At Christel House South Africa there is no shortage of projects which aim to develop the learners’ leadership skills to prepare them well for the big, challenging world out there.
The school recently undertook such a project when 62 Grade Seven students, along with four teachers packed their bags and headed for the leadership camp called High Noon, a centre built by Bishops Diocesan College and situated near Villiersdorp in the Western Cape.
According to Midge Hilton-Greene, former headmaster of Bishops Preparatory and now the junior school principal for Christel House, Bishops sponsored the use of the facilities as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.
“The key objective of the camp was to get all of the Grade Seven learners, as the senior students of the junior school, together in order to build team spirit and to provide them with leadership and business tutorials. The aim was to help them develop their leadership abilities,” said Midge.
During the weekend they spent on the camp, learners participated in several workshops, including gaining insights into the type of skills companies today look for in new recruits. They were given a tutorial on entrepreneurship and asked to come up with ideas for a long-term entrepreneurship project, which will see each child develop a business idea and implement a business plan. Teachers also discussed with them South Africa’s unemployment statistics to show the status of employment in the country and the importance of a good education.
“We were taught the importance of discipline and what we need to do to get ahead,” said one Grade Seven learner, Jolene Damons.
The camp was also not just about hard work. During the course of their stay, learners also swam, took hikes and competed against each other in outdoor activities. Keith Griffiths, the coordinator for the Bishops Wildlife Club was also there to assist the learners in the many activities they took part in and to help them see the value in working as a team.
Midge commented that the camp formed part of the much bigger vision that Christel House has when it comes to developing youth.
“This camp was part and parcel of introducing, more formally, the vitally important ‘soft skills’ that will complement academic results and ensure that our learners will be able to achieve success in the working world. Leadership is one of the most critical skills young children can learn. Added to that we also aim to teach them skills like problem solving, time management, critical thinking, self assessment, goal setting and forward planning,” he said.
“All the projects and leadership exercises we do revolve around the four Christel House Values - respect, independence, responsibility and Integrity. Our aim is to build character and to produce well-rounded, passionate, socially responsible, employable adults,” added Midge.
Grade Seven learner, Gugu Ncapayi said that for her the camp was a brilliant experience. “I have learnt that anything is possible and that even I can become a millionaire with the right approach! I also realised that in the outside world Christel House won’t always be there, we have to take what we have learnt and find our own way in the world,” she said.
Midge concluded that, with the holistic teachings of Christel House, he is confident that learners will be more than prepared to take on that world all by themselves.
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