IMPACT
impact

Building new friendships

Workcamp volunteers in Carnarvon

The National Park workcamp was led by two volunteers who participated in last year's camp. We envisage that all our workcamps should be led by volunteers in future.

The National Park workcamp worked with a group of students from Ukhanyo Primary School in Masiphumelele for the second time. The principal said that she very much welcomed the contact between the students and the workcamp, as the students enjoy it very much.

One volunteer said:
"It's been really important in making me understand the differences and similarities between people from different countries."

Another volunteer said it had been a life experience.
"I've met new friends who I now know something about. That's worth much more than the tourism most people do."

The volunteer also said that she learnt "some Japanese words and the knowledge that Africa isn't just Africa; there is more than one African culture, there are lots of different ones."

The False Bay Echo reported:
"Members of the Red Hill team, who are residents of Red Hill Informal Settlement, valued the opportunity of interacting with people from different countries."

Bonani Yekani from Red Hill said:
"It was the first time I have met and talked to people from overseas, and it was very interesting for me. I am very glad this has happened."

Another member, Benjamin Mase, agreed.
"I liked meeting and working with people from other countries very much."

Four volunteers from our first workcamp in September 1998 participated again this year. Two of them together led the National Park workcamp and two participated in the workcamp leadership training seminar in November. We envisage that all our workcamps are led by volunteers who have undergone training in workcamp leadership. This is a challenging activity for young people that gives a great deal of opportunity for personal growth.

Local volunteers in Carnarvon said they very much enjoyed working with a group of international volunteers. Before the workcamp arrived in Carnarvon, the Uniting Reformed Church was unable to find volunteers to renovate the house which had belonged to the first

missionary who came to the town in the 1800s. When the workcamp was introduced during church service after their arrival, many local volunteers then came forward and worked alongside the workcamp for the whole time.