For Rorisang Ngobeni (15), joining the 1st Eagle Scouts was all about stepping out of his comfort zone, building his confidence and facing his fears.

Through dedication, hard work and values of scouting, his efforts have yielded better results, as he has grown into a confident and capable leader.

The Trinityhouse Little Falls Grade 10 learner has been accepted to attend the prestigious Cederberg Senior Scout Adventure taking place in December, an opportunity he said is worth its weight in gold.

His other achievements include independently planning and executing his patrol’s camp at the recent Kontiki event, leading his team to achieve an impressive second-place finish in the Best Supporters Meal category. He has also been recognised as the best Patrol Leader for 2025.

In the senior scout event, Rorisang will meet and interact with different scouts from all over the country and learn valuable skills through challenges like water activities, rock climbing, paintball, underwater diving, sailing, and many more.

“As someone who grew up very shy and introverted, I’m very proud, honoured and excited for the opportunity to represent at this level.

“Through scouting I have learned valuable life skills that I can use in everyday life, such as first aid, communication, teamwork, adapting, mapping and building, among other things,” he said.

He strongly believes that programmes like scouting can play a meaningful role in guiding young people toward positive life paths, offering structure, discipline, and a sense of belonging. From his experience, this can help steer young people away from negative influences such as substance abuse and life on the streets.

Beyond his personal achievement, Rorisang is driven by a deeper purpose. He hopes to use this opportunity to establish a structured mentorship initiative for younger scouts from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of the scouts, who are sponsored by the Department of Social Development, face socio-economic challenges including poverty, difficult living conditions and intense peer pressure.

Additionally, Rorisang has also started a BackaBuddy account to help him raise funds for travel costs for his Cederberg trip.

If you wish to contribute, do so by visiting his BackaBuddy page.

Rorisang concluded by saying that his ultimate goal is to earn his Springbok Award and complete more leadership courses.