Chief Scout praises HN9 ‘Survive-It’ winner Claude Schippers
Chief Scout praises HN9 ‘Survive-It’ winner Claude Schippers
15 year old Claude Schippers, from 1st Bellville South Scouts Group was announced the winner of Hectic Nine 9′s Survive It 2014!
Chief Scout Sibusiso Vilane praised the youngster for his tenacity and adventurous spirit, while attending a youth day fun day recently in the Western Cape!
“You are a winner! If you can survive an outdoor adventure you can succeed in anything you apply your mind too. Success is about hard work and dedication, about breaking out of limiting beliefs and your comfort zones. Well done!” he said. Chief Scout Sibusiso Vilane is the first black African man to summit all seven peaks of the world and to complete the three pole challenge – North and South Pole and Mount Everest.
This year, the reality survival competition was set in the Matroosberg and was one of the toughest seasons yet. Viewers of TV’s popular kid’s show Hectic Nine-9 were able to see their favourite presenters rough it out against 10 Scouts from the Western Cape.
Just like Mark Burnett’s Survivor, contestants were put to task in tough outdoor situations and voted each other out one by one as the show progressed; the ultimate “Survive-It” survivor was voted for by the viewers of the show and announced on Friday 30 May 2014. Claude Schippers was the last Scout remaining and went up against popular presenter Anomsa. For the third year running the Scout took the title of Survive it winner!
We had a chat with Claude and asked him why he signed up for the show. “Ever since I saw the show on Hectic Nine 9, I wanted to try it and push my limits. It was a dream of mine, so when I got the opportunity I was determined to succeed!” When asked how he pulled it off, Claude smiled and simply replied: “I just did my best. It was very hard. It was very cold and I especially struggled with the food. Having to eat dry rice and beans was not nice. But I thought I am a Scout and I can do this. When I got into the top four I could not believe it. I didn’t think I would win, but when they told me I was in the final I was so excited! It feels great to be a winner!”
“Claude is an adventurer and a very kind, dedicated and humble Scout. We are so proud of him!” says Claude’s 1st Bellville South Scouter Carmielah Achmat. “Claude is respected by all and is seen as an example by younger Scouts.”
When asked what a Scout should do if they want to win next year Claude giggles and says: “They must just do their best, practice their Scouting skills and be prepared!”
SCOUTS South Africa is an independent, non-profit educational movement dedicated to the development of young people in achieving their full potential as individuals and responsible citizens. Central in this programme is a continuous transference of values such as honesty, loyalty, responsibility, respect; all aimed at governing individual behaviour and the development of strong leadership skills that will equip members to be of service to others and to their communities.
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