Germany learning curve for 14 pupils
FOURTEEN Grade 8 and 9 Worcester pupils were given a send-off by the Cape Winelands District Municipality this week before they flew to Germany for a two-week development tour.
The pupils, and two tour leaders from the municipality, are being hosted by the Landesverband Kinder- und Jugenderholungszentren Sachsen- Anhalt e. V. Kieze organisation in Germany.
The tour, which includes sport events, leadership training, educational programmes and outdoor activities such as hiking, is funded by the organisation, the district municipality and pupils.Children from around the world will be joining the Worcester pupils on the tour, which, in addition to providing entertainment and training, is aimed at creating awareness of the challenges children face, and improving their living conditions.Before the pupils left for Germany, Cape Winelands District Municipality Mayor Helena von Schlicht told them that travel “remains the best teacher”.
“I am proud to send you to represent our country and dis- The pupils from Worcester will, among other things, explore the countryside in Germany during their two-week development tour, one of the aims of which is to prepare them to become committed members of society.
trict on an international platform, and I also know that you will return with new inspiration and ideas,” she said.
“Words from Confucius summarise the importance of your future: ‘If your plan is
for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for 10 years, plant trees. If your plan is for a hundred years, educate children’.
“This trip is about education, leadership development and the promotion of our
youth.”
The development tour was in line with the municipality’s vision to build a sustainable economy for the future, she said.
The male and female pupils
who went on the tour were selected by their schools.
During the tour they will visit various institutions and government bodies, with the aim of contributing to the building of ties between
pupils from across the world. The programme also strives to prepare young people for active, committed participation in society, and motivates them to take responsibility for their actions.