Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers of the Medway Towns District have been supporting Scouting in the South African province of Mpumalanga since 2003, through the ‘Ice Cream Badge Project’.

So far the scheme has raised in excess of £12,000 with most of that fantastic amount coming from Groups in the District. You can read about past successes in a Report from Mpumalanga, South Africa from 2009.

Why is it called the ‘Ice Cream Project’? because it costs just £2 to join, which is the cost of a really nice Ice Cream you might buy on a hot summers day; just imagine eating it under the hot South African sun. What do you get for your money? You get a South African Scout Association badge which shows that you have paid this year’s capitation fee just like a South African Scout does.

However your £2 will go to pay the capitation for a Scout who may not be able to afford to pay that amount themselves.

Mpumalanga is a very poor rural area of South Africa, approximately the size of Scotland, where most Scout Groups are based in schools, with the teachers acting as leaders. Every penny raised by the sale of these badges is sent to the Mpumalanga Scout Office to help fund Scouting activities in the province. It helps to pay for the Area Office, for the training of Leaders, for Area wide camping events and competitions so that the costs can be kept to a minimum to enable as many as possible to attend. For details of how to join the Project by buying a badge or more please contact Trevor Banks, GSL of the 24th Borstal Scout Group.