Human movement students host leadership camp for pupils
About 30 prefects from Hillcrest Primary School in Helenvale were overjoyed by the opportunity to attend a leadership camp, arranged by thirdyear human movement science students at Nelson Mandela University on Friday.
Lecturer Prof Cheryl Walter said the daylong camp was arranged by her students who specialise in sport management and sports recreation, after they were contacted by the school.
“We never say no to a request such as this,” she said.
“The students embraced the camp wholeheartedly and have done all the arrangements.
“This event would form part of the students’ experiential learning.
“I have a special bond with Hillcrest as they were part of our DASH programme [disease, activity and schoolchildren’s health] many years ago.
“In their first lecture, I told the students we have received this request and the planning started.”
Walter said it was ideal to bring the pupils to the campus.
“We wanted the university environment to serve as an inspiration to them.
“We just asked the school to get them here and we would take care of everything else,” she said.
“They were taken on a campus tour before the programme.
“We want them to know there is a future out there and we hope some of them will one day come to the university to study.
“And they must go back feeling inspired.”
And that is exactly what 13-year-old Alicia Hoffman intends to do.
“It is very exciting to be here. I feel good. I hope to study here one day,” the aspiring medical doctor said.
Third-year student Nicole Weideman said the class of 17 students immediately sprang into action after they got the assignment three weeks ago.
“Our idea was to provide lunch, party packets and a guest speaker, Athi Mayinje,” she said.
“He is a professional rugby player, does a lot of community work and knows a lot about leadership.
“He also studied at NMU. “His focus for the camp is creating a vision board, team building, honesty, communication and what makes a good leader.”
Weideman said it was a privilege to plan the event with her classmates.
“We could not do it alone. “We had sponsors such as
SPAR Summerbreeze and Oros, and we’ve baked and made sandwiches for breakfast.”
Her classmate, Zellwarn Reeners, agreed that the planning was rewarding.
“It gives me a sense of accomplishment.
“It is something new for us as our first two years of study were in two years of Covid-19 lockdown.
“So, we do not know each other as well as if we had a different start to our academic journey.
“This project brought us together.”
Three parents of grade 7 pupils accompanied the group to the university.
“We are grateful for this opportunity.
“They can now see what is beyond the area where they live,” Mildred Joseph said.
“I hope this experience broadens their horizons.”