Francois Van Schalkwyk

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Francois is an outdoors enthusiast who’s into cycling, gym, running, hiking and scuba diving. He has a love for animals and often does community service in support of the animals. He also recently discovered his passion for food and loves being a Warriors chef!

What is your favorite travel memory?

Going to Swaziland and Mozambique with the group and discovering the craziest caves to crawl through for hours! Learning how to scuba in another country and spending time exercising on the beach with the students was the best trip ever!! Of course, cooking freshly caught fish after the deep sea fishing expedition!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have seen that a healthy body equals a healthy mind and love being part of the group when we all strive together to train for competitions and eat healthy food to better our bodies and minds.

I love working with an incredible family team which I am now part of for over 8 years! I have more going for me than I ever realized before joining the company.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

There was a student who loved helping me in the kitchen and serving clients and making them smile. He now has made it his mission to come join me in the cooking business and making people smile. He also has a new found love for exercise since we trained together and I feel I have made a positive difference in his life.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

It would definitely be the Full gap year program.

Here you learn how to look after yourself, body and mind, and get fit and strong. You are also exposed to so much the world has to offer and it makes it easier to choose your career for life going forward. Becoming the best version of yourself and accepting self-responsibility.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I am proud to be a part of a family run business where we all want each other to win in our different departments. We complement each other and make each other look good by being a fabulous team.

We are all family here at base camp and I have found where I belong in this world and want to show it off!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The fact that we all have our own departments we run and we do it well. Nobody is afraid of hard work and all jump in together to make this program the best in the world.

There is always support and love here at base camp. We also love in the most beautiful place on earth and all love what we do.

We are a team.