Young scouts learn values of life

By Phares Mutembei

Lavender Lubanga is a courageous and confident girl. She is the scouts’ leader at Epren Academy in Donholm, Nairobi and also a class prefect.

"My duties include maintaining order in class and at the playground," says Lavender.

In scouting we are taught about safety measures to take to avoid injuries. We are also taught how to conduct first aid in case of minor injuries.

"As scouts, we are consistently taught important qualities of life such as discipline, respect for oneself and respect for others.

We are also taught to respect time. That means it is difficult to find a scout idling around, because we hate to waste time," says Lavender, the commander of scouts.

Recently, she and a group of other scouts went camping where they pitched their tents without help of adults.

"We do not need adults to prepare a campsite! We have been taught how to do it while respecting the environment and using resources wisely," she told us when we visited the camping sight.

The campsite the scouts had set up was impressively neat. Everything inside the tents was laid out immaculately.

"Scouts are required to be organised. We are expected to put our belongings where they are supposed to be so that we can access them without wasting time!" said seven-year-old Mark Katambo, who is in Standard Two at Epren Academy.

Six-year-old Cheryl Chebet was also at the camp that was held as part of activities to celebrate World Scouting Jamboree.

"I came camping because I like to be with my friends. We had a lot of fun telling stories as well as reading storybooks under the trees in the bushes. We also played a lot and talked about school and our homes. At night we made a bonfire and ate together. Sometimes the monkeys in the bushes came to eat with us!" said an excited Chebet.

"I’m happy because I’m a scout and always have fun with others. We also sung happily around a campfire at night," Chebet added.

Val Kemunto, who is eight years, says every child who loves fun, adventure and learning new things should become a scout.

"I have learned to be respectful, kind, honest and responsible. As scouts, we are taught how to improve our talents. Scouts are also not noisy, because we value a quiet environment. But when we do wrong, we know we have to accept punishment because we deserve it," said Kemunto.

Leoncia Angalo, nine, Elsie Wanjiku, Josephine Ayuel and Lemu Wanjiku (all 11) were among other pupils of Epren Academy who took part in the three-day camping expedition.

Lavender advises especially girls, to join the scout’s club.

"We learn a lot as scouts, especially leadership skills. I’m a scout’s commander and a prefect too, because I know how to take responsibility.