Bringing together 50 high-school learners for a camp in Cape Town seemed like a simple idea but  what started as a leadership and life-skills course for aspirant peer counsellors soon turned into a place of understanding never before experienced as young adults were brought together in an event that shook the foundations.

We had believed that ten years into our South African democracy integration in schools was a reality but the merging of learners from schools in the Philippi and Mitchell’s Plain areas on a life-skills training camp became the platform for a learning experience we had not anticipated.  As the learners shared their experiences with the whole group, it became clear that the purpose of the camp was healing as well as growth.

"What became clear to us immediately was that these learners had had no experience of integrating with children of other races.  We assumed that our children did not bear the scars that we did, but this camp shocked us all. While we had a camp contract of 'no discrimination' and 'no racism', it soon became clear that there was much suspicion and mistrust among the learners from different race groups," said Bernie Ross, LifeLine/Childline Western Cape's youth development co-ordinator.

"Instead of working with the programme we had planned, we decided to address the issues that arose at the camp.  In the form of a needs assessment, we asked every learner to name what was making them unhappy, and we worked with the feelings that arose.  We addressed each and every issue in the wider group and, at the end of the day, good things emerged, as each learner felt that they had been heard, and they had heard the concerns and worries of their peers from different communities," Bernie said.

"While it was painful, it was an incredibly positive experience for all of us – learners and facilitators alike – and we all felt that we had learnt and grown from the experience," she said.

The feedback from the educators at the respective schools was extremely positive and it seemed that the ground was prepared for some excellent peer counselling programmes in the schools.

Feedback from facilitators:
"The camp was a learning experience but more than that it was an eye opener for me."
"Something that saddened me deeply was realising the amount of difficult issues that some of these young students were faced with at this point in their lives."
"I've always argued that we make choices and these choices ultimately direct where we end up in life.  Though looking at these students I finally realised that this is not always the case, and this made me appreciate the opportunity given to them through the help of the organisers of this camp even more.  I believed or hoped that it provided them with renewed hope and reassurance that even though they may be surrounded by many difficult and sad things right now, there is life outside their communities.  More than this I hoped that this camp provided them with some renewed hope for their future."

Feedback from the learners:
"It helped me to respect other cultures and mix with them."
"It was an experience to learn how to counsel people."
"I met new friends and I was able to be myself."
"I learned how to be a leader for my community and to the young generation."
"The syllabus consisted of the things that teenagers go through and by doing this training we as teens can all help each other."
"They say knowledge without action is wasted and I can say that what I’ve learned here I will truly plough into my peers and community. Thanks for everything."