Scouting About News from the South African Association. www.scouting.org.za 0860SCOUTS Summer2013/2014 NEWYEAR’SMESSAGEFROMCHIEFSCOUT SIBUSISO VILANE NELSONMANDELA “Let’ssummitEverest’sanddreamtogether” I am very honoured to be able to call myself manner are all vital life skills required to the Chief Scout of SCOUTS . treat fellow human beings with the respect Honour, respect, courteousy and good they deserve. The future depends entirely citizenship are just a couple of the attributes on the education of children and youths, of members of this fantastic Movement. As their access to information and experiences we eagerly start a New Year full promise and which broaden thinking and understanding opportunities it is important for us all to be in the ever-changing and challenging world. open to new information, new adventures As with every new beginning, 2014 allows us and ideas which allow us to learn as much as all to dream and then to set out to achieve we can as team players and leaders of today our dreams! Every person has their own andtomorrow. ‘Everest’ they need to climb. Whether you’re prepared for it or not, it’s there - challenging As Scouts we live according to our promise you to reach the top. It is vital to never give and laws, a set of values that shape us as up on your dream, take one step at a time SCOUTS South Africa would like to express people and our country and world as a and before you now it you have summited our sincere condolences to the family whole. I have been privileged to be able to themountainandaccomplishedourgoals! members of our Patron, former president attend some Scouting gatherings including a . Madiba was a man that not PLTU in Gauteng. The warm welcome I I hope to learn more about Scouting in South only inspired a nation and many generations, received and the discipline, talent and skills I Africa this year and to meet many of you but who gave true meaning to the principles perceived were testimony to our face to face. Until then - as SCOUTS South “duty to God, duty to others and duty to self”. Movements training and leadership. Africa - let’s summit all the ‘Everest’s’ that Learning how to manage stressful situations, cross our paths together, let’s explore and “Madiba will always be best known and how to handle challenges, how to push your conserve the world we live in, experience remembered for his epic struggle against own physical abilities and how to the adventures that life brings us and lead by and his central role in creating a new communicate in a clear and respectful example! South Africa where people of all races can live as equals,” says SSA past chairman Mr Garnet de la Hunt. “His determination, perseverance, PAINTTHELIONPURPLE courage and self-sacrifice for the good of other CapeWesternscouts&leadersconductamemorialserviceto people are qualities that all Scouts should NelsonMandelaonLionsHead-CapeTown. emulate as they endeavour to live in accordance with the and Promise.” Speaking as the Patron of SCOUTS South Africa, Mandela praised the progress that the Scout Movement is making as a world leader in youth education. He said: “The international Scout movement is a world leader in youth education, and has particular relevance to the needs of youth in Africa and the emerging democracies around the globe. I am pleased with the progress of Scouting in South Africa, and in the steps which are now being taken to make the programme accessible to more young people. The importance of a high moral code, which is at the foundation of the Scout movement, cannot be stressed too highly.” FromLeft: Charmian Johnson,CathyHughes, Vivwe Benxa,Quintin Combrinck,Paddy Milner,Sam Wolski, JamesPeart,RobertTurner,Matthew Broadley,MorganIrwin,ChristopherBenson. Continuesonbackpage. MEET SIBUSISO VILANE OURCHIEFSCOUT: New Chief Scout of South Africa ‘three poles challenge’ (North Pole, Sibusiso Vilane is a man from very the South Pole and Everest) when he humble beginnings who is now one of trekked to the North Pole. In true a handful of South Africans, and the scouting spirit, he is currently leading first black African, to climb each of the an expedition with a group of 13 South - the seven highest Africans in South America where he is peaks on each of the seven continents climbing Mount for the 4th - and to complete the ‘three pole time since 2006. We wish him all the challenge’. best! Conquering extreme challenges is Even though Sibusiso Vilane was not a nothing new for Sibusiso Vilanewho Scout in his youth, he is a man who has was born at the Shongwe Mission in overcome personal challenges and the former kaNgwane homeland, now poverty to become the best he can be part of Mpumalanga. When he was 6 whilst embracing his sense for years old he moved to Swaziland with adventure, leadership and good his mother after his parents separated sportsmanship. He lives and adheres and started working as a goat herder. to the values that Scouting teaches, Due to a lack of funds he only started such as honesty, humility, school at 11 years old. After obtaining courteousness and kindness, respect his O-Levels he started his working for the environment we live in and the career as a labourer and then as a peopleweencounter. game in Swaziland. In 1996 he Sibusiso is married to Nomsa and is the met good friend and benefactor John proud father of four children. He Doble who encouraged and supported supports the educational needs of him to follow his dreams and his talent three young girls in honour of those formountaineering. who contributed to his own education He started climbing in 1996 by whenhisparentscouldn’taffordit. summiting peaks in the Drakensberg. In 1999 again! In 2006 he conquered the Elbrus in Europe, the Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania Our new Chief Scout is a man who has he summited Kilimanjaro and has since then achieved extraordinary things, but who gone on to climb it 16 times! In March 2003, and the Vinson in Antarctica. He summited the /McKinley in 2008 in North inspires people worldwide by his he set off on his quest to be the first black America and in the same year Sibusiso humbleness, his passion and commitment, African to summit the earth's largest and Vilane and his Team Extreme partner, Alex whose every quietly spoken word captivates most fearsome mountain, . He Harris, became the first South Africans to and leads people onward and upward and as summited it successfully for the first time on walk to the South Pole completely such is contributing to making the world a 26 May 2003 and has since then done it unassisted. In April 2012 he completed the betterplacethanhowhefoundit.

ADULTTRAINING DearScouter This letter has been emailed to all Scouters on the Provincial lists but One of the key needs in the revitalisation of SCOUT SA, which is we would also like you to distribute this letter and the questionnaires currently being addressed,is the restructuring of Adult Leader to Scouters who you can contact, who do not have internet access. Training; materials, approach,requirements and expectations, to Pleaseassistwithcollectingandsendingintheirreplies. permit faster, simpler and more ready access to training and training We are especially interested to identify any skills or knowledge, that material. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by the members,from their Scouting, externaleducational and life experiences is a key Scouters require, but which have been omitted from the list. principleforthefuture. Remember that we draw adult members from a wide range of backgrounds and many do not have a Scouting background. As a As we move forward with this aspect of the project, we request your result, our training must be flexible and provide the opportunity for inputandassistance. Scouters to obtain all the knowledge, training and skills that they Thanks to the efforts of the members of the National Training Team require, to serve the youth in our care, as efficiently as possible. We (the trainers based in the Provinces) and the inputs of others working are also aware that the training can and should include our direct on the adult resources strategy and plans we have developed a trainingandthirdpartytraining. breakdown of what we believe to be the core skills and knowledge required by Scouters to execute various roles in SCOUTS SA. The Job The intention is not to create a more burdensome system, but rather Descriptions for the roles are on the SCOUTS SA website to provide our adult members with easy access to the necessary and at:http://www.scouting.org.za/sasa/jobdescriptions/ relevant material that is of value to them both in scouting as well as We would like you to review and comment on the questionnaires intheireverydaylives. which can be accessed from the website at We thank you in advance for your assistance with this process and www.scouting.org.za/news/revit, for the role you are filling, or a lookforwardtoyourinput role you have recently filled, Please us “sticky notes” or “insert text” and send your replies to Andrew Tanner, Acting National YoursinScouting. Commissioner (ALT), [email protected] and Fr.Charles [email protected] who is responsible for collating the AndrewTanner responses. ActingNationalCommissioner:AdultLeaderTraining SASCOUTSCOMPETINGINCAPETORIO CONGRATULATIONS YACHTRACE SPRINGBOKSCOUTS Eight South African Scouts are currently emergency drinking water in 8 x 25 litre jerry competing in the Cape to Rio 2014 yacht cans. They have about 350 litres of diesel on race on board of the official Scout yacht, JML board which would enable them to motor Rotary Scout. Despite the heavy storms and for about 700 nautical miles should they winds the crew is doing well, morale is need to in an emergency. They also have upbeat and confident. Experienced enough rations on board to eat 3 meals a day yachtsman, Peter Bosch is the skipper and for40days! the crew is made up of young Scouts who have come through the National Communications-wise, they have an HF Matthew Symons – Gauteng programfromvariouspartsofSouthAfrica. radio, a satellite telephone and fleet Gareth Glasspool – Gauteng broadband, which means they are able to The race started in beautiful conditions on Zhane Potgieter – KwaZulu Natal Saturday 4 January. Table Bay was buzzing send and receive emails and calls, weather Chahil Ramharakh – KwaZulu Natal with spectator boats to view the spectacle permitting. Not only does this give them a as 36 racing yachts took to the start of this lifeline to home but on a special note NicholasClarke – KwaZulu Natal great race. The tranquil conditions were Cathleen Hughes received her positive Nicole Koekemoer – KwaZulu Natal short lived as the fleet was hit by a heavy matricresultsinthemiddleoftheocean! Fabio Saporetti – WesternCape storm on the first night of the race! Reports SergioJonas – WesternCape from crews spoke of winds up to 60 knots In true Scouting fashion this young crew has JasonCrawford - Gauteng and swells of 6 metres! The conditions have put the “Be Prepared” into Ashleigh Cramp – Gauteng tested the endurance of all crews and boats, practice. ConnerThompson – WesternCape wreaking havoc across the fleet as many boatsarelimpinghomewithdamages. For more information on JML Rotary Scout MichaelCheney – WesternCape contact Mark Jennings on 082 789 41 30. Ashley Clutten – WesternCape Sadly crew members of the Angolan boat More photos are available from GuySalomon – KwaZulu Natal Bille were hurt and one person died when MichaelField – KwaZulu Natal their mast came down in the heavy storm. [email protected] and a sat phone Our thoughts and prayers are with the interview can be arranged by Mark, weather PeterCarrington – EasternCape friends and family of the crew member of permitting. MelissaCampbell – Gauteng yacht Bille whounfortunatelylosthislife. Andrew Boik – KwaZulu Natal The progress of the race can be tracked live Gilad Katzav – Gauteng It is with much relief that the crew of JML on the official website: Rotary Scout contacted home to report that www.cape2rio2014.com all is well on board despite the very trying B-P’sOUTLOOK conditions. Navigator Grant Chapman’s DISCIPLINE decision to avoid the worst of the storm by In a small camp so much can be done by sailing west along the example. You are living among your boys rhumb line paid off. The and are watched by each of them, and yacht has come through imitated unconsciously by them, and the storm well so far – probablyunobservedbyyourself. Skipper Peter Bosch said If you are lazy they will be lazy; if you make “The steering cables cleanliness a hobby it will become theirs; if slipped off the quadrant you are cleaver at devising camp for a while. But after accessories, they will become rival briefly using the inventors,andsoon. emergency steering tiller we managed to get the But don’t do too much of what should be cablesbackinplace.” done by the boys themselves, see that they do it – “when you want a thing done don’t do it At present the JML Rotary yourself” is the right motto. When it is Scout is sailing steadily in necessary to give orders, the secret for its class 2. Ocean racing obtaining obedience is to know exactly what can be dangerous and you want done and to express it very simply extremely challenging. and very clearly. If you add to the order an JML Rotary Scout expects explanation of the reason for it, it will be to take 25 days to reach carried out with greater willingness and much Rio and is stocked with greater intelligence. If you add to the order ample supplies for the and its explanation a smile, you will get it crew to survive over this carried out with enthusiasm – for remember, time. They have 360 litres “a smile will carry twice as far as a snarl.” of drinking water in the L-R:PeterBosch(Skipper),GrantChapman(Navigator),Virgilvan A pat on the back is stronger stimulus than main tank and 190 litres derHorst(2OceansDistrict),Chris Meier (2nd Plumstead Sea a prick with a pin. Expect a great deal of in the forward tanks. Scouts),MarcusFarnham(1st Mosselbay SeaScouts),LorraineLe yourboysandyouwillgenerallygetit. Furthermore they are Sueur (1stBenoniSeaScouts),CathleenHughes(1stFish Hoek carrying 200 litres of SeaScouts), Ashwyn Davis(1st Bergvliet SeaScouts) September1911 PROJECTNICARAGUA they visited 800 homes in the The third Patrol has realized that in order neighbourhood to collect data on how for adults to have a better life they need they used their water. They compiled all skills. So the Scouts with their parents the data and worked out with the city come on weekends to teach appliance government to create a brochure on how repair, baking, accounting and gardening, the community could work together to to strengthen the community. They have solve water issues. They then went back to eight older computers on which they the community and taught them how to teach kids and adults typing. Dan Ownby, Member of the World Scout better use the water. Committee and BP Fellow, visited Group 27 have approached a local paint Nicaragua and the Associations The second Patrol explained that they company to paint the Messenger of Peace Weekend – a wonderful event, full of started a new Scout Group in another part logo on the outside of their facility so the games, fun, and good Scouting. On the of Managua. They had arranged with the community can associate Scouting with way back through the city of Managua he church to supply food so they could feed the positive things that are happening. visited a number of Scout Groups. Saturday lunch to local children at the There are no newspaper articles and no He was most impressed when he visited meeting place each week. The Scouts fanfare to celebrate the achievements of Group 27, a group of about 35 Scouts in could play games for hundreds in a safe these three Scout Patrols of Group 27, but three Patrols. They meet in an enclosed environment. The programme has been for Dan, and for all of us, this is the true courtyard of a Catholic Church. One Patrol so successful that a “splinter” groups now spirit of the Messenger of Peace of seven Scouts, explained to Dan how meets on Sundays. programme.

Continuedfrompage1. A QUOTETOLIVEBY... NELSONMANDELA I learned that courage was not the absence of If you talk to a man in a language he fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is understands, that goes to his head. If you talk Madiba valued education and not he who does not feel afraid, but he who tohiminhislanguage,thatgoestohisheart. recognised it as the vehicle for the conquersthatfear. NelsonMandela advancement of the people of Africa. NelsonMandela He also never wavered in his devotion There can be no keener revelation of a to democracy and equality as he A good head and a good heart are always a society's soul than the way in which it treats its remained steadfast and true to his formidablecombination. children. beliefs. His life has been an inspiration NelsonMandela NelsonMandela to all who were and are still oppressed and deprived. SCOUTS South Africa Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so We must use time wisely and forever realise recognises and praises this gloriousahumanachievement. thatthetimeisalwaysripetodoright. commitmenttohumanity. NelsonMandela NelsonMandela

ISITNOWTIMETOSHOUT“FIRE”? For so long, we in Scouting have been have always called that “Conservation”, tried to access. What came up was a encouraging our Scouters, Scouts and and we have been and are pretty good at report by Chris Chatteris SJ on this very Cubs to become aware and take action conveying that. subject, and how this most crucial matter against what is happening to our “Space is being played down by the 1% of earth’s We go from day to day reading, hearing Vehicle” EARTH, the only vehicle we have, people that produce 50% of pollution that as far as Global Warming is concerned - or and experiencing personally, what is happening to our overpopulated earth. results in Global Warming. Again I is it Climate Change, a less frightening requested access to Dr Anderson’s phrase concocted by oil company spin What are we actually DOING about it? conclusions. “The page you are trying to doctors, to make their activities more Sure,yousay,Ipassitontomy reach does not exist, or has been moved.” acceptable to the man in the street?. Scouts/Cubs when we are in camp. I don’t Who must I believe. A concerned and litter, in fact we go out on litter collecting Right from the Movement’s beginning we respected cleric, or the 1% who are activities, I plant trees, I use my motor constantly downplaying their actions? have had Scout Law 6 – “A Scout is a friend vehicle as little as possible to limit to animals.” From that, B-P did not only emissions, I switch off my geyser and use I am of the opinion that if we – World mean you to pat a dog or cat in the head. as little electricity as I can, etc. etc. Good Scouting, do not now shout “Fire in the He meant that we should care for for you, a true Scout! everything that affects the lives of animals theatre!” to show our utmost concern, so in our world and I suppose we must Recently I came across bit.ly/QXxhKS a many of the world’s future population are include the human animal as well. We report by Dr Anderson on this subject, and going to be badly burnt.

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