NEWS
Article: Looking back, looking forward
Read our article as a PDF file
Read our article as a PDF file
Looking back, looking forward
The Bambisanani Partnership has gained international acclaim for its pioneering work using sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership in one of South Africa’s most deprived areas. Based on extracts from the recently published book Bambisanani: Ten years of Working together and Learning Together, twelve key individuals involved in the work of the Bambisanani Partnership offer their perspectives on the past ten years but also on what the future might hold for the multi award winning charity.
Author and Designer praise publishers Prime Group as new Bambisanani book gains international acclaim
David Geldart, author of the latest Bambisanani book 'Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together' has praised the support of the Prime Group who printed and produced the book.
David Geldart, author of the latest Bambisanani book 'Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together' has praised the support of the Prime Group who printed and produced the book.
"The latest Bambisanani book has gained international acclaim and this is no small part to the Prime Group who physically produced it and who were exceptional to work with in every regard. I could not recommend them highly enough for any aspect of printing. They are great supporters of our charity and are an absolute pleasure to work with."
The book's designer, Duncan Baines also praised the Prime Group: "Producing a finished product that both the author and designer are happy with is far from easy. The team at Prime were so helpful and professional at every stage of the project. Above and beyond this they are genuinely interested in the work of the Bambisanani Partnership. I can recommend them unreservedly to other organisations."
For more information about the Prime Group and their range of printing services please see : www.primegroup.co.uk
Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together Book Published
The Bambisanani Partnership has this week published its fourth book Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together
The Bambisanani Partnership has this week published its fourth book Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together
The multi award winning charity has gained international acclaim for its inspirational and pioneering work using sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, global citizen and leadership in one of South Africa’s poorest communities. The new book chronicles the first ten years of the Bambisanani story from 2006–2016.
Written by the partnership's founder David Geldart with Foreword by Baroness Tanni Grey – Thompson, the book has been described as a heart-warming story of challenge, determination and hope.
““The book was written to tell our story, a story that has gone from strength to strength despite enormous challenges. The ten year story acknowledges the remarkable achievements of Bambisanani team members in both the UK and South Africa, in particular those of the amazing young people of both communities. The book is testimony to the power of sport to change lives and to what can be achieved when two communities from different sides of the world commit to working together in a genuine partnership. A major aim of the book is to encourage other schools, colleges and universities to get involved in similar work.””
Ten years in development and two years in writing the large hard back book is impressive in both appearance and content with 300 pages, almost 100,000 words and including over 600 photographs.
A limited number of first edition copies of the book are available at £50 each with all proceeds going to support the work of the charity. Please contact Mrs Catherine Chattoe at St. Mary’s, Menston – c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org or 01943883000
THE FULL BOOK IS AVAILABLE TO READ ONLINE OR DOWNLOAD FOR FREE
Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together (full layout with photos) [ISSU.COM]
Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together (PDF, 20MB)
Inspirational charity launches new book [WHARFEDALE OBSERVER]
The Bambisanani Partnership celebrates its Tenth Anniversary
2006–2016
2006–2016
In 2006, David Geldart, the then Director of Physical Education and Sport at St. Mary’s, Menston, visited South Africa as part of a British Council and Youth Sport Trust initiative to promote sport in the country’s most deprived areas. As a direct result of that visit, St. Marys and Mnyakanya High School in KwaZulu-Natal developed a unique partnership using sport to inspire young people in both countries. The two schools named their collaboration the ‘Bambisanani Partnership’ – Bambisanani being the Zulu word meaning ‘working hand in hand’. The partnership has subsequently gained international acclaim for its ‘pioneering and inspirational work’ using the power of sport to promote education, health, global citizenship, enterprise in one of South Africa’s poorest rural regions. Ten years on, the partnership has become a multi Award winning charity chaired by David Geldart and led by Mrs Catherine Chattoe at St. Marys and Mrs PK Zondi in South Africa.
Mnyakanya High School is situated in the rural and remote Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The school, in the heart of traditional Zululand, was opened by Nelson Mandela in 2004 and is located in one of the most deprived areas of South Africa with high rates of HIV/AIDS, unemployment and adult illiteracy. The area has one of highest rates of AIDS orphans in the world. Class sizes are in excess of 60 and the school has very limited resources. Despite all this, Mnyakanya provides an oasis of hope in the area and many students walk two hours, each way, for the opportunity to receive an education.
Sport has driven the Bambisanani Partnership and has been the catalyst for whole school developments at both St. Mary’s and Mnyakanya. Over the course of the past ten years the Bambisanani Partnership has become part of each school’s identity. Teacher and student exchanges, joint learning projects involving almost all areas of the curriculum have enriched teaching and learning at both schools and empowered the partnership. A fundamental factor in this success has been whole school involvement, engagement and support of Governors, Senior Leaders, teachers, parents, students and the wider community including supporters and sponsors.
The visits to and from each country have had a significant impact on those involved. Students from St. Mary’s who visit South Africa prepare for more that eighteen months in advance. In addition to the necessary fund raising and advanced leadership training, students are involved in a learning programme that covers topics such as Apartheid, South African history and politics, Zulu culture and traditions, HIV/AIDS awareness and Zulu language. When in South Africa the students (normally lower Sixth Form) mentor twenty Mnyakanya students through the ‘Bambisanani Leadership’ programme, taught through sports activities. At the end of the programme, the students from both schools have the responsibility of jointly planning and delivering a community Sports Festival and a community Reading Festival for over 150 primary school children from the Nkandla region. Significantly, even the Reading Festival uses sport to great effect. Beyond the leadership mentoring, St. Mary’s students also coach a range of specific sports and teach academic subjects at Mnyakanya, and sports and reading at Ntlowane Primary School and Zulufadder Orphanage.
The annual visits to South Africa have also included primary and secondary colleagues in order to encourage this kind of development in other schools. Business sponsors and supporters have also visited the project.
David Geldart said:-
“The process of the young people working together using sport for the greater good never fails to remind us of the awesome power of sport. The impact on all those involved is truly inspirational.”
Quotes from St. Mary’s students:
“My world has just got bigger, I realise it is my duty to be a global citizen.”
“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.”
“How can my life ever be the same again? I have been given the most wonderful opportunity and I have a responsibility now to continue to make a difference in my life.”
Quotes from Mnyakanya students:
“We have worked together …. people of different colours, countries, religions and cultures …. we have proved it can be done.”
“My view of the world has changed. I can now see what a difference it makes when you love and respect people.”
“We have all learned so much from working together. We have learned to be leaders and to work in the wider community. We have made friends and now have greater confidence in the world.”
Beyond annual visits, the majority of Faculty areas at St. Mary’s have used the partnership as a stimulus for learning. Exceptional work in Religious Education, English, Languages, Humanities, Technology, Drama, Art and Music has further embedded the collaboration. Joint learning projects in Art and Creative Writing based on the theme of ‘The Power of Sport’ inspired over 650 students from both schools to voluntarily enter age related competitions. The work has since been exhibited in both countries and prints sold internationally.
‘Bambisanani Enterprises’ is a student led business that exists in both schools with the purpose of teaching enterprise skills and raising funding for the partnership. Business sponsors in both countries have given their time to mentor students involved. The partnership has also developed the Bambisanani Award scheme. To gain the awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold level, students have to successfully complete independent learning projects on Leadership, Social Justice, Global Citizenship, Enterprise, Volunteering and Community Engagement.
The charity supports Aids orphans into school and is currently funding four students through University. Simphiwe Ndlovu is now in his second year at University training to be a teacher. Simphiwe said, ‘I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I completed the Bambisanani Leadership Programme. I was really motivated to succeed in my studies at school to gain entry to University. To become a teacher is my dream. I want to be one of those good teachers that the world needs.’
St. Mary’s and Mnyakanya both now work with other schools to encourage them to also develop international partnerships. This involves working with schools individually and speaking at conferences about the Bambisanani Partnership and the benefits of such work.
Both the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University have become involved with the Bambisanani Partnership. Led by Andy Lockwood, staff and students the University of Leeds have recently returned from South Africa where they pioneered a unique cycling project at Mnyakanya School, teaching students how to ride bikes safely and maintain them. In addition to this, the team delivered a Sports Leadership programme to over 150 primary school children and volunteered at Zulufadder Orphanage.
In its tenth Anniversary year, the Bambisanani Partnership has ambitious plans to extend its work and influence. In addition to the annual exchanges, supporting students in need and the provision of a wide range of new learning activities in both schools, the charity is working with the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University to develop leadership programmes with its own students in South Africa. At Mnyakanya School the charity is currently working on the instillation of Wi Fi and computers to enhance teaching and learning in this remote rural area. It is also the aim to create a football pitch for the school and wider community on land nearby. The partnership's long term relationship with Zulufadder Orphanage will be developed through the building of a new Hostel for the most vulnerable of vulnerable children who need immediate care and accommodation. Additionally the partnership is also working with the South African Commission to the UK to help establish a Sport and Education Forum linking the UK and South Africa with the British Council and Youth Sport Trust to support other schools develop sustainable partnerships.
William Vilakazi, Principal of Mnyakanya School, is in no doubt about the importance of the partnership:-
“The Bambisanani Partnership continues to be an inspiration to our school and community. It is difficult to put into words the impact of the partnership. Some of the impact is physical and very practical; some of the impact is psychological, influencing attitudes, confidence, motivation and aspiration. We all learn from working together and the focus on developing young leaders is changing people’s lives. We are working in an equal partnership where there is mutual respect. There is a saying in Zulu culture: ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ – meaning, ‘we are what we are because of others’. We are genuinely working hand in hand and I believe that both school communities are enhanced as a result. What this partnership teaches cannot be learned from books.”
The partnership's founder, David Geldart added:
“This work is not easy, indeed it is fraught with difficulties and frustration; yet the prize is great if you have a team that is determined to succeed. This is not really about charity, it is much more than that; it is about people from different parts of the world working together and learning together. The Bambisanani Partnership will not change the world but it has changed the world for some people; it has changed the lives and perspectives of many. It is testimony to the unique power of sport and of education as to what can be achieved by working hand in hand in a genuine partnership. We have learned so much from our first ten years of working together; not least that we can achieve even more in the next ten years.”
Three remarkable books have been published about the work of the Bambisanani Partnership. The fourth book, Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together, is currently being written and will be published early next year.
10 Year Anniversary of Bambisanani Logo Competition
During 2016 we are celebrating 10 years of the Bambisanani Partnership. Jack Lynn's (7 Gwyn) design was chosen.
During 2016 we are celebrating 10 years of The Bambisanani Partnership. Jack Lynn's (7 Gwyn) design was chosen.
Photo: Jack Lynn with his winning design
Before Christmas we asked students to design a logo for us.
We had many great designs which meant it was very difficult to pick a winner. Jack Lynn (7 Gwyn) produced a winning design that will be included on Bambisanani communications during this special year.
The result was announced in assembly when Jack received a framed copy of his winning logo.
Well done Jack!
The Winning Logo
It is a successful logo design because it works well:
At different sizes
In colour and also in black and white
Both with and without a background colour
On screens and when printed out