SCOUTS South Africa (SSA) started a new branch in 2020 for 5-6 year olds - Meerkats.  Early Childhood development has become a critical development area in South Africa over the last 10 years.

Badge requirements an dmaterial for adult leaders were developed.  Badges have also been produced.  With this project a stiker and activity booklet for the Meerkats were developed.  Once badge requirements are complete, Meerkats earn a badge.  This is not affordable for our rural children.  The booket is available in 6 languages and in 5 of the languages the book will be distributed free of charge to the children.  In most cases the children's family cannot afford to buy the badges.  With the booklet, their advancement will be tracked in the booklet and they will be able to stick a sticker where they would have earned the badge.

Natasha Kayle wrote the booklet My Meerkat Adventure and in her words: 

"Developing the Meerkat Adventure was an educational and fun experience.  To ensure that the content spoke to the programme requirements, the book’s illustrator Jana Lorenz and I brainstormed the structure and activities, after which these were discussed with CEO Milly Siebrits. With a draft in hand I met with an ECD educator to verify whether the tasks were age appropriate. Once the book took shape, it was delightful to see the characters come to life as they take the child through the Meerkat adventure.

For many rural children and parents English is a challenge and ECD materials in vernacular languages are scarce.  It’s truly a gift that we can give children books in their local language. I’m so grateful to our donors for helping us inspire the children that will use these books to grow and thrive."

Jana Lorenz is a Scout from Germany that volunteered for a year in the SSA office.  She started with developing one of the characters and then the rest followed.  Even tough she is back in Germany she is still asssiting SSA.

"It all started with Herbert. Herbert was initially only meant to decorate a Christmas card, but after a while he stole my heart.

Soon after, I was asked to give Herbert a cute little Meerkat-family and bring them to life for the new Meerkat-Adventure-Booklet.

Working on the Illustrations of my little Meerkat-family warmed my heart. I wanted to help create this whole world of Meerkat-Adventures and (hopefully) make a few of the Meerkats smile.

Currently, I am studying Graphic-Design in Germany, so illustrating the Meerkats was not only a fun project, but also helped me learn new skills that I can use in my field of studies.

Herbert, Amila, Vuyo, Johhny, Kayla, and Billy were the first illustrations I ever made for a book, so they will stay in my heart forever!"