NEWS
Bambisanani Partnership helps South African children return to school with water supply connection
The learners and educators are now back in school – there is much excitement!
The learners and educators are now back in school – there is much excitement!
It was reported several weeks ago that the Principal of Mnyakanya School in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa had contacted the Menston based Bambisanani Partnership charity as students at her school were not able to return to school after the Coronavirus lockdown as the school had no water supply and students and staff could not adhere to safety and hygiene procedures such as washing hands and equipment. Mrs Mkhize spoke of her students ‘starting to lose hope’ in what is one of the most deprived parts of the country that had over 90% unemployment even before the onset of the pandemic.
The three main UK based partners of the charity; St. Mary’s School, Menston, The University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University wasted no time in setting about raising the necessary funds to first and foremost reconnect water to the school and also to improve the plumbing at the school, particularly the number of taps that students have access to. Fundraising events from on-line Quiz Nights to the ongoing sponsored Run/Walk/Cycle the equivalent distance from Yorkshire to South Africa have been enhanced by generous donations from Bambisanani supporters.
£5,000 was the initial target which would enable the water to be connected and students return to school. The Bambisanani Partnership is absolutely thrilled to announce that it has worked in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and that jointly the funding has been found – the water subsequently connected and the students have returned to school.
““We are lost for words to express our grateful thanks and joy at being able to return to school; we have hope again.””
““Thank you to everyone at the Bambisanani Partnership for all the hard work that has allowed Mnyakanya to reopen because we now have water at the school. The learners and educators are now back in school – there is much excitement! Please pass on our sincere thanks to all the Bambisanani team and supporters for making this happen and happen so quickly.””
The Chair of Governors at the school Mr Sguda Bhengu passed on sincere thanks from the Governing Body to the partnership for restoring the water supply to the school, adding, “We still face the Covid-19 pandemic but the water supply means that washing and hygiene will no longer be a problem.”
David Geldart, Founder and Chair of the Bambisanani Partnership was delighted that the students and teachers had now returned to school, and said “To resolve this problem has been a tremendous team effort. Very quickly we were able to liaise with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to agree a ‘50/50’ funding package that would connect Mnyakanya School to the water supply. Our special thanks must go to Dr David Chonco, Tony Moodley, Priscilla Guliwe and all at Mnyakanya School and the wider community for their commitment to this project. Thanks also to all the Bambisanani Trustees who worked tirelessly to make this happen. Last but not least, a special tribute must be paid to our other Bambisanani team members and supporters who were so swiftly into action with fund raising. These efforts have certainly all made a real difference; Mnyakanya School is an oasis of hope serving one of South Africa’s poorest communities. Children being in school here massively enhances their life chances which will ultimately help tackle the poverty in the area. These young people are so keen and determined to learn; many of them are prepared walk two hours to and from school each day because they value education so much. They set us an example with their positive and dedicated attitude and they deserve every chance and encouragement. We have now successfully achieved phase one of this plan. Phase two is about improving the plumbing at the school so that there is more than one outside tap for the students to use. We are also investigating installing more sustainable and effective water collection and storage methods at the school – so the fundraising for the ‘Mnyakanya Water Project’ will certainly continue! The next time that you turn a tap on or wash your hands spare a thought for members of this community where these procedures are certainly not taken for granted.”
VIDEO: Bambisanani Challenge 2020 Animation
To donate to charity to support this initiative please visit contact Bambisanani Coordinator at St. Mary’s, Mrs Catherine Chattoe: c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org or use our donate button.
To donate to charity to support this initiative please visit contact Bambisanani Coordinator at St. Mary’s, Mrs Catherine Chattoe: c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org or use our donate button
Thank you Mrs Chattoe for producing this compelling animation explaining the Bambisanani 2020 Challenge.
Yorkshire to South Africa run, walk or cycle challenge will help save lives
Fourteen years ago Mnyakanya High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, together with St. Mary’s Menston established the now multi award winning Bambisanani Partnership which uses sport to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership.
Fourteen years ago Mnyakanya High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, together with St. Mary’s Menston established the now multi award winning Bambisanani Partnership which uses sport to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership.
The remote rural area of Mnyakanya High School
A few weeks ago Mnyakanya School contacted the Bambisanani Partnership charity with the terrible news that they had no water supply which meant that the school could not reopen safely after the coronavirus lockdown of schools in South Africa as basic hygiene requirements such as hand washing could not be carried out. The Acting Principal of the school Mrs Thulie Mkhize spoke of young people ‘starting to lose hope’ in a school that offers hope above all else in one of the country’s most remote and deprived areas.
The Bambisanani Team whose visit to South Africa in June 2020 has been postponed due to Covid 19.
In order to get running water reinstated at the school students and staff from St. Marys have started a fund raising campaign which involves members of the school community collectively running, walking or cycling the equivalent distance from Menston to Mnyakanya – 8709 miles! Led by teacher Miss Charlotte Wood the initial challenge involved 21 students and staff from the school who are directly involved in the partnerships work in South Africa, including current and former members of staff: Charlotte Wood, Catherine Chattoe, Matt Harvey, Brad Dobson, David Geldart and Year 12 students: Joseph Nicol, Archie Bange, Ellie Woffenden, Gabe Beaumont, Millie Carroll, Theo Humphreys, Joe Newman, Oscar Helliwell, Catherine Westhead, Caitlin Copsey, Kizzy Tremlett, Sabrina Spilker, Aisling Hendron, Dion Barber, Emma Kerrigan and Luca Volpe.
Map showing the 8,709 mile distance between St. Mary's Menston and Mnyakanya High School
Last weekend a 10k run, cycle or walk event was completed by all the team which also saw many more teachers from the school join the challenge including: Mr Hearle, Mrs Hayes, Mrs Rix, Mr Pringle, Mrs Wilson, Miss Chrispin, Mrs Beesting, Miss Anderson, Mrs Thornton, Miss Rogers, Mrs Thomas, Mrs Findlay, Mrs Harrison, Ms Pettifer, Mr Dennett, Mr Steingold, Mrs Hanson, Mr Thornton, Miss Mason and Mrs Doyle.
Collectively, the team have now completed 1665 miles, which on the long road to South Africa takes them to Almeria in Spain. With all team members clocking up the miles on daily basis the destination will hopefully be reached by November which will culminate in many of them competing in the Leeds 10k.
The aim is to raise over £5000 which will not only reinstate clean water to the school but also increase the number of taps and improve plumbing.
““This is a fantastic initiative that will hopefully get Mnyakanya students back into school safely so they can start improving their life chances again. We take washing our hands and having clean water to drink for granted; it is difficult to comprehend life without access to water, particularly in these unprecedented and challenging times. The only guaranteed meal that many of these youngsters get is when they are at school – during the lockdown this has obviously not been happening so it essential to get the school open again as soon as possible. I thank everyone involved in this challenge and indeed those supporting it – you really will make a difference.””
To donate to charity to support this initiative please visit contact Bambisanani Coordinator at St. Mary’s, Mrs Catherine Chattoe: c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org or use our donate button:
The Bambisanani Partnership 2020 Challenge
Raising money to provide running water at Mnyakanya High School, helping to fight against Covid-19
Raising money to provide running water at Mnyakanya High School, helping to fight against Covid-19
Menston to Mnyakanya
🔵 8709 miles
🔵 168 days
🔵 21 participants
🔵 walk/run/cycle
Finishing with the Leeds 10k, 22nd November 2020
DONATE:
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/donation-web/charity…
St. Mary's South Africa Visit 2020 update
So today, 3 June 2020, marks the day that the 2020 Bambisanani team would have travelled to South Africa to deliver The Bambisanani Leadership Programme to the students of Mnyakanya High School, volunteer in an orphanage and help teach literacy skills in a deprived primary school.
So today, 3 June 2020, marks the day that the 2020 Bambisanani team would have travelled to South Africa to deliver The Bambisanani Leadership Programme to the students of Mnyakanya High School, volunteer in an orphanage and help teach literacy skills in a primary school.
We are all a little sad that the Covid-19 pandemic has spoilt our plans but we are all staying positive and hoping that we can still carry out our work someday in the future.
Stay safe.
The Bambisanani Team
Bambisanani Partnership resolute and resilient in the face of Coronavirus
The Bambisanani team hope that you are well and coping with these unprecedented and difficult times.
The Bambisanani team hope that you are well and coping with these unprecedented and difficult times.
You will not be surprised to hear that the Coronavirus pandemic has led to the postponement of this year’s visits to South Africa planned by St. Mary’s School, The University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University. My heart goes out to all the students and staff who have worked so hard and for so long preparing for the visits. Despite the disappointment the reaction of our teams in Leeds and in South Africa has been characteristically positive and determined with thoughts already turning to visits next year and an expansion of our volunteer programmes. The commitment, dedication, passion and resilience of our team never ceases to amaze and inspire me.
The Bambisanani Partnership will be ready when the world gets through this crisis; and get through it we will.
It is both ironic and perverse to think that there may be ‘positives’ that come from the current Coronavirus pandemic but I have been heartened and inspired by the outpouring of humanity in these most devastating and challenging of times. All our lives are currently very different to what they have been and I believe that because of this there is the very real potential for people around the world to ‘press the reset button’ in terms of purpose, values and what is really important in the world and in our lives. For many of us our priorities in the future will be different.
Every day we make choices about how we live our lives; what we consume and how we treat others. Every day presents us with a myriad of opportunities to make a real difference and a chance to live more authentic and meaningful lives – this is precisely why the Bambisanani Partnership will go from strength to strength with your help and support.
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”
Stay safe and stay well,
David Geldart
Founder and Chairman of The Bambisanani Partnership
Please wish Mr Harvey and our Year 12 students good luck as they will be running in the Bradford 10k on Sunday.
The team have volunteered to run the race as a way of fundraising for The Bambisanani Partnership.
The team have volunteered to run the race as a way of fundraising for The Bambisanani Partnership.
St. Mary's students and Mr Harvey
If you wish to sponsor the runners please contact Mrs Chattoe at St. Mary’s Menston school: c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org
The students are:
Theo Humphreys
Joseph Nicol
Archie Bange
Millie Carroll
Gabriel Beaumont
Joseph Newman
Catherine Westhead.
Good luck to every Bambisanani runner!