Sweetdale’s sweet deal for local community
ASwiss entrepreneur is empowering communities that live around his Margate eco-estate on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast with skills to help them earn a living in tough economic times. Roland and Sibylle Wenger, who own the Serenity Hills estate, and their children, Sam and Connie, have committed themselves to uplifting their local community in a sustainable manner through the establishment of Sweetdale Skills Centre.
The centre provides disadvantaged youth, women and disabled people with employable skills.
Students receive expert instruction from experienced trainers in a variety of skills, including painting, carpentry, boilermaking, landscaping, restoration, cooking and hospitality. Emerging entrepreneurs are also being coached and developed at the skills centre.
“‘Learning by doing’ is the heartbeat and success of the skills centre,” says Sam Wenger, development director of Serenity Hills.
“It was established as a way to encourage communities to participate in SA’s economy, with the aim of improving their living conditions. The connection with Serenity Hills is an extension of this long-term vision.”
The centre comprises workshops, dorm facilities, classrooms and communal areas.
Artisans who qualify through the centre can put their skills to the test at the ecoestate. Homeowners can access their skills for gardening, landscaping, carpentry, maintenance, housekeeping and hospitality.
The Packshed is another of the Wenger family’s initiatives being incorporated into the Serenity Hills eco-estate.
Besides serving world-class fusion food, the restaurant forms part of the skills centre, providing practical experience for aspiring chefs and professional waiters.
The Wenger family has also established the Sweetbike community project, which provides disadvantaged schoolchildren with refurbished bikes so they can travel with ease to and from school.
Accessing schools can be hugely challenging for local children, who have to walk vast distances to rural schools, putting them in danger and leading to high dropout rates.
The Sweetbike project has come up with a smart solution. Sourcing quality pre-owned bikes from Europe, the mechanic team at Sweetbike Workshop — also part of the skills centre — refurbishes and donates them to pupils.
“Serenity Hills has been developed around this same concept of sustainability and community upliftment. When people buy into the estate, they can benefit from the home-grown talent while knowing they are supporting local skills development. It’s not just about buying a house; it’s about buying into a compassionate community.”