art and design. Contrary to what you’d think, the walls on this collection of three buildings was done by a Spanish artist, Okuda. What a brilliant display of vibrancy and life! It just goes to show that art can cross continents and still bring people together. This mural is a high-flying flag for all aspiring artists.

Not all the graffiti in Woodstock is as fresh, though. As one of the oldest, most culturally and historically rich areas of Cape Town, some of the art you see has been there for years and years reminding residents how far the suburb has come. Fortunately, art doesn’t dictate what the story should be. So although the original artist painted with something in mind, any display of creativity is open for you to ascribe your own story or meaning to it. Art is truly about heart and it brings people together – it has brought Woodstock residents together for years.

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Take a walk, or a cycle, or even a drive, through the welcoming streets of Woodstock and take in the inspiration that is plastered on almost every corner.

District: an area of a city characterised by one particular feature or activity

The District, set in the heart of Woodstock, is an urban monument to the history of the suburb. This district, however, is quite different to the one written in history books as it serves now as a hub of business and community organisations that look after those in the surrounds. Read on as we walk through the doors of The District and look around at what’s inside.

wid-districtThis iconic building is unassuming in its placement at 41 Sir Lowry Road but if you step inside, there is so much more than meets the eye. As you cross the threshold, you’re met with an urban-like garden with succulents, fountain displays and a beautiful allocated area of tables with benches and swing chairs. This lunch area brings all the offices together and adds a space to relax in an otherwise fairly corporate environment.

There are quite a number of businesses that call this building, and the bustling suburb, home. In the confines of the four walls you’ll find a fresh, on-the-go food stop called GoGo. In their own words, they’re becoming the caffeine capital of Woodstock, packed full of brain food that you can grab between meetings. When it comes to all things creative, they’ve got the food covered and in the same building Ogilvy has it covered in terms of advertising and art.

If you get up to the fourth floor, you’ll find Strike Media – a full-service mobile marketing agency. Their slogan is The power of mobile. Own the street. which is apt in that they’re literally just off the street. Look around a bit more and you’ll find some other strategically-situated businesses that will do you well if you’re looking to make a change in your own home. These are Procraft Interiors, Forest Flooring and LAVO Bathroom Concepts.

We love having The District as one of our business hubs and we look forward to seeing its growth and development in future. We’re here to serve you, to listen to you, to help you. We have an open door policy and welcome any community feedback that will make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. If you would like to talk to us, call us on 021 462 7321. If you would like to report any criminal activity in the area you can call our 24/7 security line on 021 462 1205. Lastly, if you’d like to stay up to date with our news and what’s happening in Woodstock, sign up to our monthly newsletter below.

We look forward to seeing you in The District.