Lolwethu’s Inspiring Journey to Finding Her Voice Through Scouting

Photo Credit: Scouts South Africa via Facebook

Through Scouting, Lolwethu Ndaba has grown from a quiet young girl who barely spoke into a proud Springbok Scout and confident leader.

Northern Cape, South Africa (20 August 2026) – Finding one’s voice comes to each of us in different ways. For Lolwethu Ndaba, it came through joining Scouts.

After hearing about Scouting through her church, she attended her first meeting in 2021. What she saw that evening was more than just activities and skills; she saw a group of young people who seemed genuinely connected to one another.

“When I think back to my first Scout meeting, I remember how interesting the experience was. The Scouts were doing First Aid, and as I observed how everything worked, I saw the camaraderie between the other Scouts. That made me want to be part of the Movement, to get out of my shell and make genuine friendships while learning valuable life skills,” Lolwethu recalls.

The 1st Gladstone Scout admits that, back then, she was extremely closed off and barely said a word – something that has since changed remarkably.

Scouting has pushed Lolwethu far outside her comfort zone. She says it has taught her a lot about resilience, especially because things in life do not always go according to plan.

“The only thing you can do about that is remember that you always have people supporting you, no matter what, and that a slight alteration in your plans is never the end of the world. My Discoverer Hike at Rooifontein in 2023 was definitely one of those moments. I really don’t think I would have been able to pull through and finish if it weren’t for my Scouters, Aunty Isabel and Aunty Noleen, encouraging me to breathe and keep pushing. They guided and inspired me to grow, and since then I have become much better at managing my Patrol and taking a moment to breathe when things become too much for me,” she says.

She has also gained various other life skills, learned more about showing up as a good leader who leads her team with fairness and vulnerability, and found meaningful ways to serve the needs of others.

Leading up to her Springbok Award journey, she chose to help feed those in need as part of her community service project.

“I chose this because it always warms my heart to be able to help others and offer them a warm meal,” she explains.
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Organising a camp as part of qualifying for the national award also strengthened her understanding that Scouting is all about supporting one another as a community.

Today, as a proud and confident Springbok Scout with her national colours, Lolwethu has come a long way in a touching journey that reminds us that finding your voice, growing as a person, and serving others can go hand in hand.

“Scouts really changed me in many ways that I will forever be grateful for. I improved a lot, from my ability to stand in front of a group and speak confidently, all the way to not panicking when things don’t go as planned. The girl who first walked into Scouts barely saying a word is very different from the person I am today, and I am extremely proud of that growth,” she says.