This Youth Month, we celebrate young people who are stepping up, serving their communities, and becoming leaders for life. For Free State Rover and Regional Rover Advisory Council (RAC) Chair, Somangayesonkembusowenkosi Mbutye, Scouting has been part of that journey since he first joined as a Cub with the Saint Patrick’s Scout Group in 2009.

Somangayesonkembusowenkosi, better known as Soma, started Scouting by simply joining in the fun. “There was an activity happening at the Group. I decided to join them and that’s when I realised that Scouting is actually fun,” explains Soma.

What started as curiosity quickly became a journey of growth and fun outdoor adventure. “I still remember my very first camp. It was a very exciting learning camp. One of the most exciting moments was to be out on a hill and learn about different animals. Even though I was a Cub at the camp, I became a judge when the Scouts were cooking,” he laughs.

These experiences stayed with him as he moved up to Scouts, where Scouting helped him grow in confidence and leadership. “Scouting helped me so much with my leadership skills through leading people both old and young. When there was something I wasn’t sure about, I did it anyway. Like for example completing certain badges wasn’t easy because there wasn’t really any background or guidance available, but I was able to push and by pushing myself I got the badges as planned.That boosted my self-esteem and helped me be able to engage with many people,” he continues.

“Looking back at my journey, having Patrol Leaders and adult volunteers who led by example and lived the Scout Promise and Law made a real difference. They were very important because we were able to get good role models through them and were able to understand Scouting and all that is expected from us. I would like to thank them for making me the leader I am today. I have many memories, to be honest, and they are all the best, but one best memory is the first Rover camp in the Free State.”

Now a Rover with 1st Mangaung Rover Crew, Soma serves as the Free State Rover Advisory Council (RAC) Chair, where service to others is central to what he does. “The motto of the Rovers is to be of service,” he says, and in the Free State that service takes many forms. Outreach projects include cleaning the streets, giving back to the community through donation drives of goods and clothing, and by helping our fellow young ones by teaching them Scouting and Cubbing. Being part of the Scout Movement is very important because it helps us not to be involved in the wrong things. It helps us improve our communities in many ways and guides young people to do a good turn and to create a better place and world for all of us.“

National PTTC training with fellow youth

As a Rover, he believes the programme becomes especially important when young people finish school and begin navigating adulthood. “It’s a very important stage because it builds you emotionally and physically. It gives you another perspective on life and how you can tackle certain things. It also builds your leadership knowledge and skills. I would not be where I am without Scouting. It gave me more than I thought. All the teaching, skills, motivation, and leadership made me who I am today.”

For Soma, what gives Scouting an edge over other youth opportunities is the way it teaches practical skills for life. “By learning something that you can do outside of Scouting. You learn things that you thought didn’t matter, but they actually do matter. You create something big from that small thing.”

Outside of Scouting his time is spent at church, exploring life, and learning. But his confidence, ability to engage with people, and leadership skills are driving his dreams. “My dreams for the future are to get a stable job and to continue doing my best in Scouting in all ways. I know I will reach these dreams with the purple veins of Scouting.”