Keep Children
Keep Children
Keep Children
VIII. Budget………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….32
Keep The Dream196 is a local NGO which has been operating in Greater Tzaneen Municipality for
the last 11yrs working with 2,456 orphan and vulnerable children aged between 5-26yrs in 65
villages and 86 sites around Greater Tzaneen. Since our inception we have grown to include working
with the parents of the children and the Induna’s of the villages in which we operate.
Currently we work with 26 Home Base Care, Drop In Centre’s and 3 schools, building capacity of
these organizations to work with children and assisting them to have a meaningful impactual
program for children and youth.
Our impact has been phenomenal in the lives of the children and in the lives of the adults we work
with, for example:
• Teenage pregnancy rate has been reduced from 13% to 0.07% over 10yrs, less than one
pregnant child per year.
• All children are involved in community service activities including rubbish collection,
adopting “Gogo’s” in their villages and helping them with activities such as water collection,
firewood collection and cleaning of their properties.
• 2008 100% Matriculation pass
• 2009 100% Matriculation pass
• 2010 100% Matriculation pass
• 2011 89% Matriculation pass
• 70% of rural university students drop out in their first year. 10% only graduate their 4yr
degree. Our first group of graduates graduated in 2012, all are employed in the private or
government sector. Limpopo has a youth unemployment rate of 48.8%.
• Limpopo also has a HIV rate of 21.5% with the worst affected being females aged between
15-25yrs. With this pregnancy rate the youth are either abstaining (which they assure us
they are) or are protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancies and HIV in the process
• 10% of all natural deaths for children aged between 0-18yrs is suicide related. We have had
no suicides in 11yrs
• None of our children, once they have joined the program and remain the program have been
involved with crime or the police
• None of our children, once they have joined the program and remain active in the program
use alcohol or drugs
• We are currently working with 2,456 Children aged between 5-18yrs
• We have now trained over 30 young adults who grew up in the process who have now decided
to return as young adult leaders to be a role model and mentor other children.
• Every child under the age of 18yrs has a birth certificate or Identity Document. This allows
them to access free government services ie schooling, health services and also enables them
to gain employment for the future.
• 2010 A youth was sent to India and selected as a world Youth Community Builder due to his
work with HIV/AIDS in his community in Lephepane through Oxfam International.
• 2013 Another youth was sent to Thailand to represent South African Youth – Rovers
through Scouts
Our program is becoming more sustainable as youth who turn 18yrs of age are returning as adult
leaders and mentoring the younger children as adult leaders and Rovers. The Rovers are assisting to
Parents and children are building healthy relationships, children are becoming obedient and parents
are respecting their children and providing quality parenting through our self help groups or parent
committees. Parents are actively engaging in their children’s lives and learning skills in the process.
Through our advocacy program last year every child has a birth certificate and if eligible is
receiving the appropriate grant, this was through the assistance of the Induna’s (village headmen).
This program is making significant changes in the lives and futures of the families with whom we
work. Increased disposable income through accessing grants and the Food For Life program;
promotion of Human and Children's Rights and responsibilities has helped create a platform for
child protection, reduced teenage pregnancy through the promotion of rights and responsibilities.
We are now asking for support. We have out grown our current space; currently we use the
Directors home as an office and meeting hub, including storage facility for equipment. We also can
only access our camping site during the winter school holidays, this is insufficient given the number
of children we have and their eagerness to come to camp self funded. We work into the whole of
Greater Tzaneen and therefore Tzaneen would be the logical choice which is central to assist us to
continue our work.
We need a facility that has a house, office space, garage and large rooms for training or sheds we
can turn into training facilities. Town would be central but we want to go out to the rural areas
where we already work. We also need space for camps and ablution facilities.
VISION: To see all children enter adulthood with holistic skills and abilities
necessary to contribute effectively to the development of South Africa
ORGANISATION MISSION:
“Our mission is to assist children to overcome difficult life circumstances by building resilience
physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically, using a Right’s-based framework, so they are
able to realize their full potential and contribute to the building of South Africa.”
This project is not a quick fix answer to the needs of children; rather it is a long term investment
in their future. We develop the child holistically and sustainably to overcome not just the current
situations they find themselves confronting, but all the challenges that life has to present in the
future.
1. Training
2. Support
3. Advocacy and Awareness Raising Activities
Keep The Dream 196 Children’s Life Skills Project is a comprehensive, integrated model of training,
care and support for all children, particularly Orphans & Vulnerable children and their Caregivers.
The model is child-focused, and assists the child to identify their strengths and to build on them to
overcome challenges so they can address their own needs. Children are empowered to participate in
activities and decisions that shape their lives; advocacy is an important component of the overall
mission of the project.
Business Philosophy: Primarily we are developmental organization which is child focused and Right’s
based operating in Mopani and Vembe Districts of Limpopo Province Republic of South Africa. We
believe in cascade training model to empower people at all levels to take responsibility for their
learning and also to disseminate that learning to others. Leadership principles are applied at all
levels of the program using a small group approach and learning by doing.
Our market is any child from the age of 5yrs to 26yrs but can also include adults, churches,
schools, Drop in Centre's and Community Based Organizations such as Home Based Care or where
ever children congregate.
The Non Government Organization (NGO) Industry in the last 15yrs has seen exponential growth
which has not been regulated effectively and the motivation of some organizations is the
employment of their staff and not necessary the beneficiaries they serve. Due to the Global
Financial Crisis we are seeing tighter fiscal control and the death of many organizations that could
not be sustained due the funding demands of their organizations. This situation will continue for the
conceivable future. It is essential that NGO’s become self sustaining for intermediate and long
term survival including independence from donors who often come with own agenda’s, hence the
need for organizations such as Keep The Dream196 to take what we are excellent at and selling to a
new market.
The NGO sector is very cut throat and suspicious of each other, there is very little collaboration
unless it is generated by financial partnerships. The short term prospect for this sector will
continue to be very difficult to raise new donors and maintain the level of support from current
donors. Long term the pendulum will swing back however the time frame for a global recovery is
currently estimated at 10years. Only those organizations with excellent governance and can show
impact and value for money will be supported in to the future. Until then, if organizations want to
survive they have to generate their own income.
Our organization started at the beginning of the Global Financial Crisis and we have deliberately
kept our overheads and running costs to a minimum, we have now developed a proven track record of
impact and sustained results. We are passionate, determined people who want to see children reach
their potential. In 2007 when we officially started both the Managing Director and Program
The Managing Director has a masters in Primary Health Care in developing nations and is a qualified
community health nurse with over 30yrs experience nationally and internationally and has worked in
the NGO sector in South Africa for over 10yrs. The Program Manager is a qualified senior primary
school teacher and has worked in the NGO sector for over 14yrs. The Managing Director and
Program Manager are provincial representatives for scouting holding various titles within the
scouting community. The Project Manager is a newly qualified social worker with 10yrs history as a
beneficiary of the organization and as a member of scouting and has now joined the staff in
January 2013 as a full time staff member. The Field Officers are ladies from the local communities
and have experience as trainers, community development workers, home based care workers and
scouting. The remaining Field Officer is studying part time Bachelor of Computer Science but also
was a beneficiary of the program for 8yrs.
Our organization has a strong community development focus and all staff has the skills to train
children and adults in community based workshops including a sound knowledge of HIV/AIDS and
Children’s Rights. The core strengths of Keep The Dream196 include the following:
We are a registered NGO, Non Profit Organization with CIPR, we also have Public Benefits Status
and are VAT registered. We have an active Board of Directors which oversee the vision and mission
of the organization.
Keep The Dream 196 has a holistic developmental model. Our work is a long term investment
ensuring the continued wellbeing of our beneficiaries. Our integrated approach includes training,
advocacy and support and our core beneficiaries include the child, their parents, the greater
community and the traditional leaders. Currently we work with 23 Drop In Centres and 3 Home
Based Care organizations. KTD196 trains their volunteers to implement the KTD196 programme; we
support their staff and ensure the standard of program implementation is of a suitable standard.
The Drop In Centres approach us through word of mouth because they are aware of the impact we
have and are in need of an after school program they can run to fulfil Dept of Social Development
requirements.
Program 1 Training
Program 2 Advocacy
Program 3 Support
PROGRAM 1 - TRAINING
Keep The Dream 196 provides quality training and ongoing support capacitating our beneficiaries to
develop skills and confidence relating to children’s issues, resilience building, support of families,
support traditional leaders. Our training component creates a platform to implement the skills
learnt through the training.
1. Training of children
Through Cascade Training and workshops we instill life skills to the children and create a platform
for these skills to be enhanced. The skills are practical and relevant. It’s about giving them the
skills to navigate life and to make decisions which are empowering and which bring about the best
outcomes and encourage them to dream and create a future.
Children are placed in age appropriate streams using the Scout Model. Children are streamed into 3
core groups - 5-11 years is the Cub group, 12-18 years is the Scout group and 19-26 years are the
Rovers. Each cub and scout group consists of approximately 40 children that are divided into 4-5
smaller sub groups with a child leader and an assistant who work with the group leader to implement
the programmes
Activities
Activities
• Journey of life training – The Journey of Life is a workshop designed to raise awareness of
the problems and needs of children. It provides guidelines on how the community can find
solutions;
• Training on Keep The Dream 196 Children and Youth Programme and the support that is
required from them for their children;
• As the parent committees develop they request training on different subjects which is
implemented on a weekly or monthly basis e.g. nutrition, positive discipline methods, their
responsibilities as parents, HIV/Aids, prevention of drug and alcohol abuse;
Impacts
We train over 200 parents every year and currently support 35 parent groups. These groups in turn
support their children’s groups and are developing into self help groups. We have also networked
with FAMSA (Family and Marriage services South Africa) to assist in trauma counseling for the
adults.
I wanted to know what scouting is doing to my child because ever since he joined scouts he has been
so respectful and that is not what I thought of him. I would like to know what you do with them to
change their behavior. (Magreth Nkuna)
I have learned that a child can live in great difficulty and I may not realize that I am the cause and
making life very difficult for my children. I am going to apologies to my children for the way I was
treating them and hope I can stop treating them the way I was. (Beauty)
10
Training of Adult Leaders from the communities in which we operate gives them the skills,
knowledge and ability to effectively run the different children’s programmes regardless as to the
age group of the children.
Activity
The content of this programme includes:-
• Programme Development
• Life skills
• Activity and knowledge which is linked to outcomes
• Child protection information
• Age appropriate programming developing child leaders, creating contributing positive young
leaders who are able to develop others
Impact
• We train over 40 adult leaders per year. Currently have 160 adult leaders who are active in
the program.
• These adults volunteer in their communities and improve the social capital and social
cohesion within their communities
• We are capacity building local ladies in particular and addressing with these ladies issues of
children’s rights, food security, creative skills development, HIV/AIDS awareness, gender
and communication skills with children.
11
Activities
Impact
The Induna’s are more aware of the importance of children and building a secure future for South
Africa by working with the children. The Induna's are providing improved support of the children
and assisting particularly vulnerable children.
Beneficiary
The Child, The Parent/Caregiver, The Adult Leader and The Induna.
Activities
12
Impact
• The Induna’s played a pivotal role in receiving over 22,000 signatures in petitions to “End
Violence Against Children”. These petitions where then presented to the local Mayor. The
Induna’s all report they are much more vocal in supporting children and ensuring that
children's needs are met by parents.
• All our children have ID documents and are accessing the relevant grant
Beneficiary
The Child, The Parent/Caregiver, The Adult Leader and The Induna.
Activities
Keep The Dream 196 creates cohesion between the streams and between the
beneficiaries focusing on our social holistic circle of care. Ongoing support is provided in
terms of Monitoring and Evaluation of service delivery and in service training. Support is
13
Impact to date
• 290 caregivers in 91 rural communities have been trained in the provision of the Life Skills
Project (Over 2500 children continue to attend on a weekly basis)
• 40 Caregivers have been trained in Child-specific Communication Skills to supplement the
current HBC National Curriculum as children are not specifically or comprehensively
addressed.
• 180 Caregivers have been trained in Wills and Grant Access with the expectation that this
would be rolled out and implemented in their communities.
• 2,456 children have been trained in HIV AIDS prevention
• 800 children have been trained in the provision of First Aid
• 60 children were trained in Participatory Edutainment Theatre techniques and now present
plays regarding Children’s Rights in their local areas.
• Since 2008 over 2,500 children have been trained in Children’s Rights, Gender Equity,
HIV/AIDS prevention.
• Since 2008 400 children have been trained to be HIV Peer Educators
• Since 2010 over 2,500 children have been trained in sustainable livelihoods and started
their own vegetable gardens
• Reduction of teen pregnancy provincial 13% to 0.07% per annum (less than 1 child per year)
• All our post year 12 students are in tertiary facilities with bursaries, NFSAS or Bank loans
• 100%of university students have completed or are completing their tertiary studies without
dropping out (the dropout rate at university is 90%)
• 0% have committed suicide
14
Our Rover team who started out as cubs and scouts, 10yrs later they are our adult leaders
15
The Population of the Limpopo province is estimated at 5.2m of which 54.6% is women, 45.4% is men
and youth at 39.4%. The unemployment rate is estimated at 26,8%, the HIV infection is at 21.5 %.
( 2010 Quarter 1 STATS SA)
Area: 3 243km²
Description: Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality is situated in the eastern quadrant of the Limpopo
province within the Mopani District Municipality area of jurisdiction. It is bordered by Polokwane to
the west, Greater Letaba to the north, Ba-Phalaborwa and Maruleng to the east and Lepelle-Nkumpi
to the south. It contains 125 rural villages, with almost 80% of households residing in these villages.
It is characterized by extensive and intensive farming activities and considerable untapped tourism
potential.
Demographic Information
Table 1
Population: 390 095
Households: 108 926
Population Growth: 0.38% p.a
Unemployment Rate: 36.70%
16
Household Dynamics
Table 4
Households 108 926
Average Household Size 3.50
Female Headed Households 47.80%
Formal Dwellings 92.40%
Housing Owned 57.30%
Household Services
Table 5
Flush Toilet Connected To Sewerage 15.30%
Weekly Refuse Removal 14.70%
Piped Water Inside Dwelling 16.10%
Electricity For Lighting 86.20%
Source: Census 2011 Municipal Fact Sheet, published by Statistics South Africa.
17
Table 6
Greater Tzaneen Municipality Keep The Dream196 Activities
125 Villages 65 Villages
48% Youth Unemployment 100% Youth Employment or enrolled with
Further education facilities
Teen Pregnancy Rate for Limpopo 13% Teen Pregnancy Rate 0.07%
2008 Matric Pass Rate 48% 100% pass rate
2009 Matric Pass Rate 48.9% 100% pass rate
2010 Matric Pass Rate 57.9% 100% pass rate
2011 Matric Pass Rate 63.9% 89% pass rate
2012 Matric Pass Rate 66.9% 66% pass rate
2012 University completion rate 10% University completion rate 100%
80
Cubs Packs
60 Scout Troops
40 Rover Crew
Total
20
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Years
1600
1400
1200
1000
Numbers 800
Boys
600
Girls
400
200
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Years
18
19 8
19
Mugodeni
1 1st Mokgwathi Cubs Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Mokgwathi Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Xihoko Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Xihoko Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Mbhekwana Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Mavele Cubs Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Musiphani Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Musiphani Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Musiphani Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Musiphani Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Mawa block 8 Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Mawa block 9 Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Joppie Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Mamitwa Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Mamitwa Cubs Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Mamitwa Scouts Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Maweni Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Maweni Cubs Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Nkambako Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Nkambako Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Babanana Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Babanana Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Radoo Grace
Mugodeni
1 1st Radoo Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Radoo Grace
Mugodeni
1 2nd Radoo Grace
Mugodeni
1 3rd Radoo Grace
Mugodeni
1 3rd Radoo Grace
20
25 10
4 3
10 2
65 26 TOTAL Groups
21
1. Lamulani HBC
2. Hlulani Drop In Centre Mandlekhazi
3. Mpfunano Drop In Centre Mohlaba
4. Ledikwa Drop In Centre Lephepane
5. Lowveld Drop In Centre Xipungu
6. Reatlegile Drop In Centre Mogapeng
7. Hitekani Drop In Centre Mamitwa
8. Hlayisani Drop In Centre Nkambako
9. Burgersdorp Drop In Centre Burgersdorp
10. Nhlohlotelo Drop In Centre Burgersdorp
11. Thusang Pfunani Drop In Centre Pharara
12. Thlapedi Primary School
13. Ratanang Drop In Centre Relela
14. Itereleng Drop In Centre Mafarana
15. Ximatsi Drop In Centre Myakayaka
16. Hlayisekani Drop In Centre Musiphani
17. Risima Drop In Centre Babanana
18. Nhluvuko Drop In Centre Mariveni
19. Andzisani Drop In Cenre Sasekani
20. Tsogang Drop In Centre Leretjeni
21. Hluvukani Drop In Centre Bonn
22. Pharare Sethabaneng Drop In Centre Pharare
23. Rivoningo Drop In Centre Gavaza
24. Bophelong Drop In Centre Radoo
25. Mulati Angels Home Mulati
26. Khutso William Drop In Centre Mogoboya
Through our partners we train, support and provide advocacy and awareness information so they in
turn run their children’s program based on a well conceived, easily implemented nationally
recognised program.
In the final column, the estimated importance of each competitive factor to the customer.
1 = critical; 5 = not very important.
Importance to
FACTOR Me Strength Weakness Competitor A Competitor B
Customer
Limited
Products Excellent Boys and Girls Girl Guides Love Life 1
infrastructure
Some children
Poverty an
are starting to
Price $1/annum issue for Minimal Unknown 3
financially
parents
contribute
Scouts national
We are receiving
program is not
nationally
Quality Very good flexible enough Very Good No variety 2
accredited
to cater for
awards
rural areas
Under 5s are Difficult
Selection Multigenerational None None 1
complaining catering to all
22
Our competitive advantage lies in the fact that we train local people from local villages to work with
local kids. The children are known to the adult volunteer, their families and situations which assist
23
We are essentially a development based organization for adults and children however this takes
time to do properly. Most donors fund 1-3yr cycles, we have a vision to take the children from aged
5yrs through to 18yrs as beneficiaries and then 18+ as adult leaders if the youth so desires. We are
able to show impact on an individual level after 3months, we are seeing monumental attitude and
behavior changes with the children we serve.
KTD196 doesn’t really have competitors in the villages, organized sports are minimal, the children
don’t have alternative extra mural activities to compete with us there for we have a niche in the
industry. We work with any child aged 5-18yrs and can continue till the age of 26yrs to build
sustainability organizationally through a sense of organizational history and intellectual knowledge.
The disadvantages include using village adults as adult leaders who may or may not have basic
communication skills with children, many of our adults are illiterate in English or even their own
languages, this slows down implementation and quality of services provided hence the need for
monthly site visits and in-service training through the visits.
24
Figure 1
VI.1b We provide training to adults directly and use a variety of methods. When working with
children using a cascade method which is cost effective.
VI.1c Monitoring and Evaluation provides quality control through the Support provided by the Field
Officers and management staff who visit the different groups through a calendar month. We have
monitoring tools in place including a database with all participants and their participation in
different activities and trainings.
The children also have their own monitoring tool (Spider Tool) which they work on quarterly, they
assess where the troop is now, and where they want to be by the end of the year and create action
plans to get there. KTD196 monitors this progress through site visits and quarterly meetings.
VI.1d Product development – Although training modules for Scouts is pre prescribed KTD196
develops our own training based on needs identified by the children and adults. For example we have
developed Boys 2 Men training to assist young boys and teenagers to become the men and fathers
they desire to be. We also have developed training for Induna’s and Parents as a way to assist them
to grow and develop and become better informed.
25
Spider Tool
VI.2 Location
Physical requirements required from the location sought:
• Amount of space – we need 20hectares, some natural bush, some plantation, a flat space the
size of a football field to camp and run wide games. We can work with any combination of
the above.
• Type of building – we need a secure property and house for accommodation and to use as an
office, we need external facilities such as shower and toilet blocks including a large room to
use as a training room and a camp kitchen. We have portable storage facilities for
equipment.
• Power and other utilities – we require mains power, sewerage and water supply.
• Access: we need to be relatively close to the two town taxi ranks eg within walking distance.
That will reduce our transport costs currently we are 12kms from town.
• Construction – We will have to construct toilet and shower blocks for the scouts and adult
leaders. We will apply for capital expenditure costs to be covered by our current donors or
through National Lotto Fund.
• Estimated costs for occupation and utilization are included in the financial plan.
• Office hours will be from 9-5pm Monday to Friday however we will have activities regularly
running over the weekends eg training camp, training, and youth camps. These camps will
particularly run during the school holidays and long weekends.
26
V1.3b Zoning or building code requirements – we would apply for council permission to build shower
and toilet blocks
V1.3.c Insurance coverage – The facility will be fully insured including public liability
V1.4 Personnel
VI.4.a Number of employees
27
Staff 5
Administration 1
Total 9
KTD196 has schedules and written procedures in place, all job descriptions have been drafted and
graded using Paterson’s Grading system, all contracts are in place.
28
Below depicts the development of our adult leaders as they progress through Scouting each level
has learning objectives and out comes to assist with monitoring and evaluation. Currently we have a
majority of our volunteers at basic training level.
Rover
Woodbadge
Commissioners
Woodbadge
Train the Trainer Training
Cubs
Scouts
Rovers
29
The management team will manage the business on a day to day basis. The management team
consists of the Managing Director, Program Manager and Project Manager also including the book
keeper. We have created a succession plan for all staff. Each staff member in the management
team is being trained up in the event a senior member of staff being incapacitated or lost for
whatever reason. The Managing Director has 10years NGO experience, 6 years as Director of
KTD196.
Board
Managing
Director
Book
Keeper Program
Manager
Project
Manager
30
31
V11.8 Mentors and key advisors – Fetola Legends Program – Old Mutual Mentorship
program
V111. Budget
Farm Budget YR 1 Rands Units
Capital Cost
2 000
Farm 000.00 1.00 2 000 000.00
Mortgage Transfer cost 99 845.00 1.00 99 845.00
2 099
Total 845.00 1.00 2 099 845.00
Monthly Costs
Insurance including vehicles, public liability
and structures 4 500.00 12 54 000.00
Electricity 2 500.00 12 30 000.00
Security 600.00 12 7 200.00
Ground staff 5 000.00 12 60 000.00
Total 12 600.00 12 151 200.00
32
33
Annual Returns
I have made a lot of bad choices and decisions after leaving Scouts at aged 17. I did things that I
wouldn't have done if I was still a scout. I decided to stop going to scouts early last year and since
then life became hard for me in some ways. Scouts helped me get where I am today, if it weren't
for 1st Shiluvane Scouts I wouldn't be in varsity. Scouts disciplined me, gave me focus and enabled
me to have dreams. I then decided to enroll myself with the university that best offers law (LLB)
University of Limpopo.
After quitting Scouts I lost focus, my mind was all over the place, I neglected my studies and I
would stay in my room whenever I didn't feel like going to class. I didn't know why I was studying, I
lost interest and just wanted to have fun. At least I managed to pass 8 out of 10 courses, it was not
bad at all but I know I can do a lot better than that. I just needed to focus and I know that at
Scouts that’s where I’m going to get motivated, that’s why I decided to go back.
Scouts is the best campus one can ever have. My mother is never around, her life is in
Johannesburg, I have been growing up alone, I had no one to guide me but Scouts gave me all the
guidance I needed. Scouts helped me make wiser decisions about my life. I even started drinking
which was the most stupid move I have ever made, I would drink to get intoxicated because that
was my way of having fun.
Intoxication lowers thinking and reasoning capacity, so I did crazy and stupid things due to
intoxication and some of those things nearly cost me my life. I reached a point where I felt that
life was just not worth living. I then decided to commit suicide by taking an overdose of pills.
Fortunately I was hospitalized in time and decided to keep this a secret from my family.
34
As a child I used to be very naughty. My life style was good as a child as I was also very open to
other children. When I reached adolescence things began to change. I started isolating myself I
found it hard to join with a group.
When I was in Grade 6 I started dating girls, I also used to be a part of gangsters at school but I
wasn't always with them. We used to vandalize people at school. I also used to always carry a
murder weapon with me at school. I used to threaten young ones. My parents didn't notice all this
as I used to not show my bad behavior when I was at home, they kept on saying I was a good boy.
But now that I have joined scouts I’m no longer that kind of person I used to be. My behavior has
changed to a good one. I am now used to joining with different groups and participating in different
activities. Now that I am growing up I have learnt to be more responsible. I don't do those things
that I did when I was younger. Scout has made the difference. Anonymous 18yrs.
Harry was introduced to Scouting through his aunt Emily Malatji, a Home Based Caregiver with
Balwantwa Home Based Care Organization. Emily ran the scout group from 2004 until her death in
Dec 2007, Harry then proceeded to take over the role of Scout Leader. In Jan 2008 at the tender
age of 15yrs, his mother passed away leaving him to care for his 2 sisters and elderly grandmother.
Why is this important? Because Harry continues to shine in all that he does and credits his success
to the influence of scouts in his life. Harry has assisted all his Troop to gain their Pathfinder
Advancement badge. He has done all of this for his Troop, plus succeeded at school plus cared for
his Grandmother and siblings at home.
“Being a man does not really mean being able to support your family by providing just food and
35
“I thought a man was successful if he provided food and school fees, now I know there is so much
more to being a real father. I am pleased I came to this training, now I can be a better father than
mine was” Nhlamulo 16yrs.
SCOUTING IS A LIFE CHANGER-at first when scouting was introduced to me, it was a very new
and different thing. Times went by and I started to realize that it was a very important part of my
life. Scouting not only gave me the space to expand and realize my abilities but it also molded my
abilities and trained me on how to use them. With the help of all our Akela's (including Zabe and
Kwara) scouting also open up my eyes to seeing the potential that I possess and how to go about
unlocking it. The most important part about scouting is that it never concentrates on raising
followers but on raising leaders that go out and be good leaders wherever they go, so joining scouts
means joining a family of good leaders. The skills that are acquired through scouting always become
handy in daily living so being a scout definitely brings change in one's life and how you can face
everyday challenges. Scouting is definitely a life changer :-). Nhlanhla Khosa 1st Mavele Scout
Troop.
Did you know Cubs are tomorrows scouts! If you are ever wondering what sort of leader you are, try
being a Cub Instructor! You will quickly learn if you have what it takes to be a leader! Being a cub
instructor was the most rewarding job ever. Cubs are little children that meet once a week to learn,
have fun and create friendship; the children are from the ages of 7-11 years. Children at this age
are very hyperactive and demand a lot of attention from the instructor, that’s when I discovered
the passion that I have for children. It helped to see that children need to be heard that’s all they
want, they have a need to learn.
I was a very impatient person when it came to children because I failed to understand why they
were so slow until I became one of the cub instructors and learnt that children have a lot of
potential all they need is the proper guidance and someone to lean on and encourage them to do the
best when it comes to the work that they do. Children have a thirst to learn; they are free spirited
and have a lot of energy that they need to put into good use. When I was a cub instructor I found
out that children are the future leaders and yet as adults we tend to limit their abilities and don’t
believe in them and that they can’t make it.
The reason I chose to be a cub instructor is because a lot of children need guidance and
mentorship, they need elders whom they can identify as role models and they can learn from. It’s
not just a job but it has to come with passion and the feeling of having to want to help a child. I
would encourage the youth whether you are a scout or not to help change a child’s life, to help build
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Nkulu Mabuza (one of the original 13 Scouts from 2003 now a Rover)
As a child I used to be very naughty. My life style was good as a child as I was also very open to
other children. When I reached adolescence things began to change. I started isolating myself I
found it hard to join with a group. When I was in Grade 6 I started dating girls. I also used to be a
part of gangsters at school but I want always with them. We used to vandalize people at school. I
also used to always carry a murder weapon with me at school. I used to threaten young ones. My
parents didn't notice all this as I used to not show my bad behavior when I was at home, they kept
on saying I was a good boy. But now that I have joined scouts I’m no longer that kind of person I
used to be. My behavior has changed to a good one. I am now used to joining with different groups
and participating in different activities. Now that I am growing up I have learnt to be more
responsible. I don't do those things that I did when I was younger. Scouts has made the
difference. A Scout who is 18yrs
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