Abigail Abrahams – a household name at the Woodstock Improvement District – has long since been an advocate for the underprivileged, the downtrodden and the hopeless. Her work in the community is extraordinary and so we caught up with her for a quick chat to find out a little more.
Everyone who comes into contact with us at WID will have the pleasure of knowing our resident social officer Abigail Abrahams, affectionately known as Abby. She has been part of our team for years and has the eyes and ears that drive social development in the area.
We caught up with her on the cusp of the spring season to get a fresh perspective on growth and plans in Woodstock.
WID: First things first, can you explain in your own words why we do what we do? If someone doesn’t know anything about the WID, how would you describe it?
Abby: I would say the reasoning is that we want a safer, cleaner and more environmentally friendly Woodstock. We want the community to visit and enjoy the area, and for people to come and invest in the future so that the area can develop and reach its full potential.
WID: Why do you do what you do?
Abby: I really enjoy helping the less fortunate, especially women and children. I work with the homeless on a regular basis and this poses major challenges but also beautiful moments. I am humbled by the way homeless people can turn over a new leaf and start over if they choose. Those that are willing can change their lives, and it is so rewarding to be a part of that journey.
WID: That is such an inspiring thing to hear. How has 2018 been so far?
Abby: To be honest, it’s been tough. This year has had many challenges, but I guess if there aren’t any, how will one be able to open the next door? Or start the next chapter? I don’t believe anything comes easily.
WID: What projects from this year would you mark as a particular success?
Abby: The ID project, where we assisted a number of homeless people to attain their identity documents, ran very successfully. Many people are asking if I am going to do it again, as it really helped those in need. I will seriously consider implementing it again early in the new year.
WID: What new projects are you preparing for?
Abby: I am planning the agenda for the new year at the moment …you will just have to wait and see what happens! This year our annual holiday project is due to happen soon and we continue to run our gardening project on a month to month basis. We are still encouraging businesses to invest, so hopefully we will be able to end off the year on a good note.
WID: Would you tell us a little about the holiday programme? Who is involved and what is the project about?
Abby: The Holiday program starts on 1st October and runs until the 5th. It is for kids in the area that need to be kept busy and off the streets during school holidays. SAPS, Woodstock Library, City of Cape Town, the Water and Sanitation department and Blue Ribbon bread are all role players that will be involved in making the day a success. I am also preparing for the December holiday program to make sure we are ready in time.
WID: Is there anything important you would like to leave the public with?
Abby: I really would like the businesses and the community to give responsibly. Please give directly to a shelter or NGO in the Woodstock area. You can donate food, blankets or even clothes. Giving directly to a homeless person, although well intentioned, enables them to stay on the street for another day or week, which is longer than anyone should.
I also want to request that businesses do not encourage homeless people to sleep on their property or give them permission to build shacks. Again, this is done with the best intentions but it will become an embedded problem that the we, as the Woodstock Improvement District, will have to deal with at a later stage.
It is also unfair to the person to ask them to leave the property after they have been there without disturbance for a while. If a structure appears on your property, please contact our control room immediately on 021 462 1205.
We want to help integrate people into society, and for Woodstock to become the best that it can be!
In 2005 the Cape Town City Council approved a City Improvement District in Woodstock, and property owners rallied together to gather levies to fund it. Their efforts were successful, and the Woodstock Improvement District (WID) was formed.
Our mission is to “administer the area with dedicated, effective management, provide supplementary services to those already afforded by the City of Cape Town, and co-ordinate the provision of a well-maintained, safer, cleaner and greener environment for those who work, visit and invest in Woodstock.”
Looking back on 2017, we have made considerable progress in these areas, particularly in the fields of security and social work. Resident social worker Abigail Abrahams has led the campaign to assist the underprivileged community and affected much change in the area.
Abby has been integral in the practical aspects of helping those in need. She walks the streets to connect with people and learn about their needs. She has also established a working relationship with the WID drivers who refer her to areas where she is needed, based on their experiences on the ground.
In 2017, Abby assisted roughly 30 people every 2 weeks. She provided help in a number of areas – a typical week included providing advice and support with ID document processes, grant applications, typing up of CVs and just lending a sympathetic ear.
In one case, she was crucial in the repatriation of a minor with her family. She referred a 15-year-old girl, who had been sleeping on the street for 3 days, to the Department of Social Development. Thanks to this connection, the girl was then reunited with her relatives and returned home.
We are meticulous about detailing the activity of social work. The records for this year show a demonstrable impact on the community. These figures are hugely encouraging, and have informed a continued commitment to work in this necessary field over the coming years.
Another top priority in the area is security. The WID security team, in conjunction with the SAPS, have successfully apprehended criminals across many fields this year, including illegal squatters, thieves, illegal gamblers and substance distributors. The security team report suspicious behaviour and document the hotspots to help identify and arrest those who commit illegal acts.
Our security officers also went above and beyond to assist in the putting out of fires this year. This occurred 6 times one month according to an updated security report. The WID team is united by an ability to take initiative while showing care for the community and delivering their services with consistency.
Our goals for the following five years as laid out by our business plan read as follows:
– Keep Woodstock a clean and safe commercial area
– Maintain and improve working relationships with local authorities and essential service providers
– Provide innovative management of the area
– Lower the local crime rate
– Be sensitive to our social responsibilities
– Market Woodstock and preserve district identity
This seems idyllic, but is it possible in reality? The information about impact this year suggests these goals are achievable! For example, just this year, WID officers have prevented crime by providing an officer as a crime deterrent in numerous cases.
After reflecting on many separate social and security cases handled by the members of our team, we can say with confidence that if current standards are maintained, Woodstock should continue to go from strength to strength as a secure place for businesses and communities to flourish for years to come.
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.
