Bryanston High boys turn camp cooking mishap into act of kindness

When a forgotten pan threatened to ruin their camp meal, the boys from Bryanston High School did not just scramble to cook their chicken; they cooked up a plan to make a real difference.

During their school camp from August 21 to 23, Garrick Coleman and his teammates were tasked with preparing their own food.

But when they realised they had left their pan behind, the group was stuck with half-cooked chicken. Lucky for them, a teacher lent a spare pan, but only half the meal could be saved.

Instead of keeping the chicken for themselves, these young leaders decided to turn their cooking glitch into a chance to give back.

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Back home, Garrick rolled up his sleeves and spent nearly two hours at the Old Parks Sports Club whipping up chicken mayo sandwiches with a little help and heaps of encouragement. Then, armed with sandwiches and big hearts, he hit the streets of Bryanston, handing out meals to the homeless.

“The smiles and thanks I got were priceless,” Garrick said. “It was incredible to see how something small to us could mean so much to others.”

Garrick and his crew, Leroy Kasongo, Kieran King, Martin Tichareva, Kiran Naidoo, Shaylin Dharmudas, Motheo Ntshabel, Artur Myshanskyi, and Gabriel Singh, all chipped in to make it happen. “We all bought the chicken, so we felt it was only right to give it back together,” Garrick said.

He said he was a little nervous at first. “I didn’t know how people would react, but seeing their gratitude filled me with joy and purpose.”

More than just sandwiches, this experience taught Garrick valuable lessons in leadership and compassion. “Sometimes leading means taking the first step, even with small things. It’s about making sure nothing goes to waste and thinking beyond yourself.

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“Community service doesn’t have to be a big project; even a small act can have a huge impact. I would love to get more of my teammates involved so they can share in the experience of seeing the impact first-hand.”

His advice to anyone wanting to help is simple but powerful. “Start small. You don’t need money or big resources, just use what you have and think about how it can help others. The important part is to take action.”

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