Elma Park resident makes a difference through Scout project

With her community service project for her Springbok Scout Award almost at an end, Elma Park resident and Third Kensington Sea Scout Caitlynn Switala thanked the community for their support and spoke to the NEWS about the project’s journey.

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Although she has worked towards attaining her Springbok Award since she was 11 years old, 17-year-old Caitlynn said she started working on her service project in June.

When finished, Caitlynn will have completed 40 hours of community service. When the NEWS spoke to her on November 11, she had completed 29 hours. Caitlynn said so far, the project has been successful.

Dipuo Tekana, manager of the trust, said the staff and volunteers are grateful for Caitlynn’s assistance.

“It means a lot when the community assists us, we appreciate it,” said Dipuo.

Initially, Caitlynn set out to form knitting circles at the old age homes and donate what was created to Khanyisa Soup Kitchen; however, her plan changed due to Covid-19.

“I ended up asking residents in my area to donate food and clothes,” said Caitlynn.

She thanked Elphin Lodge, the Elma Park community and Checkers Hyper Meadowdale for their assistance and donations.

“I chose this type of project because every day I drove to school, I noticed more and more people begging for food and asking for jobs,” explained Caitlynn.

Wanting to assist, Caitlynn started donating food and winter clothing to the soup kitchen.

“With the help of the community, I have donated 11 boxes of clothes, 12 litres of soup and nine boxes of food.”

Caitlynn said the most rewarding part of the project has been seeing how people react and feel when they receive donations.

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She said on one occasion while waiting for the soup kitchen to open so she could deliver soup, she was approached by a homeless man who asked her for R5 to buy bread.

“I gave him the R5, a bag of mixed vegetables and a bag of rice and asked if he could use it. He said most definitely. I then gave him a jacket and a blanket and his face lit up.”

While progressing towards her Springbok Award, Caitlynn has had many memorable moments.

She said learning new skills, completing badges with friends and inviting a paramedic to talk to the scout troop were very memorable moments in her journey.

“I would say Springbok camp was one of my favourites, as it was over the weekend of Halloween. Everyone sounded like they were having a good time,” said Caitlynn.

“I also invited a few people from other troops, and seeing the Scouts get to know each other and become friends was one of the best things.”

Along her journey, one of Caitlynn’s tasks was to learn more about a religion different to her own.
Choosing Judaism, she was invited to a Jewish dinner which she thoroughly enjoyed.

“I met amazing people. They were so kind and friendly and answered every question I had. For me, the whole diner was memorable, as they taught their beliefs and took me in as if they had known me their whole life.”

Although the pandemic has created some challenges, Caitlynn said she takes it one step at a time.

When faced with obstacles created by Covid-19, she thinks of and comes up with a new solution that is Covid-friendly.

As Caitlynn finishes her service project at the soup kitchen, she hopes to create 250 Christmas Care Packages for the beneficiaries of Khanyisa Trust.

Dipuo said the Christmas parcels will be handed out to the beneficiaries of the trust while it is closed for the festive season.

Items that can be donated towards the care packages include deodorant, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, facecloth, tinned food, a packet of sweets, biscuits, a bottle of water or juice, hand sanitiser, blankets and a shoebox.
To assist with the care parcels, email Caitlynn at caitlynnswitala@gmail.com before December 9.

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