At just 10 years old, 1st Muizenberg Sea Cub Grace Klotz-Gleave taught her peers to loom knit and inspired her community to get involved and give back to premature babies at the Mowbray Maternity Hospital.

Grace’s Scouting journey began when she was just five years old, as one of the very first Meerkats at 1st Muizenberg. “I love the fun activities we do and the things we learn. I also enjoy spending time with my Cub friends. Completing badges is a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the Cooking badge, and I’ll always remember doing my Open Water Swimmers badge at Silvermine on a very cold and misty day. It was a real challenge but such fun!” she says excitedly.

Now working towards her Leaping Wolf badge, Grace’s Personal Challenge project has demonstrated exactly what Scouting is all about: learning by doing, helping others, and making a positive impact in the community.

“I love crafting and my mom crochets us beanies every winter,” continues Grace. “My favourite teacher at school is also the Interact teacher and she does a loom beanie knitting project every year. That’s where the idea came from, to do a project of my own. My mom goes to a craft group and there is a nurse who works at the Mowbray Maternity Hospital. My mom came home and told me about the preemie babies and how nearly 1000 babies are born there each month and so it seemed like it was a perfect fit for my project. My mom showed me the basics of how to knit with a loom and then I watched some YouTube videos. It wasn’t that hard. Once you get the idea, it’s actually very easy and goes quickly!”

Recognising the potential impact her project could have, she raised funds to purchase looms and wool, then began teaching others how to knit too. “It was a lot of fun and a different thing to do. So, when my friends showed an interest, it made sense to teach as many people as I knew.

The hardest part of the project was teaching adults to loom. It was a little scary at first but thankfully my mom was there to help, and the first group I taught was a lovely group of ladies. Some of them even came with their children and so I taught them as well! They were very encouraging and supportive and have donated many beanies to my project since then,” she explains.

That support quickly spread. Cubs, Scouts, parents, and community members joined the initiative. Before long, what began as one Cub’s Personal Challenge had become a community-wide service project. “It was so cool and very unexpected. My mom kept showing me pictures of Scouts and parents looming at various events and it was so nice to see.”

For Grace’s mom and Scouting volunteer, Candice Klotz-Gleave, watching the project unfold has been an inspiring experience. “We are a very service-oriented family, and giving back to our community has always been an important part of our lives. As a member of Rotary and an Assistant Pack Scouter, I have always tried to instil the value of community service in our children. What made this experience so special was seeing that Grace shares that same passion and drive to serve others. Watching her take ownership of the project and commit herself to helping others made me immensely proud,” says Candice.

What also impressed her was seeing Grace step outside of her comfort zone. “As someone who is naturally quite shy around unfamiliar people, seeing her teach adults, engage with people she had never met before, and confidently share her knowledge was incredibly special. Watching her grow and discover what she is capable of has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. I also believe she has gained a great deal of confidence in herself and in her ability to make a positive difference. Through this experience, she has learned that community is very important as many people are willing to help others. She has also seen that even small actions can have a meaningful impact and that she has the power to create positive change in the lives of others.

Experiences like this highlight the true value of Scouting. Scouting is about so much more than the practical skills young people learn along the way. It’s about community, working with others, building relationships, and being part of something bigger than yourself. The lessons learned extend far beyond any badge or achievement,” Candice adds.

For Grace, knowing that her project helps tiny babies stay warm is very meaningful. “It is so awesome and very special,” she grins. “When I saw how tiny some of the babies were, I was very surprised. The beanies are so small and cute!” So, what is Grace’s advice to her peers who want to make a difference? “DO IT! Even though it might seem scary, it’s worth it. Make it fun, include as many people as possible, and make sure it’s something you are keen on doing.”

Leadership doesn’t depend on age, even the smallest hands can make a very big difference!