South African Scouts engage in community based environmental projects

South African Scouts engage in community based environmental projects

SOUTH AFRICA - SCOUTS South Africa, in partnership with the German Scout Association DPSG, has been encouraging members to initiate community based environmental projects. Provinces, Districts and Groups received and successfully developed and implemented a number of projects that included life skills, Food for Life, global warming and climate change, renewable energy, recycling and biodiversity conservation. For example in Mpumalanga Rovers participated in environmental education camp training which included modules in Sanitation, Recycling, HIV/AIDS, Stars, Energy, Food for Life, Climate change and Weather. The Rovers were taught how they can teach and motivate children. With the skills acquired, the Rovers prepared and facilitated a workshop for 20 pupils.

Furthermore two Scouters from Mpumalanga Sally and Chantal started a Scouting Group named 1st ChoChoCho at a Children’s Home that looks after 459 orphans and vulnerable children and 242 Care Givers who are in distress due to poverty. 1st ChoChoCho Scout Group started a project named Kudla Kiwempilo, meaning Healthy Food, which included the planting of a vegetable garden. The vegetables are now used by the Day-Care-Centre.

In the Kimberly and Kruman districts in the Northern Cape environmental awareness and leadership camps were held. The project addressed matters affecting the environment such as climate change, biodiversity, conservation as well as leadership and problem solving skills. Some of the activities included project management and environmental education through games, so they had ‘fun with a purpose’!

At Burges Dorp village in the Julesburg District in Limpopo, where unemployment and poverty is high, a Group led by Scouter Catherine conducted training for community members on how to make food gardens. By teaching community members how to establish and maintain food gardens they aimed at providing them with healthy nutritious food and a way to generate income as they can sell the vegetables to make profit. The Group helped about 125 families.

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