Roxanne Willemse joins our SSA Youth Influencers in the Eastern Cape South Region. Roxanne will be promoting community service, environmental conservation, Leaping Wolf, Springbok and BP Award initiatives from members in her Region.
If you have implemented a service project or would like to share how Scouting impacted your life, send an email to pr@scouts.org.za and one of our influencers or Regional Marketing Reps will be in touch! #youth #creatingabetterworld
I am Roxanne Willemse, a Rover Squire at 1st Walmer Rovers in Gqeberha, South Africa. I joined the Scout Movement when my family moved from Johannesburg to Gqeberha in 2011. I was a Cub at Humewood and Algoa Sea Scouts, then I became a Scout at 1st Walmer Scouts.
I have had many great moments in Scouting but I’ve had the most fun during community service projects. Community service projects provide such a great opportunity for genuine human connection and emotional development, while also being full of fun because you are surrounded by friends and are making new friends. I also really enjoy the outdoor activities that are a part of Scouting. I have fond memories of building rafts to race on a lake and going on plenty of hikes in nature.
Community service projects provide such a great opportunity for genuine human connection and emotional development
Hiking challenged me when I was younger because I, like many young girls, felt insecure about my body. The exercise of hiking exasperated my fears of being too fat or too unfit. However, Scouting provided a safe and supportive community of friends and leaders who challenged me to face my insecurities. With the help of my fellow Scouts, I have learnt to be more appreciative rather than critical of my body, because it is what supports me in whatever adventures I go on. Scouting has made me more confident in myself.
I joined because my mother felt that it would help me by teaching me practical skills, fostering a connection to nature, and exposing me to different people, which would teach me the value of diversity. I stayed because I found friends and learned skills that I never would have met or learnt otherwise. In Scouting, I found a community that supports me to reach my potential and I had plenty of fun. Scouting has opened doors for me to make a change in my community by connecting me with other people that are passionate about helping and serving people too.
I love Scouting! It has changed my life for the better by helping me develop confidence in myself, and I hope to help develop that same confidence in younger Scouts by supporting them.
#scoutssouthafrica #YouthDevelopment #WomenEmpowerment #EmpoweringGirls #SelfConfidence #PersonalGrowth #SDG5 #GenderEquality #Scouts4SDGs #YouthLeadership #leadingbyexample #Skills4Life
