Philanthropy can start at any age.
On Saturday 16 February 11 learners from Worcester Gymnasium (WG), six learners from Wildia Environmental Empowerment and Development (WEED), a non-governmental organisation run by Willfred Pheifer, and members of both the Worcester and Cape Town branch of the Mountain Club of South Africa accompanied 10 learners from the Pioneer school for the blind on an adventurous journey in the Du Toitskloof mountains.
The group made base camp at a hut owned by the Cape Town branch of the Mountain Club. “From there, we went on two expeditions. Each learner with sight had to accompany a non-seeing member of the group and act as their ‘taxi’,” said the spokesperson of WG, Elzabé Morkel.
The first expedition was led by Lucille Krige, a member of the Cape Town branch and guru on all things that grow in the mountains. She identified plant species, explained their uses and dangers and generally made the flora come alive for both sighted and non-sighted.
“On our return, all members of the group had to prepare lunch, generously sponsored by the Worcester section of the Mountain Club of South Africa, with their eyes closed, in order to get a better understanding of the challenges that the blind face on a daily basis,” explained Morkel.
After lunch, the “taxis” and their passengers went on an off-road adventure, embarking on a 45-minute hike without an established trail. It was hilly and scratchy, but everyone made it back in one piece.
“We refuelled before cleaning and packing up. On our return, everyone was in agreement that it was the best way to truly spread the love. Everyone walked away from this hike with new insight, a renewed sense of thankfulness for what we are blessed with as well as a realisation that, with teamwork, there are no limits to what can be explored, achieved and seen,” said Morkel.
