15th Anniversary of Working Together and Learning Together

2021 saw The Bambisanani Partnership mark its 15-year anniversary of ‘working together and learning together’ in South Africa and in the UK using sport to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership.

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Projects and Programmes developed over that time include:

• The Bambisanani Leadership Programme has trained young sports leaders in both countries then brought them together in South Africa to jointly plan, deliver and evaluate community Sports Festivals, Reading Festivals and Numeracy Festivals for over 100 primary school children every year. Significantly, gaining the Bambisanani Leadership Award is seen a starting point not an end point. Young Leaders, from this programme, have gone to use their leadership skills in the most remarkable ways.

• International exchange visits for teachers and students

• Art through Sport Projects

• Creative Writing through Sport Projects

• Student led Enterprise Projects to support the partnership

• Training of Community football coaches and referees

• Education through Football Project (Premier Skills)

• High School Bambisanani Award Scheme promoting Leadership, Enterprise and Global Citizenship at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels

• University and Vocational College Scholarships

• Achievement Awards established in both secondary and primary schools

• Bambisanani Sports Leadership Award for primary school children

• Primary School Sports Festivals

• ‘Cycling to Success’ programme which teaches young people how to ride and maintain bikes

• Collaborative ‘virtual space’ training of Physical Education teachers and Sport Coaches

• Bambisanani International Athletics Challenge that has brought primary school children together, albeit virtually, to learn, enjoy and compete in a range of fun athletic challenges

• Four Bambisanani books have been published

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Impact

• More than 10,000 young people from both countries have engaged in a variety of Bambisanani projects and programmes

• More than 3,000 students have participated Bambisanani Sports Festivals

• More than 775 students have gained Bambisanani Leadership Awards

• More than 280 UK students have volunteered on Bambisanani programmes in South Africa

• More than 270 students have completed the Cycling to Success course

• More than 1,200 South African students have been supported into school by the partnership

• More than 1,700 students have participated in Bambisanani Reading Festivals

• More than 650 students have participated in Art/Creative Writing through Sport projects

• 55 UK/SA teachers have visited each other’s countries on Exchange Visits

• The work of The Bambisanani Partnership has been highlighted at 5 International Conferences

““Much of our life in the UK has become obsessed with materialism and ‘celebrity’. We have lost touch with things that really matter. My visit to South Africa has given me a much more meaningful perspective on life””

— UK student

““We have worked together…people of different colours, countries, religions and cultures…we have proved it can be done””

— South African student

““My world has just got bigger; I realise that it is my duty to be a global citizen””

— UK student

““I have learned to help other people and I have learned that respect is everything. Through sport we have worked hand in hand- we have different colour skin and it does not matter. I am a leader now and I want to help my community””

— South African student

““The Bambisanani Partnership has reminded me why I became a teacher.””

— UK teacher

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““There is a saying in Zulu culture: Umuntu ngumuntu ngumuntu which means ‘I am because you are’. This is the very spirit of The Bambisanani Partnership: it is what makes it an equal partnership in an unequal world, it is what creates the belief and hope that sustains and motivates our life changing work””

— South African teacher

““South Africa has a history of people from abroad attempting to ‘serve’ the local community. Many of these missions’ flounder because they are designed to engender a feeling of goodwill more for the giver than the recipient. Bambisanani – working hand in hand – works because there is neither giver or receiver. Two groups from different ends of the planet, each borrowing from the culture of the other forge relationships through the medium of sport, changing perspectives of both from the experience.””

— Logan Govender, South African businessman and entrepreneur

““The special relationship and legacy that Nelson Mandela spoke about in Leeds certainly continues through the outstanding and influential Bambisanani Partnership.””

— Tyrone Gunnie, South African High Commission

““The partnership clearly has the power to change lives for the good and develop long-standing friendships across nations. Many schools around the world would benefit from knowing more about this partnership and adopting similar innovative approaches to genuinely enhancing young people’s lives””

— Dr Jo Harris, Loughborough University

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Looking Forward

David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the multi award winning charity said, “I cannot thank the members of the Bambisanani team and our supporters enough for what has been achieved to date; the determination to succeed has been remarkable. Our focus now is very much on the future. Put simply, we have never been in a stronger position to move forward than we are now. We have ambitious plans for 2022 and with continued support we can continue to make a small but significant difference in the world.”