Motivated to make positive changes
Internationally recognised speaker, author and entrepreneurial coach, Nico de Klerk, felt "overwhelmed" after his "indescribable" walk from Mossel Bay to Jongensfontein with social innovators from overseas and young leaders being mentored by his Be a Nelson movement.
The Be a Nelson movement encourages young people to adopt the attributes of Nelson Mandela.
There was a group of walkers from all over South Africa - his protégés in the Be a Nelson movement and a group of social innovators from overseas, who are part of the MasterPeace initiative.
MasterPeace walks have taken place in Kenya and Nepal before, but this is the first MasterPeace walk in South Africa. The MasterPeace walks are about self knowledge and spiritual and cultural development.
Inspire and motivate
The MasterPeace walkers were there to inspire and motivate the young leaders to be social innovators too. They were from Poland, Switzerland, The Netherlands,
Portugal, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and United States.
"It was an extraordinary experience," Dr De Klerk (PhD) said. The walkers bonded right from the start. He was extremely impressed with the Be a Nelson group and how they gave their all. "I know them all personally."
He did not have to manage the group. It was as if everything fell into place naturally, he enthused.
Deep dialogue
De Klerk said the dialogue about South Africa was deep. It was extremely valuable to have input from people from overseas who have good intentions.
He said it was an intense experience. South Africa needed healing systemically. This was one of the key takeaways of the experience, De Klerk noted. There was a lot to celebrate, but a lot that needed serious attention in the country.
The group set off from Cecil Shepherd Street on the St Blaize trail to Pinnacle Point on the first day of the walk on
Saturday, 9 March.
De Klerk, the Be a Nelson walkers and the overseas contingent met Mossel Bay mayor Dirk Kotzé before they left.
Mossel Bay resident Dr Gerrie van Deventer (PhD), who is the Pilgrimage of Hope coordinator in the Mossel Bay area, accompanied the group from Mossel Bay to Jongensfontein.
Pilgrimage of Hope
Van Deventer coordinates Pilgrimage of Hope walks including the one from the St Blaize Lighthouse to Agulhas. This is called the Lighthouse Pilgrimage of Hope walk.
The walkers and the mayor met at Van Deventer's home before the walkers set off for Pinnacle Point.
Each of the Be a Nelson protégés introduced themselves and said a few words before Kotzé gave them some words of encouragement.
Van Deventer said after the walk to Jongensfontein: "There was good interaction and sharing. It was a meaningful walk for peace." He said the overseas visitors were flying home on Thursday (yesterday) and taking memories of unforgettable experiences with them.
De Klerk wrote the book, No fit: My 1,700mile Walk from Apartheid, which tells the story of his walk from Pretoria to Cape Town in 2018, through more than 100 townships, giving workshops.