Youth camp inspires and educates
The Hillcrest Rotary Club provides some educational fun for 45 pupils from disadvantaged communities.
THE Hillcrest Rotary Club, in association with the Rotary Club of Winnipeg in Canada, recently hosted their second annual youth camp at the Makaphutu Children’s Village in Botha’s Hill.
Approximately R30 000 was donated to the youth camp project by the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, which enabled 45 grade 6 and 7 pupils from several disadvantaged schools in the community to attend the youth camp, from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April from 8am to 1pm.
Rotarian, Dennis Wesley, reported that the aim of the camp was to keep the children occupied and stimulated during the school holidays. He also said that the children were provided with transport to and from the camp, two meals per day, team t-shirts and participation certificates.
“We want to keep the pupils enthused with the learning process and their studies, so that when they return to school their minds are still focused on their school work. It also provides an ideal environment to keep the children off the streets, where they could be badly influenced,” said Wesley.
The pupils were kept occupied with constructive leadership training, physical activities, team building and self-esteem development activities as well as class discussions that are designed to educate and challenge them regarding morals, values, life skills and social issues, such as peer pressure, teen pregnancies, abortion, gender inequality and abuse. Trained councillors conducted and guided the class discussions, games and activities.
According to Wesley, the camp also provided the pupils with an opportunity meet and interact with children from other communities. “It helps them build bonds they would otherwise never have been able to build. That alone helps them to develop their self-esteem and confidence,” said Wesley.
Charmaine Dlamini, one of the pupils who attended the camp said, “I learned how to communicate with people more confidently and not to be selfish. I also learned to respect and love others. It has also been lots of fun.” Contact Wesley on 083 733 6208.
