You don’t need to be a big Scout Troop to make a difference as the 1^st Belvedere Scouts have proven once again. This newly formed Scout Troop has been giving back to their community throughout the month of July. “We wanted to do a service project during the holidays that would help children,” explains Troop Scouter Ubayd Bapoo.

“After hearing about an organisation called the Muslim Professional Network who gives back to people in need, we decided to partner with them and help out. Our first project together was the Colleen’s Children’s Home in Mitchell’s Plain. Our Scouts played with the children in the home and handed out a food parcel that will help the home feed the children living there for the month to come. It was so uplifting for all of us to be able to give back to the children in the home as it opened the eyes of our Scouts and their parents to how they can make a big difference in the lives of other no matter how small of a Troop we are. We will be doing more projects with the Home in the future”.

A second project –Mandela Day imitative – the Troop undertook was to put together “Fipra parcels”, which is traditionally done during Ramadan. “These parcels of food are given to people in the community who are struggling,” he explains. “Our Scouts helped the members of the Network pack the parcels and then handed them out to several families. Some of our parents were really touched by the service projects we have been doing. They feel that through the Scouting Movement their children are learning about being of service and giving back. No matter how small the gesture, it teaches children from a young age to support those in need.”

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