As part of Overstrand's endea-vour to equip its young leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to function as true Overstrand Ambassadors, Council recently undertook an extensive orientation tour to familiarise current members of the Junior Town Council with the delights the region has on offer.

Seeing that these ‘delights’ are often subject to exploitation and abuse by those who have little regard for conservation and/or the status of our fragile environment, Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie fittingly chose the recently operational Alternative Court in Hermanus as the first venue on the orientation tour’s itinerary. In her welcoming address, she reassured the young ambassadors that Council will continue to do all it can to preserve Overstrand as a place where all would be welcome and safe – especially those creatures and species that are so dangerously threatened by irresponsible and unthinking human behaviour. Urging members of Junior Council to never discount an opportunity to learn, the Mayor then sent the Young Ambassadors off on a tour of those delights so dear to Overstrand.

Over a span of two days, the group learnt about Blue Flag Beaches, sustainable recycling and the value of botanical gardens. They also had first-hand encounters with experts on the subject of southern-right whales, great- white sharks and African penguins, and ended up paying a visit to the Gansbaai Communal Sports Centre where, at last, a little hyped-up energy could be vented.

The Enlighten Education Trust who, on behalf of Overstrand, oversees the Junior Council commented that exploratory tours such as these are invaluable in as far they serve to enlighten the youth to issues surrounding a local authority's duty to conserve its surrounds and to do so by taking everyone, and every creature's, needs into account. Judging by the, at times, rather difficult questions the JC members posed and their inquisitiveness, Overstranders can rest assured: This bunch of Young Ambassadors will continue to uphold the mission, values and objectives that underpin the Overstrand community at all cost. 

In fact, chances are they may just challenge you at the dinner table, or in the cafeteria, on a couple of niggling issues.

Noluthando Zweni

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