At the 21st World Scout Jamboree -
Sandile Tshabalala

Two hundred South African scouts were expected at the 21st World Scout Jamboree. Each province had to select 20 young, active scouts and fortunately I was one of the eight scouts from Mpumalanga to join the South African contingent.

On 19 July 2007 we flew with Egypt Air via Egypt to Holland. It was my first time in a plane it was amazing, although I was a bit nervous. We arrived in Egypt at 06:40 and had to wait for our next flight to Holland for four hours. We arrived in Amsterdam at Schiphol Airport at 14:00 and it was raining. We had a very warm welcome from the area scout commissioner of the scouts in Holland.

We went to the scout campsite and the next day we went for home hospitality. I went with Dutch Hazeveld family. They were so open, Christian and they were planning to go to South Africa for their holidays. I went to historical places, such as the famous windmills and palaces. I found Amsterdam a very different place compared to South Africa but then I felt very proud be a South African because of the nature our environment, humility and ubuntu.

We spent a week in Holland and then went to England for the jamboree. Arriving at the campsite at night, we had to pitch our tents in the dark. The next day we went to Gill Well’s Park where the founder of scouting, Lord Baden-Powel, used to have a house. This wonderful park has lots of obstacle courses and adventure activities and can facilitate more than two thousand people.

That evening we had the official opening ceremony. I got the opportunity to meet Prince William who just wanted to know more about South Africa. More than 40 000 scouts from 158 different countries attended! I met different people, learnt about their cultures and traditions and looked at the future of scouting. Imagine a place where you can walk around and say "hello" to people from over 158 different countries - where they'll smile and say "hello" back to you. That’s what the jamboree was like.

We really shared “One World One Promise”. Baden Powel said: “Leave the world better than you find it”. The jamboree was for one and a half weeks, but it seems as though it was only three days long … we didn’t want it to end and we didn’t feel like going home!

After the jamboree we went to London for a three-day tour, seeing the London Eye, London Bridge and Big Ben on an open bus - it was marvellous. I went alone to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre where I discovered interesting new facts about literature. Then sadly we had to pack for our return flight to South Africa.

This tour was a lifetime opportunity. Thank you to everyone who made it possible, including my family and especially my school, Uplands College. I am very proud to be an Uplander! I also want to thank God for making the trip possible. Without His grace I would not have been able to go and for His protection in the plane, in Holland and in England.

"Be Prepared"