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KNYSNA NEWS - Last week, a mixture of troubled adults and community leaders from Hornlee embarked on a three-day venture in the name of combatting crime in their communities, with Denzil Rhode of Crime Stoppers leading the way.
Rhode has led countless similar ventures and excursions in years gone by, more often than not focusing on the youth.
His aim is to encourage them to refrain from a life of criminality through multi-day hikes through the forests and bush around Knysna.
Rhode's latest excursion was held in collaboration with Hornlee-based women's organisation Changes of Knysna and the South African Police Service.
Instead of focusing on children, the sights last week were on troubled adults (24 and older) and long-standing community leaders within Hornlee.
A total of 15 adults took part in the excursion from Friday to Sunday, 25 to 27 February. The weekend started at Sunridge Primary School on Friday before they were transported to the Diepwalle Forest Station.
In the afternoon and evening there were team-building exercises and awareness talks, before participants hit the hay. On Saturday participants hiked from Diepwalle all the way to the Fisantehoek Hut along the Outeniqua Trail, setting off at 06:00.
A jovial Lezille Payle shares a big smile towards the end of the final day's walk.
The group made it to Fisantehoek in the late hours of the afternoon where they were due a talk on drug abuse from the Knysna Alcohol and Drugs Centre.
Some more team-building exercises followed on Sunday morning before the group made its way back to Sunridge. The weekend was capped off with some special speeches and certificate handovers to those who took part.
One of the coordinators, Lynn Kayster, reflected on the weekend. "It really was such a special weekend for all involved.
"There was a lot of self-reflection throughout the three days and everyone learnt a lot about themselves along the way, let alone lessons about one another," she said. "So many people just make a small misstep in their lives, and often head down the wrong path.
"But, we refuse to give up on anyone. We believe that 'Elke outjie maak 'n foutjie' [everyone makes a mistake], and everyone deserves the right to correct their mistake. Excursions like this are meant to help those people on the path towards that correction."
The proud group of participants in the excursion. Photos: Blake Linder
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