PowWow: 2016 Report

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Akela 2016

6 to 9 August
Wag 'n Bietjie Campsite, Olifantsfontein, Johannesburg

Ack: SCOUTS South Africa - Annual Report 2015/2016

In the words of Jeanette Angus, Chair: National Cub Programme: "What an experience! Having no 'blue print' for an event like this was challenging. Yes, most of the committee had been involved in planning a Pow Wow or a Pac Yac but this event was different – more like a jamboree – which most of us have never organised ourselves."

The outdoor activities were fun and not something most of the Pack Scouters had experienced before. Most of the indoor activities were aimed at the school they were going to support. The workshops arranged were interesting and informing.

The service project at the Paradise Christian School in Olievenhoutbosch was very special. The projects, which included painting classrooms, fixing desks, making food gardens, prepping a container for a library, general maintenance, etc., were tackled by all with such vim and vigour! These projects could not have happened without the financial support from the ECD fund. Our efforts were greatly appreciated by the Director of the school. We invited a number of children from the school to join us at the closing ceremony. Logistically, we couldn't get everyone to the school for an official handover. We then handed over an example of everything made during Akela 2016 to the children.

Through Better SA we were partnered with Paradise Christian School in Olievenhoutbosch a township in Centurion. This self-funding school, which is growing in leaps and bounds, was in dire need of assistance.

After visiting the school and seeing their needs we decided to focus on what we could manage during Akela 2016.

The five projects were:

  • Tibusiso (Blessings)

The objective of our project was to provide three door frame gardens for the school. Due to a very generous donation of seedlings and soil from Andy Titterton Wholesale Nursery, we managed to make eight food gardens. As a result of this, more families in the community will benefit from the additional vegetables planted.

  • Re mmoho (Working Together)

The objective of the project was to sort out some of the general maintenance problem the school faced, such as replacing broken windows; painting the toilet area, lighting, etc.

  • Read, Know, Learn, Go

The school was donated a 20 foot container, which we transformed into a library for the children.

  • Nuwe Begin (New Beginnings)

The objective of the project was to provide the learners with a better environment, which is conducive to better learning. We painted the "classroom" walls and floors, fixed up the chalk boards, fixed broken windows and repainted their chalkboards. After a generous donation of wood, we were able to fix the desks of the older learners.

  • Vulindela (Open the Way)

The school has very few resources for the Grade R learners. As mentioned before, everything made during Akela 2016 was given to the ECD centre to assist the educators in developing the abilities of the Grade R learners through the play-way method of training.

I think the following extract from the Directors thank-you speech says it all:

"We would really like to appreciate the Directors of SCOUTS South Africa, the team leaders and everyone who put hands together to bring us what you have done. In fact words are not enough to appreciate you. When we see the work you have done we just say indeed God knows. In other words you are our angels who meet us in the point of our need."

There was more than enough to share with another needy school in Primrose. They too were delighted with the goodies they received.

To me this was the highlight of Akela 2016. Just watching the delegates working together; firstly to make the educational items so needed by the centre and secondly getting down and dirty to bring nourishment to the learners and their families through the food gardens and to brighten their learning environment.

Due to logistics, we couldn't all go to the school to hand over the items made. A delegation from the school joined us for the closing ceremony. One of the learners gave a very touching thank you speech and they sang us a song. A special moment in deed. I know these projects touched many during the weekend.

The Gauteng Region has adopted the Paradise Christian School and will continue to assist wherever needed.

Scout Heritage 2017

See Also