Working Together at Metropole Youth Camp

Youths from the Cape Metropole region learned the importance of planning to succeed, effective communication and diligent teamwork at a regional youth camp in Grabouw, which took place from 6 to 8 September 2013. The event was one of four regional camps taking place in the run-up to the provincial youth camp to be held in Tulbagh from 23 to 27 September 2013.

A total of 89 participants between the ages of 14 and 25 took part in the metropole camp led by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in partnership with Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA). They had a fun-filled experience as they teamed up to challenge other groups in activities which included raft building, time trials and an Amazing Race-type competition. Musical workshops focusing on the national anthem also helped to bring participants closer to one another.

Keanan Jacobs (20) of Athlone said the activities helped his team to develop skills. “We walked away with important lessons from this camp. We learned how important it is to plan and strategise when undertaking any activity. It was clear that failing to plan is planning to fail.”

Thina Rengqu (17) of Khayelitsha was inspired by the determination showed by participants with a disability. “It was evident that, when people work together and assist others who struggle, their unity is hard to break.”

Themba Nondlwana (19), a student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, added that winning is not always the ultimate goal, but rather that it is important for all participants to get the opportunity to participate and grow with their teams.

Participants left the metropole region youth camp confident that they can make a difference in their communities. Seventy-five of them will be invited to the provincial camp at the end of September. DCAS is pleased at having achieved its objectives around social inclusion, leadership, national identity and personal character development. These are all themes previously identified by SRSA as being important for positive mobilisation of the youth.

DCAS metropole camp leader Mr Manfred Josephs said that the facilitators, team leaders and participants showed that people in the Western Cape can indeed be “better together”. “Participants learned valuable skills they can apply in their lives, and they enjoyed the experience,” he said.