Supplied by Yolande Young

Four Table Bay Scout Groups united with local NGO Rise Against Hunger Africa to turn service into skills, teamwork and 10,152 meals for children in need.

What started as an ambitious goal to pack 9,000 nutritious meals became an extraordinary evening of service when more than 60 Scouts, Adult Leaders, Rovers, parents, friends and family came together at 1st Table View Scout Hall. In just one hour and 15 minutes, an incredible 10,152 meals were packed and ready to go. For SCOUTS SA volunteer Yolandé Young, the achievement was about much more than reaching a number.

“It was amazing to see how quickly everyone came together and got into the rhythm of the evening. The energy in the hall was incredible, but what stood out for me most was seeing our Scouts realise that the work they were doing would have a direct impact on children they may never meet.”

Supplied by Yolande Young

The Rise Against Hunger Africa community meal packing event brought together Scouts from 1st Blaauwberg, 1st Bothasig, 1st Milnerton and host Group 1st Table View. Working alongside the Rise Against Hunger Africa team, volunteers measured ingredients, filled and sealed meal packs, labelled packages and prepared boxes for distribution.

“This was an important skills-development opportunity for young people”, continues Yolandé. “Scouting is about learning by doing. Our Scouts were not just packing meals. They were learning how to work as part of a team, communicate with one another, follow a process, take responsibility and work towards a shared goal.”

These practical experiences help young people develop skills that they can carry into their everyday lives, including teamwork, leadership, communication, responsibility, problem-solving and time management. The experience also demonstrated that leadership is not always about being the person in charge.

Supplied by Yolande Young

“Every person had a role to play, and every role was important,” says Yolandé. “The Scouts could see that when everyone does their part and works together, you can achieve something much bigger than you could on your own. This is at the heart of Scouting’s approach to youth development: creating opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop practical skills and become active citizens through meaningful experiences. The meals packed during the evening will be distributed through Rise Against Hunger Africa, enabling 44 children in underserved communities to receive a meal every school day for an entire academic year.

Seeing four Scout Groups unite in support of children they may never meet was a powerful reminder of what Scouting is all about,” Yolandé adds.