Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge goes further, faster and higher!
The 4th Annual Bambisanani Partnership International Athletics Challenge, supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts & Culture and Coastlands Hotels and Resorts, brought together 13 primary schools: 10 from rural KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and 3 from the Leeds in the UK. Students (aged 9 and 10) participated in a range of athletics challenges in their own schools and then compared performances ‘virtually’ to create competition between the schools. 355 learners participated this year bringing the total over the past four years to 1,207.
There was a further development this year with a central venue Athletics Festival being held in South Africa for schools from the Nkandla region. This Festival was supported by young Sports Leaders from St. Mary’s School in the UK. Catherine Chattoe, Bambisanani Coordinator from St. Mary’s said, “The Festival in Nkandla was absolutely fantastic bringing young people together from both countries. The excitement levels were off the scale from all involved. It would be wonderful to be able to extend this programme to more schools and to provide further opportunities for the very talented young people that we are discovering.”
The South African schools involved were: Vumanhlamvu, Makhanyezi, Iwangu, Kwa-Mtshwili, Mome, Ntumbeni, Sigananda, Iwangu, Dlabe and Silambo. The UK schools involved were all from the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust and included St. Joseph’s, Pudsey; St. Mary’s, Horsforth and Holy Name, Cookridge.
The Challenge was originally devised by Bambisanani Founder, David Geldart who explained, “The Bambisanani Partnership is about bringing young people together through sport from both countries in order that they can ‘work together and learn together’. We have created a simple and fun programme that reflects the very essence of athletics with an approach relevant to everyone involved regardless of ability. We have provided opportunities for youngsters to compete against themselves and against others, in their own school and between schools, in their own country and internationally. A wide range of awards reflect our values with certificates and medals available to learners in all participating schools for excellence, effort, progress and leadership. The Challenge provides multiple opportunities for learners to achieve and succeed; the response from schools, educators and learners has been fantastic.”
The programme gives great importance to all participants working hard to improve their own personal performance over time in six different events for both boys and girls: 50m run, 200m run, Standing Long Jump, Three Hop Jump, Tennis Ball Throw and Football Throw. Students were initially taught the basic activity and then established their own ‘personal best’ in each of the events. Over the past several months, the children were given the opportunity to practise, rehearse and experiment in order to improve their personal best performances. A remarkable 72% of all learners involved made significant progress over time in at least three different events and were awarded special certificates to recognise this. All schools held their own competitions which created 156 new School Champions with the top three performers in each event receiving a certificate. In addition to this, 16 students were identified as being the best all-round performers across all events, 17 students were recognised as making the most improvement over all events and 16 students were celebrated as Exceptional Leaders for their work during the programme ‘helping, supporting and encouraging others’.
Most improved Athletes: Nene Thembelihle, Mhlongo Seluleko, Mnguni Simelokuhle, Sibiya Lethokuhle, Khayelihle Khanyile, Khayelihle Hadebe, Caitlin Robson, Tommy O’Connell, Mia Grace Keenan, Eoin O’Neill, Ayakhula Bhengu, Ayanda Ngema, Alwande Biyela, Thabiso Zulu, Lois Quinn, Alexander Taylor
Best all-round Athletes: Zulu Uyaphila, Majlis Kuhlekonke, Shange Senzokule, Qwabe Alwande, Lubanzi Mthembu, Njabulo Mthembu, Maliibongwe Khanyile, Holly Miller, Thomas Turnbull, Ellie Smith, Aayen Akhtar, Mpilonhle Nxumalo, Simbonge Sithole, Melokuhle Biyela, Ndlovu Masijabule, Isabel Sutcliffe, Thomas Ward
Outstanding Leaders: Sikhakhane Nonjabulo, Change Mongezi, Nzuza Nombuso, Sibhaca Siyapha, Daphiwe Mkhize, Thubelihle Thusi, Ruari Burke, Isobel Bartkow, Amira Ahmed, Dylan Taqk, Simthandile Sithole, Mvuselelo Ngcobo, Aphelele Biyela, Melokukuhle Ndima, Evie Collinge, Henry Bowker
William Vilakazi, Principal of Vumanhlamvu Primary School said, “The Bambisanani Athletics Challenge is a completely new sport code for many schools in the deep rural areas such as Nkandla. Most of the schools lack proper resources and sports fields for sports activities. Learners and educators were initially struggling to understand some of the challenges such as Relay in the beginning of the Athletics Challenge, even to use stopwatches because it was their first time to experience it. The Athletic Challenge has brought joy and happiness in our school and another area where learners can prove their potential. Both learners and educators seem to enjoy it during physical education classes. As a result of a wide range of Bambisanani initiatives we are seeing improvements in self-esteem, behaviour and academic progress."
Learners clearly loved the Challenges:
“l really enjoyed the Standing Long Jump and the Tennis Ball Throw - l even practice these things with my friends at home now.”
“I was so happy to participate in the Bambisanani Athletics competition. l really enjoyed the Relay and l want to be a gold medal winner next year. Thank you, Bambisanani Partnership, for donating sports equipment to make these things possible.”
“l won this year in the Tennis Ball Throw. l want to excel next year again. l will have to work hard for this.”
David Farmer, Deputy Headteacher from St. Joseph’s Pudsey Primary School in Leeds who travelled to South Africa with the team of volunteers from St. Mary’s School and supported the Nkandla Athletics Festival said, "This year we returned to South Africa and involved even more schools and learners in the Athletics Festival. The children undertook a variety of fun warm up activities then went to each ‘athletics station’, where they received coaching from the young leaders from the UK. Coaching cards were provided to the schools so they could continue their teaching of athletics in preparation for next year. The young leaders were amazed at the enthusiasm and eagerness that the South African pupils showed. They commented that it was one of the many highlights of their visit and were grateful of the opportunity to use their coaching skills internationally. From my perspective it was wonderful to see so many children competing and interacting with our young leaders, the numbers of children competing had significantly increased from last year. Smiles were on the faces of all those involved, from pupil to coaches, and it was great to have the chance to be there at the awards ceremony when the medals were presented. I will never forget the joy of parents dancing and singing, sharing in their child's achievement. As one of the adults on the team, it was great to stand back and see the young leaders step forward to take on coaching roles so effectively. There was real learning through sport on so many levels. We have to extend this outstanding initiative."
David Geldart concluded, “My sincere thanks to all the schools, educators, volunteers and children involved in this growing event; we have had much to celebrate this year with some interesting new developments. Having student volunteers from Leeds to create an Athletics Festival for the South African primary schools was an outstanding success. Special thanks also the KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and to Coastlands Hotels and Resorts for their support and sponsorship; we look forward to further partnership work with them in the future. This programme is producing such a positive result and it now important to work with all stakeholders to develop it even further.”
