Letters of Support

A message from the Vice-Chancellor

Dr Saleem Badat

Rhodes University strives to be an institution Where Leaders Learn. This means we are challenged to develop the intellectual, ethical, social and physical faculties of our students.

In setting tasks for teams of women and men that are both ‘physically and mentally challenging’, and also test "leadership, teamwork and innovation", the Allan Webb Adventure (AWA) is a fine example of student initiative that supports the Rhodes vision to be an institution Where Leaders Learn.

I urge all our halls and students to enter teams and support the event. You will not only contribute to promoting the AWA goal of ‘breaking barriers’ but also to building bridges through friendly competition.

Dr Saleem Badat
Vice-Chancellor

Foreword by the Allan Webb Hall Warden

John McNeill

The concept of Wellness is something our Hall firmly believes in. An adventure that challenges the mind and the senses, whilst testing a team’s ability to work together is no easy thing to envision and enact. I would like to thank Luke Brown and his team for all the work they have done to put this Adventure together.

I would like to personally challenge all the Halls at Rhodes University to participate, by both submitting a team and sending supporters – it will be a day you will not easily forget.

Mr John McNeill
Allan Webb Hall Warden

Message from the Dean of Students

Prof Vivian de Klerk

The Allan Webb Adventure is an extraordinary student-led project which endeavours to meet many of the values and principles which Rhodes values highly. Apart from its underlying mission to raise funds for our local community, it also:

* encourages leadership

* is based on close cooperation in small groups

* involves mental and physical exertion

* rewards excellence and innovation

* fosters the all-round development of our students

* promotes personal responsibility and social obligation to the community

And it results in plenty of good, clean fun. Especially because it is an alcohol-free event, encouraging an enjoyable alternative to drinking.

On behalf of the students of Allan Webb Hall, I would like to thank all sponsors for giving them an opportunity to tell you more about their exciting project, and for being sympathetic to their request for sponsorship. Through your help, I hope they will be able to sustain and build the Adventure into something bigger and better in the future.

I sincerely hope that this year’s Adventure is bigger and better than ever before.

Good Luck!

Prof. Vivian de Klerk Dean of Students

Our Founder’s Vision

Luke Brown

The members of Allan Webb Hall endorse the idea of an outdoor event that appeals to a healthy lifestyle and encourages community outreach. Rhodes students, who will become the future leaders of the world, are entitled to an environment that promotes a positive image, encourages teamwork and instils leadership. To this end, we invite teams from Rhodes University and from the greater Grahamstown community to embark on an adventure. Hence, the aims of the AWA are two fold. The first is to promote teamwork, leadership and creativity. The second is to raise money for worthy charities and encourage the development of previously disadvantaged sectors of the Grahamstown society.
Join us on the Allan Webb Adventure!

Luke Brown
AWA Founder

Our Chairperson's Vision

Mathias Chirombo

Having been formed in 2003, Allan Webb Adventure (AWA) is a student driven initiative coming out of the ordinary, and has been successful over the past five years developing ideally into a community- wide institution that the entire University has come to anticipate. We aim to promote wellness in a singular manner encouraging a healthy body, mind and spirit.

Many thanks to the 2008 Committee for transforming the AWA into a successful large scale operation which is now recognised on the Rhodes University Official Calendar.

This year’s event is the final stage of the big project as we intend to increase the proceeds we have been making towards charity whilst ensuring that the event becomes very successful. In the past, entry applications have always exceeded our financial resources but this year we are pleased to inform you that we will be looking to take in 48 teams from the previous 24 teams. Through rigorous mental and physical challenges, the AWA has managed to cultivate innovation, teamwork and initiative within its competitors whilst maintaining a pleasant environment.Allan Webb Hall believes community engagement is of utmost importance and students at Rhodes cannot ignore the community in which they live- as Simon Bolivar says “Nations will march towards greatness at the same pace their education level advances.” To this end all the profits generated from the event will be donated to the Sun City Pre-school in Grahamstown. Join us on 19^th September 2009 and “Taste the Adventure” as we “Break The Barriers.”

Best regards,

Mathias Chirombo

AWA Chairman 2008/9