The annual Scholars’ Development Camp for Grade 8 and 9 Scholars took place from 27 – 30 June this year. The intention for this camp is to foster an understanding of the Foundation’s Five Pillars – Achievement Excellence, Courageous Commitment, Intellectual Imagination, Spirit of Significance and Personal Initiative – and how they can be lived out.
The camp comprised numerous activities that ranged from inspiring speakers to learning activities that challenged the Scholars’ existing study methods and their engagement with and understanding of greater society. A highlight of the camp was an adventure race that sparked more than a little competitiveness among the Scholars.
The Director of Cape Winelands Education District, Mr Juan Benjamin, gave the opening address and encouraged the Scholars with the following message, “All we want you to do is to know that you are great and, most importantly, believe that you are great.” Following this was a presentation by the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute at Stellenbosch University. The Institute presented the body of work of Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert’s fight against apartheid and this provided an example of living out the Foundation’s Pillar, the Spirit of Significance.
Graeme de Bruyn, the Foundation’s Head of Programmes, and Uhuru Malebo, Allan Gray Fellow, each had an opportunity to address the Scholars. Graeme’s session centred on the Foundation Pillar Personal Initiative and Uhuru motivated the Scholars through his life story to strive for Achievement Excellence by not becoming comfortable with good enough but aspiring instead to be the best they can be.
Scholars’ study methods were broadened with a different approach to studying through “Whole Brain Learning”. Entrepreneurial Leadership Officer for the Fellowship, Daniel Hampton, facilitated an Ignitions session which aimed to encourage Scholars to think entrepreneurially. The Scholars excelled in this activity. Their vibrant presentations were full of out-of-the-box thinking that had the Scholarship Team brimming with pride.
An Amazing Race, organised in conjunction with Stellenbosch University, allowed Scholars to familiarise themselves with the various Faculties at Stellenbosch University which the Fellowship opportunity supports. This fun-filled exploration of Stellenbosch campus not only saw Scholars competing to finish first but also saw them displaying great teamwork and resourcefulness. The Scholars once again revealed great potential and and talent, giving us a glimpse of the potential they hold to shape the future.
