515 Squadron is a South African Air Force (SAAF) Protection element situated at Air Force Base (AFB) Makhado. In addition to its daily safeguarding tasks, 515 Squadron also take pride in their social responsibility program.

The squadron hosts an annual camp for mentally disabled children. The aim of the camp is to provide an opportunity for mentally disabled children to experience an outdoor adventure camp, presented by military personnel, in a semi-real environment. The idea is to create an environment for the children to be able to express their hidden talents and desires of what they experience to be the military life, fully.

The camp celebrated its 20th anniversary this year since it started back in 1987 at AFB Pietersburg, with three children attending. Today, the camp has grown to 82 children with boys and girls of all races from different schools around the Limpopo and Gauteng provinces.

During the camp, the children are taught how to drill, how to do physical training (PT), a little adventure skills, they are taught about weapons, how to recognise animal sounds, conduct route marches and a whole lot of other fun activities. The children also received fire awareness and nature conservation lectures from members of AFB Makhado. They are also treated to trooping and were taken on a flight in an Oryx helicopter from 19 Squadron, situated at AFB Hoedspruit.

The camp ends with a passing-out parade where the children are presented with certificates. Children who distinguish themselves during the camp are also presented with awards for different disciplines at the parade.

On completion of the camp, all schools report positive results in the reaction of these children as they show improvement in their daily activities. Results vary from one child to another as, in some cases, children who were not able to communicate due to emotional problems, do so after attending the camp.

Sponsorship from Spar in Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Rotary, Round Table 66, Leach Printers, Dinnermates, Palm Haven, Tiny Bubbles, Friends of the SAAF, Coca-Cola Fortune, AMG, AFB Makhado and members of the public around Makhado who are determined to make a positive contribution to the lives of these children, made the camp possible.

This year’s camp was presented from March 7 until 11 at Lianga Lodge approximately 20km from AFB Makhado. Owners Attie and Rina de Swart offered the use of the lodge without any cost.

Schools who took part in the camp this year were New Horizon (Polokwane), Frangipani (Phalaborwa), Nuwe Wending (Pretoria), Con Amore (Kempton Park), Estralita (Lydenburg), Eureka (Vereeniging), Gateway (Florida) and Hamlet (Johannesburg).