St Mary's DSG, Kloof - The Journey

“I have learnt that I am way more capable than what I thought I was. That I must not hold back in fear, but let go and trust. I can conquer anything that I put my mind to and know that I will come out stronger” St Mary’s Grade 9 Journey Participant.

At St Mary's DSG, Kloof, we are constantly looking for ways to educate beyond our classrooms and official curriculum. The Journey in Grade 9 is a powerful learning opportunity because it provides authentic challenges for our girls where they will be given opportunities to triumph over their fear, but also to show endurance and experience mastery over their imagined limits.

The Journey allows our girls to come to the realisation that they are far stronger physically and mentally than they might have believed and learn the skill of interacting daily with 18 other girls in their group. They carry their tents and food and hike, cycle, paddle and horse ride through the Spioenkop and Berg area for 21 days as a tight-knit group. The forced removal from modern technology restores opportunities for real and personable interactions and new connections are formed as parents and daughters engage in the old fashioned art of letter writing.

“I have learnt that there are many people out there that are feeling the same as you and you are never alone. I have learnt that you don’t need to act differently, when you act yourself, you find your true friends.” St Mary’s Grade 9 Journey Participant.