Pathfinder and Adventurer Community Club launched in Phola
The club for young people was launched to guide and keep them on the right path while serving the Lord.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church launched a Pathfinder and Adventurer Community Club in Phola.
The club for young people was launched to guide and keep them on the right path while serving the Lord.
The launch was held on Sunday, June 30 at the Masakhane Stadium.
The Adventurer Club is a program for young children created by the church; it is similar to scouting.
The club’s program focuses on children enlarging their windows on the world and building a relationship with God as the key objectives of the club.
Members are excepted to abide by the club pledge and law regardless of their church affiliation. Activities include a range of community and civic services projects in their community to nature and conservation studies to camping and high adventure trips.
Topics include arts and crafts, aquatics, nature, household arts, recreation, spiritual development, health and vocational training.
These often serve as launching points for lifetime careers or hobbies.
The children are classified in their different age groups and are also taught discipline and teamwork among others.
The programme helps children and facilitates the children to share their faith and to prepare for life according to the officials.
One of the directors Ms Ouma Vilane highlighted about the dangers of the different drugs and alcohol abuse.
She said that children need to be guided and protected as the future belongs to them.
She said: “As a community we are faced with many challenges, we have to turn to God for solutions. Drugs damage the brain of a person which is the ‘engine’ and the whole body. Once one starts on drugs, there is no turning back and drugs have long life effects. Young people must not at any stage taste not, feel not and touch not; they must just put God first in everything they do.”
Mr Jerome Mabuza said the first club of record was directed by John Mckim and Willa Steen in the late 1920s at Anaheim in California.
Captain Jannie Kamfer representing the station commander of Phola Police Station said he has more than ten years experience in the police service and pointed out that communities need to work together with the police.
Captain Kamfer encouraged community members to use the suggestions box and the numbers available to contact the station on any issues.
“We have the CPF and the Team Ayilali and we have safety programmes for schools and we are available for any suggestions that will make our area safe. Make use of us and our work is transparent to the community. We are in the process of launching street committees in our effort to keep Phola safe. Even though we are still faced with many challenges of property crime, house breaking, drugs, business robberies and other criminal activities, we are trying our best to protect members of the community.”
He further thanked the church for the initiative and said the police are prepared to work hand in hand with them in youth development as they also have a youth desk at the police station.
Some young people were recruited during the launch.
