Report on the Resilience Network Camp held at the Golden Gate Hotel, 26-28 July 2013



The workshop provided each mentor with an overview of the phases of the mentoring relationship, the importance of self-awareness (Johari's window as a tool).


The Resilience Network topics for the workshop were:


R — Resilient (Resilience & Hope)
E — Enthusiastic (Identify, diversity & Inclusion)
S — Self-confident (TRP: Totally Responsible Person)
I — Inspired (Leadership)
L — Loving (Teen Conflict Management)
I — Innovative (Success)
E — Encouraged (Etiquette)
N — Network (Peer Pressure)
C — Creative (Creativity)
E — Enigma


Since the beginning of the year training have been taken place at the University of the Free State (UFS), QwaQwa Campus, on the various topics mentioned above, starting in March 2013 and the last workshop is expected to be on 12 October 2013, which will be followed by a graduation on 9 November 2013. The workshops are all conducted by UFS student mentors together with University of the Western Cape (UWC) project facilitators.


There are 10 participating schools from Qwaqwa, namely:

  • Manthatisi Secondary School.
  • Bluegumbosch Secondary School.
  • Kgolahuto Secondary School.
  • Mmathabo Secondary School.
  • Tsholo Secondary School.
  • Mapoi Secondary School.
  • Tlhorong Secondary School.
  • Lekgulo Secondary School.
  • Sekgutlong Secondary School.
  • Mosioua Lekota Secondary School.

On 26 to 28 July 2013, a camp funded by Kagiso Trust, took place at the Golden Gate Hotel in the Eastern Free State. Both UFS student mentors and mentees, together with project managers, facilitators and coordinators spent the weekend together doing the business of the Resilience Network.


Saturday, 27 July 2013


The day saw different presentations taking place and, amongst others, a presentation on one of the topics of resilience which is leadership, was presented and discussed by both mentors and mentees.

Some of the issues that were discussed under leadership were:

Traits of leaders:

  • Willingness to stand out.
  • Determination & Perseverance to push through your ideas.
  • Questioning mind.
  • Self-belief.
  • Thick skin.
  • Learning from mistakes.

A leader must:

  • Stay open-minded – consider other's points of view, actively listen.
  • Communicate well – clear and concise messages.
  • Have a vision – see the bigger picture, expand your thinking.
  • Take risks – step up and speak out.
  • Show commitment and passion.
  • Be decisive.
  • Be trustworthy – do what you say you will do.

Different leadership styles:

  • Autocratic – Having absolute power.
  • Democratic – Believing in equal rights and privileges.

The session then was followed by watching a movie that was discussed on many aspects of resilience it touched on. Etiquette Part 1 and 2 then took place where all mentors were seated in the dining area of the hotel and a discussion unfolded.

A lot was discussed under the umbrella of etiquette and amongst others were:

  • Introductions.
  • Conversations.
  • Public speaking.
  • Invitations.
  • Being a host/guest.
  • How to behave at school, home, etc.
  • Cell phone manners.
  • Table manners (lunch was served to practice table manners and other related issues).
  • Grooming and dress code.

The day ended with boys and girls separating to different focus group discussions, where a lot of issues were discussed and the Chatham House Rule (a principle that guarantees the confidentiality of a conversation/discussion) was used. Both sessions in different home rooms were supervised by facilitators from the University of the Western Cape and the University of the Free State.


Sunday, 28 July 2013


The last day of the camp saw a presentation of Teen Conflict Management and the following was part of the deliberations on the topic:

All too often, small incidents and minor disagreements can lead to serious things among teenagers. Unfortunately, some tend to believe that when a conflict or disagreement arises, they have no choice but to fight. They sometimes don't know that there are other ways to resolve conflict. While conflicts and disagreements are an inevitable part of life, they do not have to lead to violence.


Steps to conflict Management

  • Set the stage – Agree to work together to find a solution peacefully and establish ground rules.
  • Gather perspectives – there are always two sides to each story.
  • Find common ground – establish which facts and issues all parties agree on and determine why different issues are important to each person.
  • Create options – take time for each person to come up with possible solutions.
  • Evaluate options – look at the different suggestions, at times we need to agree to disagree about some issues to reach an understanding.
  • Create an agreement.

The camp ended with a great satisfaction from all parties that attended the camp on the note that the camp was worth attending.

Prof L Tshiwula, vice-rector, Student Development and Support, UWC, and founder of the Resilience Network, then called a meeting with the UFS student mentors and complemented them on a job well done, and to further her satisfaction at the presentations made at the camp by UFS student mentors, that four student mentors will undertake a three-day training in Cape Town that will allow them to be senior mentors of the Resilience Network. The training will be in Cape Town from 22 to 25 September 2013. The students will be accompanied by UFS Community Engagement Coordinator, Ms Moodi Matsoso, and Project Facilitator, Mr Nkutha Mohau.

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