‘I’ve pushed myself to be better every single day’
FAIRLAND – A three-day 14km hike, construction of a massive model boat and hand-building a fire pit were just some of the requirements to achieve this award.
Air Scouts group celebrates first Springbok award recipient in five years.
The Fairland Air Scouts group are proud to announce that their hardworking, disciplined, reliable and creative scout Ziain de Beer has achieved the highest honour in Scouts. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, rules and restrictions and every other challenge that could be thrown his way, Ziain completed every single task needed to achieve the Springbok Award.
The goal of reaching the peak of the Scouts achievements and recognition was what pushed him through all the challenges thrown his way in being award the badge. Ziain said, “I wanted to push myself to get to the highest level of Scouts, which is the Springbok Award at this stage. I didn’t want to stop halfway or anywhere else along the way, this has been my goal over the last five years and I’ve pushed myself to be better every single day at Scouts.”
According to the 17-year-old Ziain, to go for the award, scouts are first expected to complete an application form explaining how they will execute their projects. Of the projects, there were three major ones that demanded all the energy and effort Ziain could muster.
This included a three-day 14km hike which he hosted and led in Parys, construction of a model boat which stood tall through last year’s heavy rains and strong winds and a community project which he elected to be a fire pit for the Air Scouts grounds. All details of these projects from costs, time spent, materials needed, instructions and meals had to be 100 per cent precise in his planning for him to get the green light to do the projects. This resulted in him having thick files of documents filled with quotations, maps, activities, reports and feedback of his projects. “My task was to plan things in such a way that if I gave the documents to another person, they would have the exact same mindset and outcome as I did.”
The last Springbok Award at the Fairland Air Scouts was handed over five years ago where Ziain himself assisted the hardworker Scout Michael Maggs. Ziain said, “Ever since I saw him getting the award and me helping him, I promised to get one myself. With that side I’d like to thank everyone who was involved in helping me achieve this award.”
He recognised the assistance, support, advice and effort of his fellow Scouts, Troop and Patrol leaders and Air Scouts leadership for helping him reach his goal. He concluded that he enjoyed every minute of the work and could see that every task and activity he did in the past gave him the upper hand in successfully completing his Springbok Award.
