Teen Scout Spearheads Major Clean-Up to Restore Amanzimtoti Japanese Gardens

Photo Credit: Scouts South Africa via Facebook

Seventeen-year-old Aarushi Bhoora is driving the change she wishes to see in the world. The young Scout recently brought together residents and conservation groups for a clean-up to tackle invasive weeds and restore the natural beauty of the beloved Amanzimtoti Japanese Gardens.

Amanzimtoti, South Africa (09 July 2026) – Known for its lush vegetation lacing through three water features adorned with water lilies, the Amanzimtoti Japanese Gardens are a long-standing relaxing spot in the small seaside town. The invasive Kariba weed, however, is the least favourable element of this natural space – and one that 17-year-old Scout Aarushi Bhoora, from the 1st Umbogintwini Scout Group, was determined to tackle.

The teen Scout recently spearheaded a clean-up project alongside WESSA, Tidy Towns, fellow Scouts, and community members to remove the invasive weed from the pond.

As a Life Sciences student, environmental conservation has always piqued Aarushi’s interest. So, when the opportunity arose to lead this project, she knew she wanted to make a difference.

“Leading such a large service initiative was challenging,” she admits.

“It was stressful to lead a project like this. Contacting people and making sure the message reached everyone was hard. It taught me how to balance academics as a Matric learner with my Scouting responsibilities and reminded me about the importance of time management. I also learned lots of communication skills, including how to sound professional when contacting and phoning people.”

Photo Credit: Scouts South Africa via Facebook

Though she and her team of helpers could not clear the entire Kariba weed in a single day, an almost discouraged Aarushi was soon cheered up to discover the birdlife that flocked to the part of the pond they had managed to clear.

“It reminded me why service matters. Seeing the birds there reminded me that we had made a positive difference! The project also taught me something I didn’t expect. You don’t need a huge project that costs a lot of money to make a change for the environment. You – as an individual – can make a change.”

Through the project, Aarushi also found that many people were interested in learning about the importance of removing alien plants and that service is about much more than completing the task itself.

“It is about inspiring others to become part of the solution. That is why I believe young people have an important role to play. If we as youth don’t make a change for our future, then who will? It is our future in our hands.”
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The service project was part of her journey towards her Scouts Springbok Award, and left her with the invaluable lesson that by leading environmental projects, young people can change the world. As she best puts it:

“If we don’t do anything about the environment we live in, it is progressively going to get worse to a point where it will not be able to be saved, where biodiversity does not exist, where we cannot show our future children a species of plant or flower, because they went extinct. This is why more youth should start to act; the sooner we fix these issues, the better off we will be in the future.”

Scouting has also helped Aarushi develop the confidence, leadership and practical skills she now uses as Deputy Head Prefect at her school. With such inspiring youngsters taking positions of leadership, there is much hope for the future of our planet and the communities they serve!