Most young girls dream of becoming a princess hosting fancy tea parties. Janellè de Swart is the exact opposite.
The 12-year-old Janellè is no ordinary young girl. She can fish, cook and set up an entire campsite on her own. She is a top class Scout, who has already achieved much in life.
At the age of seven, Janellè’s mother introduced her to the idea of joining Newcastle Scouts, and she has embraced and enjoyed every moment of it ever since.
“I was very interested in the Scouts and definitely wanted to know more about it,” Janellè said.
In the five years she has been a Scout, she can proudly say she is a top Scout, who started as a cub and has worked her way up. She has earned many badges for excelling in dancing, cooking, survival, art, first aid and fishing.
Even though she was still very young, being a Scout had already made her be a better person, she maintained.
“Being a Scout has taught me respect, discipline and many life skills, and I can cook,” she said with a giggle.
She also claimed being a Scout was beneficial to her as a school pupil as well, because on school trips she always knew what to do in different circumstances.
Janellè’s seven-year-old sister, Janica, is slowly following in her big sister’s footsteps, on her way to becoming a top Scout herself one day.
Janellè says she will never give up being a Scout or change it for anything.