A Hunter’s Playground by Gunwerks | John X Foundation | Origins Foundation
Hunters are often criticised for what they take. Far less is said about what they give. At Baroda DRC Primary School, a dry patch of dirt has been transformed into a sports field where children can run, play, and enjoy the wonderful game of soccer.
It is one of hunting’s most overlooked legacies. The same people so often judged for taking from the land are frequently among those giving back to it. Through conservation, education, and community based projects, hunters have long understood that preserving the future means investing in the next generation. With the success of “Everyone Deserves to Play” and that initiative at Carlisle Bridge Farm School we got to work at Baroda.
Surrounded by mountains and wide-open spaces, Baroda lies in a landscape that can feel as unforgiving as it is vast. For the 280 children at the school, soccer was already part of everyday life. They had the enthusiasm and the desire to play. What they did not have was a place to play.
The aim was to not simply give them a field. It was to create a place where they could come together, compete, develop their skill and enjoy being children. Perhaps a youngster with a natural feel for the game might just discover how far that talent could take him or her someday, somewhere on the world stage.
There were two goalposts, a soccer ball, and little else. But there was passion. And with that passion we knew we could make a difference.
During early March Carl jumped on a call with Aaron, Janet and Derec Davidson, explaining the vision and what was needed. Without a moments hesitation the Davidson family were in and so our journey began for “A Hunter’s Playground”.
Gunwerks would provide the funds. The John X Foundation would drive the project. And the Origins Foundation would tell our story.
Hanle Nell, the school’s principal, together with her teachers, welcomed the proposal with an open mind and a resounding yes. Local contractors, Andre Thompson, Johan Opperman and Elliot then turned our plans into something real. Farmers Hilton Collet and Willie Walker went out of their way assisting with each and every request. Yolande and Dawie Van Niekerk of Afriturf supplied backpack sprayers to paint the lines, while Petrie from Grey Ghost Gear stepped in and provided T-Shirts for opening day.
Kolby Edwards, behind the camera, would capture the magic, while the team at John X Safaris – the people behind the scenes who rarely get seen jumped in like they always do. Josh, Clayton, Patrick, Rick, and the rest of our men all played their part. The Bankfontein crew kept things moving, from Megan and Lilian in the kitchen to Bernadine in the butchery. Trish, Brett, Gabi and Grant took on whatever was put in front of them, while Douglas Cockcroft and Splitting Image Taxidermy provided their usual support at every turn and corner.
Over six weeks, the field was built from the ground up. The uneven surface was levelled, compacted and rolled until what had once been open ground was ready for the game. The existing goalposts received a much-needed coat of paint and new nets.
There were early mornings, late nights and more than a few bloopers along the way, but standing back and seeing the finished field made every one of them worth it.
On opening day, the children of Baroda DRC ran onto their new field with the kind of excitement that reminds you why the work mattered. There were cheers, broad smiles and the simple joy of children being able to do what they love.
If one child’s life can be changed, then one future can be changed.
Hunting is about far more than the moment an animal is taken. It connects people with places, communities and wildlife, and that connection brings a responsibility to leave something positive behind.
Sometimes that means providing meat to a community. Sometimes it means helping build a kitchen, a toilet or a sports field. The projects differ, but the principle does not. When hunters have the opportunity to make a real difference, they do so.
For our friends from Gunwerks, that responsibility is part of the privilege of hunting Africa. The Great Karoo has given them the most unforgettable experiences, lifelong friendships and the chance to do what they love in one of the Davidson’s favourite places on the planet.
We hope Baroda is the first of many such projects. In the end, the truest measure of what we leave behind is not only what we have taken from the land, but what we have given back to it.
The field is there now. The goals are standing, the lines have been painted, and the game is always awaiting. All that remains now is for the children to run onto it and see where it might take them.
Perhaps that is the greatest privilege of all. Through hunting, we have been able to plant a seed in a place we love and leave the next generation to decide what grows from it.
In appreciation of Gunwerks and the Origins Foundation. And the launch of the film; “A Hunter’s Playground” coming your way in 2027….
Carl & Team | The John X Foundation
Contact us today for more information on our John X Foundation Initiatives and feel free to mail Carl directly on johnxsafarishunts@gmail.com if you would like to get involved with our community projects on your next adventure.
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