Before a certain Sunday morning, a group of students met a few times after the “boot camp” in order to share their common interest in planning the 2011 conference and to brainstorm some ideas. They were still a group of individuals that knew very little about one another and were still being extra careful about how to communicate. Clearly, no team can operate like this for a whole year and still bring about a standard of excellence. This brought about the perfect opportunity for a team building event on Sunday the 3rd of October 2010.

The conference executive had several options to choose from in terms of what to do for the team building activity. These options included ten pin bowling, laser quest and even a sushi making class! After a democratic voting system, the team finally decided to go on an early morning hike in Hout Bay. This was before considering how tough it would be to roll out of bed bright and early on a Sunday morning. However, it gave the team a head start for the sleepless nights to come in preparation for the next conference. So with the end goal in mind, they set off...

The scorching sun showed no mercy that morning. The taste of water was so sweet and each step was added on to the team’s list of achievements. Meandering through branches in the bushes and sliding down slopes of sand was such a thrilling adventure. If someone were to watch from a tree top, they would see how the team slowly began to trust each other. There really was no choice but to work together, pulling each other from rock to rock. 

Emerging from the rocks onto Llandudno beach, the hike finally came to an end. After two hours of getting in touch with nature and more importantly, with one another, the team sat beneath a large boulder near the waters to share a few laughs over a wholesome lunch. This instilled a sense of family into the team as they reminisced about how much fun it had been to experience this hike together. From this moment, we had moved from strangers to friends and from individuals to a team.  

The day was exhausting but a rewarding experience. There is now a notable difference in the manner in which the team members relate, and this is all serves for the purpose of preparing for the days to come.

By Chipo Chimhundu

Media Coordinator