Scouts to give Cape Flats Children a Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure

Press release for The Kfm 94.5 Outdoor Adventure Expo
Cape Town, 4 February 2002

A group of young Cape Flats children are about to have the experience of a lifetime when they camp overnight at the Kfm 94.5 Outdoor Adventure Expo that takes place from 21-24 February at Canal Walk, Century City,

The South African Scout Association, has selected 54 grade seven children to take part in an innovative community outreach initiative.

South African Scout Association (SASA) CEO Luke van der Laan said this was the first time this type of project had been organised, but he said he hoped this would be the first of many.

“We have chosen children primarily from Manenberg and Khayelitsha as they are exposed to a very high level of gang-related crime and violence,” van der Laan said. “As a result their morale and self-esteem suffers and so does their dreams for the future.

“We will be involving the children in constructing the entire entrance feature to the Expo. The fun part of the project will be building a model campsite at Expo where the children will spend the night. They will be exposed to numerous activities such as archery, rock climbing, outdoor cooking and camping in order to boost morale. The intention is to give them laugh and an unforgettable fun-filled experience,” he said.

Shirley Shearer, MD of Outdoor Exhibition Organisers says that she is delighted that the Scouts are going to be part of the Expo. “Each of our Expos has components in which we encourage communities to participate. This year the Scout Association’s Manenberg Children’s Project is bound raise much interest from the public. The Expo also serves as an excellent platform for the Association to showcase its aims and objectives.”

Van der Laan went on to say that the SASA has an on-going youth development programme which tries to reach out to as many girls and boys in rural and impoverished areas as possible in an attempt to make a difference to their lives.

“We have thousands of members countrywide and are constantly striving to create new and innovative outreach initiatives to help these children,” he said.

The Kfm 94.5 Outdoor Adventure Expo, is billed as the ultimate outdoor and leisure experience and will offer a vast range of activities, such as the Toyota 4x4 course, horse-back riding, the Madza Drifter climbing wall, archery and much more.

Background
to the event

We have selected 54 children from 3 schools in the Manenberg and Khayelitsha area's, to build a model campsite at the Kfm 94.5 Outdoor Adventure Expo. These children were not previously exposed to Scouting and it will be their first experience. We require scouters to supervise at the campsite, and anyone interested could contact Area HQ in this regard.

These children will take part in archery, rock climbing, outdoor cooking, 4x4-ing, and other exiting events. One school consisting of 18 pupils will be camping for the day, and will return home / to school the following morning. It promises to be a fun-filled event and we will be giving these children an opportunity to experience the outdoors and Scouting in general.