Addressing leadership, skills training and education in South Africa

The Outward Bound Trust is applying an innovative and unique strategy to address the issue of leadership, skills training and education in South Africa – to empower young South Africans with the character, will, values and self-belief to live their lives to the full and to consistently make the right choices.

As one of the world’s leading international non-profit experiential education organisations, Outward Bound has the enviable reputation for the delivery of high-quality personal development, leadership, empowerment and intervention programmes for young people and youth at risk. It has an energetic and vibrant approach that focuses on outcomes-based learning through outdoor adventure activities.

Experiential education is founded on the premise that learning, behavioural change, personal development and growth occur through actual experiences. Students are mentally and physically challenged through outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, abseiling, rock climbing and water activities such as raft building. The purpose of these activities is to explore specific objectives as part of a comprehensive lesson plan.

Outward Bound’s education programmes are based on the principle that change occurs when people are placed outside their comfort zone and into a state of adaptive dissonance. In this state, they are challenged by the adaptations necessary to reach a new state of equilibrium; and are supported through this process by their facilitators and peers. Achieving these self-directed states produces lasting change and continued growth.

Experiential education is not a product of learning, but a process of learning – conducted under the correct circumstances. The key to this process is a facilitated review of each activity and objective, where students reflect on their experience, discuss the outcomes and explore the relevant application and transfer to their daily lives.

Outward Bound’s outcomes-based programmes are delivered by a unique, diverse and motivated team of highly trained professionals; they are the product of an intense and lengthy training programme, and make use of the natural challenges of nearby mountains, lakes and rivers to guide participants through powerful learning experiences. By combining challenging activities with positive reinforcement, encouragement and motivation, these facilitators are able to maximise the impact and transfer of the students’ learning experience.

The organisation offers holistic sustainable programme that focus on empowering youth with constructive alternatives, developing lifeskills, compassion and a determined, positive attitude.

In order to provide holistic sustainable programmes and maximise the impact and transfer back to communities, Outward Bound has developed strategic business partnerships with funders and other non-profits working within the demographics in which it attempts to effect change.

It is an ideal corporate social investment partner, as its programmes are in line with national priorities including youth at risk, offender reintegration, women’s empowerment, skills training and employment opportunities, intervention and diversion, and nation-building. It qualifies as a beneficiary under the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Codes of Good Practice and as a Section 21 non-profit organisation.

Outward Bound’s monitoring and evaluation tools ensure the transfer and outcomes of its programming are measurable and sustainable. It provides a comprehensive client and impact report, which includes detailed individual and group assessments, experience letters and photographs.

Safety is the backbone of the operation, and is ingrained in the culture at Outward Bound. It complies with world-class safety standards, which include regular international audits.

On 10 to 16 December, Outward Bound will be implementing a seven-day leadership programme with 28 students selected from two of its well-established non-profit partners: The Kusasa Project located in Franschhoek, and Teach 2 Fish based in Cape Town.

The Kusasa Project aims to stimulate aspirations in youth by promoting literacy and numeracy as well as through developing academic, sporting and social skills. By engaging children at a foundation age – in conjunction with educators, average residents of the area, community workers and parents – it seeks to improve essential core lifeskills and offers viable alternatives to the activities that can destroy a child’s future and the hope of a community.

Teach 2 Fish educates disadvantaged youth from the Khayeltisha and Philippi townships, enabling sustainable change in these areas through empowerment and leadership development.

This year’s leadership programme expands on the nation-building programme that Outward Bound has previously implemented among its students, which aims to redefine false perceptions and prejudice through developing mutual trust and respect; and attempting to integrate different communities, languages and cultures, and shift socio-economic paradigms.

The leadership programme is based on the premise that the foundation phase for good leadership is teamwork and communication. Groups are encouraged to overcome obstacles and solve problems, which demonstrates the importance of working together to achieve mutual goals.

They are encouraged to integrate, explore diversity and manage change through group work and achieving team goals. By focusing on teamwork, we develop a sense of community responsibility, and that leadership is integrated with community involvement.

Participants are afforded the opportunity to step into leadership roles, and the activities are structured to allow participants to explore different leadership styles. They are presented with problem-solving tasks that develop decision-making skills, and they are encouraged to experiment with different forms of leadership that will catalyse their own style and develop individual strengths.

History

Outward Bound started as a sea education school in Britain in 1941. Founder Kurt Hahn felt that young people were not prepared for the hardships of life. He saw their lack of enthusiasm, lack of care and skill, lack of adventurous spirit and lack of motivation. He knew that qualities such as perseverance, compassion, initiative, fitness and life experience were lacking.

Hahn started a school for young people, where they could experience adventure and hardships, learn to overcome challenges, and develop compassion through service to others.

Today, you can find more than 50 Outward Bound schools in 35 different countries, with access to cutting-edge research and methodologies.

Outward Bound South Africa was founded in 1992 in the aftermath of apartheid as a result of the visionary efforts of Charles P. Stetson, an American philanthropist from Connecticut, United States.

Today, its central focus is to impact the lives of South African young people who have been marginalised and disadvantaged by the political history and injustices of the past. It helps them develop lifeskills, compassion and a determined, positive attitude toward life and its many challenges.

Geographical areas of operation

Willow Point (Sedgefield) – Western Cape

Surrounded by massive lakes, petrified sand dunes, endless beaches, and the magnificent Outeniqua mountain range.

Lapalala – Limpopo

The Waterberg Lapalala Wilderness, with its endless vistas of mountains and bushveld, is one of the last remaining true wilderness areas in South Africa. At night, the only illumination to be seen is starlight. A gorge crossing is usually included in a course.

Grabouw – Western Cape

Situated in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, the picturesque mountains and rivers create the perfect setting for adventure education and team challenges. The variety of fauna and flora adds more beauty to this perfect wilderness setting.

Harrismith – Free State

Experience the majesty and serenity of Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, and explore the sandstone foothills of the Drakensberg.

Venterskroon – North West

Situated at the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, the world’s oldest and largest meteorite impact crater, enjoy rafting on the mighty Vaal River.

David Muir

Tel: 079 496 6266

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.outwardbound.co.za