A church is a place of safety, love and acceptance and at Umhlali Methodist this is most certainly true.
Through their community skilling project Khanyisa, a Zulu phrase meaning ‘to bring light’, the church has stretched its arms beyond the borders of its property and into the community.
Minister Kym Bishop said the project has been running for about a year.
“As a church we considered two things: what do we have and what can we do? We wanted to engage with our community.”
The project is three-fold, incorporating educational skills training, formal empowerment and life skills.
The educational arm aims to foster early childhood development, equipping pre-school teachers with valuable classroom tools and showing them how to plant and cultivate vegetable gardens.
“Small business owners are given a platform through our formal empowerment program, with practical training on how to build a CV, apply for a job and sit through an interview.
“The life skills training deals with life coaching, how to make good choices and helping school-leavers find a path that suits them.”
A tasty component of Khanyisa is the church’s delightful Upper Room Coffee Shop, profits of which are used to fund the projects.
“We wanted a community space, where people can come in and have meetings or even grab a book from the store and have a quiet read.
“Anyone can visit for a cuppa and some baked goodies. There is even free Wi-Fi,” said Bishop.
The coffee shop is open from 7.30am until 1pm from Tuesdays to Fridays.
Find the church just off the Umhlali Main Road, near Burnedale.
For more information on the project, contact 032-947 0173 or visit www.umc.org.za.
A chocolate high in the Upper Room…
Who can resist a freshly-brewed cappuccino coupled with a slice of sinfully delicious chocolate cake?
Nobody – and that is what makes Nonny Mpuku and Maggie Mgwaba happy.
The two warm-hearted women are products of Khanyisa’s cooking and baking training program and have started their own small business: Siyaphambili (‘we are going forward’).
They were trained by local chef Paula Elliot, Nonny as a barista and Maggie in the art of baking decadent treats.
The delightful Nonny can be found behind the counter at The Upper Room, ready to serve with a smile.
“I was a waitress at Zimbali and there I learnt the basics of coffee making. Paula helped me even more and now I can make those fancy patterns on top, with the cream and foam. I also make biscotti to go with the coffee.”
Maggie, whose infectious laugh is sweeter than her confections, can whip up a mean brownie, carrot cake, savoury tart, cheese cake…the list is endless!
“I like making chocolate cake and upside down cake. Those are everyone’s favourites! I love baking and teaching my friends. I hope we can grow Siyaphambili even more, spreading the love Kym and Khanyisa showed us.”
Contact Nonny on 073 556 8489 or Maggie on 084 766 4241.
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