Capricorn Primary Learners experience Pride of Table Mountain

On Saturday, June 18, a group of grade 5 and 6 learners from Capricorn Primary School in Cape Town took part in a Pride of Table Mountain hike. The weather played its part with a warm winter’s day without a breath of wind. On arriving, the young learners from Capricorn were eager to get started, full of energy and enthusiasm for the hike.
Although most of the learners live in Cape Town, very few had seen Table Mountain up close, and none of them had ever climbed the iconic landmark. This lack of wilderness experience is what led to the development of the Pride Projects throughout South Africa.
Managed and co-ordinated by the Wilderness Foundation, the Pride Projects help to fulfil the need for an environmental education outreach programme among disadvantaged youth from urban and rural areas. The hands-on experience that the learners receive, and the knowledge that is passed on to them during the hike, helps to instil a sense of pride and responsibility in their natural heritage.
The Pride of Table Mountain project is overseen by passionate environmentalists and wilderness experts, Ian and Sharon McCallum together with their team of voluntary guides.
“Believing as we do that natural areas relate to people's sense of humanity, our objective is to give people a sense of place in the world beyond degraded townships and urban areas,” says Sharon McCallum. “The key objective of the programme is to empower youth leaders to lead the trails, initiate the discussions and be role models. These volunteers have become the heart of the project. During the course of the trail, the young trail guides / leaders highlight environmental and conservation issues.”
The skilled trail guides discuss topics such as the importance of indigenous vegetation, the destructive impact of pollution and erosion and the value of clean water in a water-scarce country.
The trail guides are all voluntary, and are drawn from the surrounding communities and previously disadvantaged backgrounds. They are trained in guiding, safety and environmental issues by the Wilderness Foundation.
Since its inception in 1996, the Pride project has reached out to over 20,000 youth throughout South Africa, educating them on the importance of protecting and enjoying their natural heritage. Pride Projects have been established in the Groendal, Boschberg and Stainbank Nature Reserves. Hikes to Table Mountain take place every second Saturday throughout the year.
The majority of the project (70%) is funded through the sale of branded spring water through Woolworths, which carries the Wilderness Foundation logo.
Further funding is gathered from the support of various schools and private enterprises that are passionate about the project.
The Pride of Table Mountain Project in South Africa has been a consistent, yet dynamic success story. Winner of the “Cape Times Centenary Conservation Award” in 1998, the Green Trust – “Business in Action” Award in June 2002, 2004 – “Cape Times Caltex Environmental” award for the individual youth category and in 2005 - The Cape Times “Caltex Enviro Award” – category education and raising public awareness.
Seventy youth volunteers have been trained as trail leaders, many of whom are now in full time employment as a direct result of their personal development and leadership training.

For more information on the Pride Projects, visit the Wilderness Foundation Website.

Following the hike, the learners wrote letters of appreciation to the Pride of Table Mountain team:
“We had a lovely time. The gum tree was the best, because a person could eat the gum. I loved the water-fall, it was beautiful. I never new about fynbos, it grows only in the West Cape. We heard lots of interesting things like fynboss, gum tree, water-falls and silver trees. We enjoyed it alot. Thank You! God Bless!” From Cleo.

“I Jeanine Khumalo from Capricorn Primary School. Just want to say thank you for everything. I really enjoyed my self. But I got tired when we started to walk. I never got a chance to go on Table Mountain. But on the 18 of June I got the chance to go to Table Mountain. And it wasn't bad at all at the end of the day. I enjoyed myself and had fun. I didn't know about the silver tree and the gum tree. Thank you ver much. I hope we can come again. May God bless you guys and keep you in thy care.” From Jeanine Khumalo

“We enjoy hiking. You made us to stop littering and told us how plants and trees are emportant to us. The silver tree when the sun shines on the tree the hairs lay down then when it rains the hairs stand up.” From Lisakhanya.

“Just want to say thank you for a wonderful time. It was my very first time on Table Mountain and I had learnt alot about our maintain. Although my legs is tired I am glad to knew that blind people can also hike and thank you very much for teaching us about our very own Table Mountain.” From Bevan

“I would like to give this poem for everyone at the Table Mountain: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. You are the one who taught me how to take that single step.” From Mwana.