The Women’s Hope Education and Training (WHEAT) Trust, is a non-profit that was started 20 years ago to support women-led organisations, among other things, and promote a culture of giving.
Last month, it honoured its beneficiaries, donors and women within the organisation, at an event in Newlands.
Wheat relies on donor funds and gives grants to women to help them improve their skills and earn sustainable incomes.
Wheat Trust chairwoman Deidre Kusevitsky, said without the support of its donors “none of this would be possible”. She also praised her interim steering committee – treasurer Mel Clews, executive director Loretta Joseph, trustee Anthea Jacobs and deputy chairwoman, Cheryl Harper – and thanked outgoing chairperson Mpho Mashengete.
Ms Joseph said there was a great need for women empowerment “especially through training, monitoring and evaluating their skills, experiences to generate sustainable projects, so that our grantees can indeed witness the fruit of their labour”.
The Mitchell’s Plain Network Opposing Abuse, a non-profit, has been a Wheat Trust beneficiary since 2007. Its operations manager, Mareldea Sonday, said: “We were given funding to help victims of domestic violence and victims of abuse. We also do victim empowerment, and now, in 2018, Wheat Trust gave us money to help build resilience and enhance the lives of 25 women.”
Another beneficiary, Athlone-based non-profit Breaking Barriers Community Outreach helps abused and unemployed women work with caring mentors.
“Breaking Barriers received a grant from the Wheat Trust in 2017 which set in motion the Woman of Worth sewing project.
“The past year we have successfully been able to empower and sustain women in the Athlone community,” said the organisation’s Vivienne Swarts.
Email grantsdept@wheattrust.co.za or visit www.wheattrust.co.za for more information about Wheat.
