NEWS
A new adventure — volunteering abroad as a mature student
Reflections on my time volunteering in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as part of the University’s ‘Gryphons Abroad’ project in August 2024.
By Tracy Campbell
Reflections on my time volunteering in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as part of the University’s ‘Gryphons Abroad’ project in August 2024.
By Tracy Campbell
Building meaningful connections
Tracy embraces this new adventure.
As I reflect on my time volunteering in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa this summer, the depth of the relationships I built during this experience is hard to convey. Beyond the initial excitement and challenges of venturing into an unfamiliar environment, the true heart of my journey lay in the connections I formed with the children, fellow students, KZN cycle coaches and the teachers and school principals we worked alongside. Every interaction, whether through cycle clinics, classroom sessions or insightful casual conversations, became a source of inspiration and personal growth.
A special bond: Mrs Pk Zondi and the Bambisanani Partnership
Mrs Pk Zondi at the KZN Schools Cycling Competition.
One relationship that stands out is my bond with Mrs. Pk Zondi, the Bambisanani Partnership Coordinator at Mnyakanya School. The Bambisanani Partnership, a charity linked to over 40 schools and universities in both the UK and South Africa (including the University of Leeds), aims to use sport as a tool to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership. Mrs. Zondi’s passion for education and her unwavering dedication to her students was inspiring, and her leadership went far beyond the classroom.
Our conversations often focused on the challenges her students face and her dreams for their future. It was particularly exciting to learn that Mrs. Zondi is planning a visit to Leeds with two of her students! I’m eager to welcome them to my hometown and show them the cultural richness and diversity that Leeds has to offer. This exchange will not only deepen our cross-cultural connection but also give me a chance to return the warmth and hospitality we received in KwaZulu-Natal.
Global perspectives: connecting students to real-world issues
Volunteering in South Africa was more than just a practical experience — it was a deeply educational one which brought global issues like poverty, gender inequality and social mobility into sharp focus. Looking back, I realise how well the modules I’ve studied as part of my Professional Studies degree with the Lifelong Learning Centre — particularly ‘Global Perspectives’, ‘Exploring Diversity’ and ‘Employability in a Changing World’ — prepared me for this experience.
“One of the best weeks ever”
The academic frameworks provided by these modules challenged me to critically examine ethical and cultural diversity and what it means to be a global citizen. For example, the leadership styles discussed in the ‘Employability in a Changing World’ module — clear communication, adaptability and the ability to engage with different learning styles — were particularly relevant to my work with children in South Africa. Hearing one student say that it was the “one of the best weeks ever” was immensely rewarding and reaffirmed my belief in the power of education and leadership to create lasting change. I carried the lessons from these modules into every aspect of the project — whether teaching, coaching or collaborating with teachers and volunteers.
Empowering girls: breaking barriers through cycling
Female students breaking through cultural barriers.
One of the most memorable aspects of the project was the cycle clinics. In Zulu culture it’s uncommon for girls to ride bicycles, so teaching them to cycle was not only a physical challenge but also a cultural one. Watching their confidence grow as they mastered the skill of cycling was deeply gratifying. But this was more than just learning to ride a bike — it was about empowerment, independence and breaking through cultural barriers.
Through these cycle clinics we also had meaningful discussions about gender equality, women’s rights and the societal norms the girls face in their communities. Their excitement and newfound sense of freedom through cycling were infectious, serving as a reminder of how sport can transcend cultural differences and foster social change.
Empowerment and building trust at Mnyakanya High School.
Building trust: the foundation for learning and growth
University of Leeds Gryphons Abroad 2024!
Building relationships with the children was vital to the success of the cycle clinics and leadership activities. Establishing trust and creating a supportive environment allowed the children to feel safe, engaged and motivated to learn. Their growing confidence, whether in cycling or during leadership exercises, and their sense of accomplishment was one of the most rewarding parts of the trip. The positive feedback they shared reaffirmed the importance of trust and strong relationships in any educational setting.
As a mature student, this experience also came with its own set of personal challenges. Living in a new environment, far from my family, wasn’t easy. Adjusting to a group dynamic where most students were in their early twenties required adaptability, resilience and an open mind. However, I soon realised that our differences in age and life experience enriched the journey for all of us. We each brought unique perspectives and strengths, and this diversity helped us grow together, fostering a deeper sense of collaboration and understanding.
A journey of personal growth: overcoming fears and finding confidence
Through this journey I’ve learned so much — not just about the world, but about myself. Overcoming my initial fears, from wondering if I’d fit in with younger students to navigating the logistics of leaving my family behind, has given me a renewed sense of confidence. This experience has reaffirmed that it’s never too late to pursue a long-held dream. The rewards of stepping outside of our comfort zones are often far greater than we can imagine, and I’m proud to have taken this leap.
Welcoming the future: a cross-cultural exchange in Leeds
As I prepare to welcome Mrs. Zondi and her students to Leeds, I’m reminded once again of the profound impact of cross-cultural exchange. The warmth and generosity we received in South Africa has inspired me to ensure that their visit here is just as meaningful. I look forward to showing them the diverse communities of Leeds, introducing them to new perspectives and continuing our journey of mutual learning.
Lessons learned: embracing global citizenship
This adventure has taught me that — regardless of age, background or personal circumstances — we all have something valuable to contribute as global citizens. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this project, and I’m excited to continue exploring what it means to be part of a global community. Each experience, each connection, adds richness to our shared human story — and I look forward to seeing where this journey will take me next.
Volunteering abroad as a mature student has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s reaffirmed my belief in the power of education, the importance of cross-cultural understanding, and the limitless possibilities that arise when we step out of our comfort zones and embrace the world with an open mind and an open heart.
Tracy also wrote about how she found the process of applying to and being accepted onto the ‘Gryphons Abroad’ scheme and the preparations for her trip to KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year — you can read that piece here.
Also see related articles:
University of Leeds volunteers use the power of sport to excel in South Africa
A team of seven students and three staff from the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union have returned from a life changing visit to South Africa to deliver Gryphons Abroad 2024, our ongoing cycling and sport development project. Our programme sees volunteers deployed for a period of four weeks in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal to teach cycling, leadership and sport in hard-to-reach communities. Members of staff Lauren Havercroft, Fenella Walsh and Matty Walsh were joined by students Euan Taylor, Tracy Campbell, Madhiya Hussain, Maria Roxo-Marques, Harvey Renshaw, Freddie Ankers and Will Rawlings.
Through partnership work with KZN Cycling, the KZN Department of Education and Menston based charity, the Bambisanani Partnership, our student team supported the ongoing activation of a regional cycling hub in the Nkandla area. The cycling hub is basically a shipping container which houses a collection of bikes and a trailer which subsequently tours local schools teaching and coaching cycling. Alongside KZN Development Coach, Sonqoba Ndlovu our students delivered 15 cycling clinics and a cycling festival for talented riders in August 2024. The spectrum of learners involved in the programme included complete novices, improvers and competent riders. The team were particularly keen to teach cycling to young women and girls, who would not traditionally learn this skill in Zulu culture. Riders also received cycling jerseys and water bottles, plus helmets in the hub were restocked thanks to the kind support of Chevin Cycles and Otley Cycling Club.
One week of the project also sees students deliver a sport and leadership week for grade seven pupils from three primary schools in the township of Eshowe. Pupils participate in sport, leadership activities and classroom sessions culminating in them being challenged to lead their own game or activity for their peer group at the end of the week.
Tracy Campbell, University of Leeds Professional Studies student commented;
“A particularly moving aspect of the project was the cycle clinics. In Zulu culture, it is uncommon for girls to ride bicycles, so this initiative was culturally sensitive. The girls’ excitement and newfound empowerment through cycling were deeply fulfilling. The ability to bridge cultural gaps and foster dialogue about women’s rights was a significant learning experience for me emphasising the power of sport as a tool for social change.”
Across the region our students and staff also participated in a range of cultural experiences, being welcomed by singing and dancing in every school, as well as observing a charity music event and workshops on Women’s Day which is a public holiday in South Africa.
Vision ‘To use sport & education to inspire, engage and develop young people and communities in both Leeds and South Africa’
Across the four weeks the team engaged with 12 partner organisations in the UK and South Africa, mobilising 1,387 participations in sport and cycling. Parallel to the impact on pupils in Kwa-Zulu Natal, our student team created memories and friendships to last a lifetime as well as developing transferable graduate level skills. The student volunteers participated in a full programme of training, fundraising and mentoring in the eight months leading up to the visit which included a Level 2 coaching qualification, first aid training, bike maintenance training, teaching skills and more. The staff team provided 486 hours of training and support for our students to prepare them for the role.
Teachers and students in South Africa were positive about all aspects of the programme:
“I think there will be a great impact – you can see the pupils are excited to be on a bike and trying some new sports which are less familiar to them. This is the first of its kind at our school. We wish our pupils to be able to enter competitions. We would be excited to welcome KZN Cycling and University of Leeds volunteers back again.”
“The sports leadership festival is informative, inspiring and interactive. The involvement learners have in the activities enhanced their confidence levels. It had a positive impact on our pupils and helped them develop their skills. Next year it would be great to invite more schools”
“I enjoy the cycling – I was scared but now I can do it. We have new friends, and we are enjoying it very much”
“This has been the best week of my life. I’ve learnt so much about being a leader in these sessions”
University of Leeds Sport Science student Freddie Ankers added;
“I learnt a lot about myself. I can do things and I definitely do want to teach. It has really helped shape me as a person – I am leaving Leeds now and what a way to finish.”
Key Objectives and Principles
David Geldart CEO of the partnership praised the work of all involved, “Huge congratulations to the team from the University of Leeds who yet again have raised the bar in terms of volunteering in South Africa. The students have been exemplary ambassadors for the university using the power of sport and education to change lives in one of the most challenging parts of the country. The learning that ensues for students from both country’s is most powerful indeed. Such global encounters broaden horizons and create more expansive world views. The University of Leeds has made an outstanding contribution to the Bambisanani Partnership for more than ten years, leading on a variety of programmes. The university team deserve great credit for their commitment, dedication and vision which, year on year, provides the most wonderful opportunities for its students in South Africa. My special thanks must go to Andy Lockwood and Suzzi Garnett at the university for making all this possible.”
Key Facts
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Wheels in Motion for Bambisanani Partnership and KZN Cycling
For the past 18 years, the Bambisanani Partnership has operated in the most challenging rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa using the power of sport to transform lives. During that time more 20,000 young people from the UK and South Africa have engaged in the charity’s various projects and programmes.
For the past 18 years, the Bambisanani Partnership has operated in the most challenging rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa using the power of sport to transform lives. During that time more 20,000 young people from the UK and South Africa have engaged in the charity’s various projects and programmes.
Key Bambisanani partner, The University of Leeds, introduced a pioneering cycling programme ten years ago which had a significant impact in an area where young people routinely walk 2 hours to and from school each day. The work led to discussions with KZN Cycling and a formal partnership which aims to train up to 5,000 young people a year how to ride and maintain bikes.
KZN Cycling has wholeheartedly embraced the provincial and national government’s mission of being able to transform the sport and recreation environment through integrated, sustainable mass participation, development and high-performance programmes at all levels by ensuring equitable access, as well as aligning to government outcomes to improve the quality of life of all the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal.
The KZN Cycling Development Programme which was started in earnest in 2018 with the support of the department has grown and matured into an internationally recognised project of excellence. It is recognised as the most expansive development programme on the African Continent and certainly one of the top sports development rollout plans worldwide. The programme is not only about developing young riders in all 11 districts in KZN, but also staging numerous capacity building programmes in key linked elements such as training mechanics, race officials, marshals and course and track builders alike with the express aim being for these courses to lead to job creation opportunities for the attending candidates.
Many excellent programmes are in progress in KZN and the rest of the country, but a major downfall of many elements is due to the “silo effect” that many organisations and bodies employ where good work continues to be done, but by embracing work being done by others in the area or the sector, the positive benefits can be increased significantly. This was the underlying desire in creating the ground breaking arrangement between KZN Cycling and the Bambisanani Partnership whereby with the support of the UK based charity, KZN Cycling was able to establish a cycling hub in Nkandla that started operating fully from July 2023.
New bikes and helmets, a storage facility, a new bike trailer to transport the bikes to the surrounding schools and equipment to be able to run the training clinics were all put in place and a development coach from the community was trained and installed to carry out the clinics in the broader Nkandla area. By the end of June 2024, a total of 161 training clinics have been staged at more than ten different schools in the area with 4,034 learners being involved during the course of the year. Local competitions have also been staged that have seen the youngsters being able to test themselves against their peers from the region, and apart from earning bragging rights, this process serves as a valuable tool to be able to identify talented riders with potential who then start being fed into the system to received additional and advanced training from the HP coaches that visit the area on a regular basis.
The programme has been extremely well received, and Priscilla Guliwe, Circuit Coordinator for the KZN Department of Education said, “The cycling development programme that is now in place in the area has created a lot of excitement and interest and in fact, all 26 schools in my circuit want to be part of the project - they are so interested. Hopefully we can arrange for the plans to be expanded in the following years” which is indeed encouraging and proves that through small beginning, hard work and foresight, great things can come about.”
Alec Lenferna, CEO of KZN Cycling had this to say, “We are really happy at how things have started to develop in Nkandla. Every area that we operate in is different and has its own characteristics and some challenges, and Nkandla has been no different at times. But, in conjunction with the local role players and Priscilla and her team from the Education Department in the area, we have been able to navigate through the challenges and we believe that now that we have put down the roots, we can really start driving things forward at an even greater pace in the area. We have an open and honest association with the Bambisanani Partnership that have been part of the discussions to find solutions to challenges when they have arisen, and this is what positive and embracing partnerships should be and we look forward to developing and evolving the programme collectively as time goes on”.
David Geldart from the Bambisanani Partnership added, “This is a really exciting programme that brings together local communities, KZN Cycling, KZN Department of Education, KZN Department of Sport, Arts & Culture and ourselves. We all have a great commitment to working together and learning together for the benefit of bringing all that cycling can offer to remote rural communities. The international research on bringing cycling to such areas is incredibly powerful: increased school attendance, reduced school lateness, increased school attainment, increased accessed to employment and healthcare as well as well as being a safer means of transport for women and girls. Add to this the fun, enjoyment and freedom that cycling can offer. Our collaboration is highly motivated to develop and extend this programme.”
Considering that this work has never been done before in this area, Year One of this joint programme has gone very well; not without some challenges, but these are far outweighed by the huge number of successes that have been achieved. Happy, smiling and healthy youngsters on bikes are all positive side effects of efforts that have been put in by a number of people this year, and success often breeds success and the next phases of the project promise much. Later this year, student volunteers from the University of Leeds will spend a month in South Africa supporting this ambitious and impactful programme.
Published: 03/07/2024
Charity leader praises work of volunteers in South Africa
Following a break of three years due to Covid 19 restrictions, 2023 has proved to be a remarkable year of volunteering in South Africa for the Bambisanani Partnership.
Following a break of three years due to Covid 19 restrictions, 2023 has proved to be a remarkable year of volunteering in South Africa for the Bambisanani Partnership.
41 students together with 11 members of staff from St. Mary’s School, Menston, University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University and Newcastle College spent more than three months in South Africa delivering Bambisanani programmes using sport to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership in one the countries most deprived and challenging areas. In four separate coordinated visits the volunteers worked with 3,631 South African students from 33 different schools of which 17 were new partner institutions. 3,151 students from primary and secondary schools were involved in sports festivals and coaching activities and 1,135 children experienced Bambisanani Leadership through Sport programmes.
David Geldart, CEO and Founder of the partnership said, “I have nothing but praise for the remarkable students and staff from St. Mary’s, Menston, The University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University and Newcastle College for their outstanding work in not only reintroducing volunteer student visits to South Africa after Covid but also for having such an enormous impact in doing so. Our work puts great store in creating learning opportunities for young people from both countries; Europeans and Africans ‘working together and learning together’ in a spirit of Ubuntu. All four institutions worked extremely hard with the local communities involved to establish what was needed on the ground then worked tirelessly in partnership to extend existing programmes and indeed to introduce new ones. These are four institutions that are prepared to ‘live their values’ in terms of Global Learning. They are helping to pioneer exceptionally powerful learning opportunities for young people in both countries. This work is far from easy. Despite the considerable challenges and hard work involved they are committed to ‘real education’ that is enabling young people to take a broader view of the world and their place in it. By any standard this is phenomenal educating that is helping to make the world a better place. Massive thanks to our wonderful team from South Africa and the UK for making all this happen and making a difference.”
The work of the partnership has been highlighted at conferences throughout the world, most recently at the Global Sport for All Summit held at the Vatican and at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia. The Bambisanani Partnership was named as International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year 2023.
Also see related:
St. Mary’s School raise the bar with two remarkable visits to South Africa this year (14/11/2023)
University of Leeds Gryphons Abroad programme engages over 2,000 children in South Africa (22/09/2023)
Newcastle College joins the Bambisanani Partnership with pioneering work in South Africa (01/09/2023)
University of Leeds Gryphons Abroad programme engages over 2,000 children in South Africa
A team of staff and students from the University of Leeds & Leeds Trinity University have just returned from South Africa, following the successful completion of a four-week sport development project. The Gryphons Abroad programme sees staff and students deployed to deliver cycling, sport and leadership in schools in the Nkandla region.
A team of staff and students from the University of Leeds & Leeds Trinity University have just returned from South Africa, following the successful completion of a four-week sport development project. The Gryphons Abroad programme sees staff and students deployed to deliver cycling, sport and leadership in schools in the Nkandla region.
Empowering youth through cycling initiatives
Through partnership work with KZN Cycling and the Bambisanani Partnership the team successfully engaged over 2000 young people. The project consisted of two key elements: cycling and sports leadership. KZN Cycling run clinics in schools in the region year-round via a permanent ‘cycling hub’ positioned in the heart of the rural communities. Mzamo Khoza, now a a cycling development officer for KZN Cycling, is a former pupil of Mnyakanya High School who undertook a cycling course led by University of Leeds staff and students back in 2016.
Mzamo Khoza, Cycling Development Coordinator for KZN Cycling commented:
“Working alongside the team was more than amazing because everyone was so focused on the task in hand whilst also having fun together in the process.”
Four weeks were spent teaching cycling in seven primary and secondary schools. Children were taught the basics of balancing and steering before progressing to pedaling. Whilst more experienced riders worked on their handling and control to prepare them for road cycling and races. Students also taught basic bike maintenance to all pupils.
The fourth week was spent delivering a sport & leadership festival for four primary schools in the township of Eshowe. The festival, hosted at Gratton College saw 150 grade 7’s from multiple primary schools come together to participate in a range of sessions. Leeds students delivered leadership sessions culminating in pupils designing and delivering their own games and activities for their peers. A first experience of leadership for many. Alongside this they participated in sports including football, netball and rounders. As well as classroom sessions designed by students and based on their own studies at home.
Gryphons Abroad impact on students
Parallel to the impact on children, the project also impacts positively on Leeds students. They have the opportunity to develop their practical skills, broaden their horizons and learn more about different cultures. Students were invited to learn basic Zulu as well as participate in traditional singing and dancing in almost every school visited on the trip!
The project was led by Sport & Physical Activity staff members Andy Lockwood, Suzzi Garnett & Lauren Havercroft along with Ammarah Pandor from Leeds Trinity. The six students were Connor Bull, Christian Lewis, Lucy Hughes, Rachel Barton, Rhiannah McCourt & Ellen Slack.
Connor Bull, University of Leeds Sport Science student and Gryphons Abroad 2023 team member said:
“The Gryphons Abroad project has been a real highlight of my time at university. The project taught me so much about myself both personally & professionally and allowed me to explore life in a completely different culture. I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment and would strongly recommend the project to anyone ready for a challenge!”
Andrew Lockwood, Assistant Head of Sport & Bambisanani trustee said:
“Our work with KZN Cycling has enabled us to bring the cycling project to more schools and more pupils in the region. It has been a very special year for staff and students visiting new places and meeting new people with the support of Mzamo. The journey of Mzamo himself clearly demonstrates the long-term impact cycling can have on individuals. Alongside this our skills auditing also evidences the clear impact on our graduates who measured improvements of up to 39% in all ten of the identified skill areas.”
Recruitment for students to join the 2024 Gryphons Abroad team will open in autumn. You can read more about the Gryphons Abroad programme here.
Published: 22/09/2023
Bambisanani Partnership will deliver its most ambitious volunteer programme in South Africa
This summer will see the most ambitious Bambisanani Partnership volunteer programme in South Africa to date.
This summer will see the most ambitious Bambisanani Partnership volunteer programme in South Africa to date.
In June, July and August volunteer teams from St. Mary’s School, Menston, the University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University and Newcastle College will work in partnership with schools and other organisations in the rural Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal to deliver a range of existing Bambisanani programmes as well as introducing new ones. In total, 58 students and members of staff have volunteered to work with local communities and schools in one of South Africa’s most challenging and deprived rural and remote areas.
Over the past 17 years, the Bambisanani Partnership has gained international acclaim for its work using sport as a catalyst to promote, education, health, global citizenship and leadership. Based on needs identified by local communities the partnership is committed to a range of collaborations that create learning opportunities for both students from South Africa and the UK under the banner of ‘Working together and learning together’.
The Bambisanani Partnership volunteer visits to South Africa were suspended during Covid and their reinstatement has been welcomed by all concerned: “It is wonderful that the visits will be starting again. Over the years they have made an incredible impact and changed the way that young people from both countries see the world and themselves. The visits enable special human connections to be made that change lives for the better and forever.” Mrs PK Zondi, Bambisanani Coordinator, Mnyakanya High School.
During the three years of Covid the charity demonstrated great resilience, determination and creativity in not only sustaining many of its ongoing activities but actually introducing some new projects with students in both countries. Much time was spent on maintaining the international relationships but also developing new ones. As a consequence, these visits will involve new schools, colleges and other organisations.
This year’s programme of varied activities will see Bambisanani volunteers work with over 1,000 Zulu students in primary, secondary schools and in the wider community. More than 200 students will participate in Bambisanani Sports Leadership programmes. Students from St. Mary’s and Newcastle College will collaborate with Zulu students to jointly deliver Sports and Reading Festivals for over 400 primary school learners. Students from the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University will deliver a Sports Leadership Festival for primary school learners in the town of Eshowe. The university teams will also work on the Bambisanani and KZN Cycling initiative that will launch this summer and see the collaboration teach 5,000 young people a year how to ride and maintain bikes. Considerable sports coaching will also take place as well as the teaching of other subject areas in all schools. All four UK institutions will work in collaboration with the Norwegian charity, Zulufadder, at the Doremi Day Care Centre for orphans and vulnerable children.
Newcastle College is the latest UK institution to join the Bambisanani Partnership and are clearly delighted to be taking students to South Africa for the very first time. Brogan O’Connor from the college said. “Newcastle College is honoured and excited to be joining the Bambisanani Partnership and will commit to representing the partnership with positivity and pride to uphold the values and standards set by both organisations. We recognise the amazing work that has been done over the last 17 years and we commit fully to this, aiming to add further value to the partnership by the continued involvement of Newcastle College.”
St. Mary’s School will have two groups working in South Africa this summer involving 34 Sixth Form students and staff. Miss Charlotte Wood from St. Mary’s said: “It is just wonderful that we are very much ‘back to work’ with the volunteer visits. It will allow for students to work hand in hand with their South African counterparts and explore the programme which has brought so much success over the years. It will hopefully, make the St. Mary’s students more aware of how valuable the work of Bambisanani is, allowing them to pass on their experiences to younger members of the St. Mary’s community and in doing so inspire the next generation of volunteers.”
Suzzi Garnett from the University of Leeds added: “The joint University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University visit this summer represents a great chance to build on the projects of the past as well as look to a sustainable future for the Cycling to Success project. This group of students will deliver new things in new ways and help determine the next steps for the project'.
David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership was full of praise for all those involved in both countries for organising the volunteer programme: “The commitment and dedication of our team to create such amazing learning opportunities is simply remarkable. We created a fantastic platform during Covid to massively extend our work further and this is a great example of that. The encounters that will result have the potential to influence young people from South Africa and the UK that will be responsible for shaping society in the future. This is real education for a better world and we are indebted to the very special individuals and institutions that enable this to happen.”
Beyond the Bambisanani volunteer programme the charity also has an extensive range of initiatives that operate throughout the year including its Cycling programme in partnership with KZN Cycling, International Athletics Challenge that links primary schools in both countries, joint training of Physical Education and Sports Coaches linking universities in both countries, Bambisanani Awards that promote Global Citizenship, Leadership and Volunteering for secondary and primary school students in both countries and a Bursary scheme supporting South African students into university and college.
Ground-breaking International partnership will bring cycling to thousands of children in rural South Africa
An innovative partnership has been developed between organisations from the UK and South Africa to establish a specialist cycle hub to enable thousands of children in rural South Africa to learn how to ride and maintain bicycles.
An innovative partnership has been developed between organisations from the UK and South Africa to establish a specialist cycle hub to enable thousands of children in rural South Africa to learn how to ride and maintain bicycles.
Lizzie Deignan MBE. Photo courtesy of JoJo Harper. All Rights reserved.
Since 2016, the University of Leeds and the Bambisanani Partnership have devised and delivered a Cycling to Success programme based at Mnyakanya High School in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This programme has led to almost 200 young people learning how to ride bikes safely and to also maintain and fix bikes out in the community. This programme has also operated a bike rental scheme to allow leaners who live great distances from school to ride to and from school. The project has gained widespread acclaim, including praise from World Champion professional cyclist, Lizzie Deignan MBE who has given her own kit to support it.
The ambition has always been to expand and grow the programme to further schools in the area to broaden the reach and numbers of children gaining these valuable life skills. Over the last two years, the University of Leeds and the Bambisanani Partnership have been working with the highly respected cycling NGO, KZN Cycling, to identify opportunities for collaboration and to expand the project across a great number of schools and across the calendar year.
The Bambisanani Cycling to Success programme introduced in the remote Nkandla region has had an enormous impact. This is an area where children can routinely walk two hours to and from school each day. The bikes have been subsequently been used for transportation, recreation, informal sport and even by the local football team for fitness training. Other remote rural communities also approached the Partnership to see if they could be involved but until now this has not been possible. The collaboration with KZN Cycling dramatically increases capacity to bring cycling, with all its transformative benefits, to other communities.
In this last week, the Bambisanani Partnership and KZN Cycling have signed a three-year agreement worth over £50,000 to establish a cycling hub in the Nkandla region of South Africa. This new hub will have a local community member as a member of staff to deliver schools cycling programmes, as well as community clinics and organise races and events across the area. The new hub will enable 5,000 young people per year to become cyclists and mechanics, as well as acting as a talent identification programme for KZN-Cycling performance pathway. This new partnership provides an exciting opportunity to empower the young people of Nkandla, as well as providing a blueprint for future programmes and projects.
The commitment and enthusiasm for this project is clearly evident from those involved
““We are all excited to develop this new partnership. A cycling hub like this, run by the community, for the community is development at its best. We have already seen the significant impact our cycling projects have had in Nkandla; this expansion is great news and I am sure will make a long-term impact on those who benefit from it.”
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““We’ve always believed that we have a good programme in place across all eleven districts in the province, and every year we have tens of thousands of youngsters that get included in the various elements, but the new agreement that has been put in place with the Bambisanani Partnership not only endorses the hard work being done by all, but more significantly, allows for longer term strategic planning linked to elements that are going to positively impact on the lives of the people of the Nkandla region. For people in the deep rural areas of KZN, bikes and the linked opportunities that bikes have are life changing. If there were more organisations like the Bambisanani Partnership that got behind development programmes like this, whether here or elsewhere in the world, there would be more smiles on more faces every day…” ”
““I am absolutely delighted to have signed this agreement to work in partnership with KZN Cycling. Our own cycling programmes in the deep rural areas have been a resounding success and it is a wonderful opportunity to be now collaborating with KZN Cycling to bring cycling to thousands more young people. Significantly, this work will also involve the KZN Department of Education and the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation who we have worked closely with for many years. Massive thanks must go to Andy and Alec for working tirelessly to create this pioneering programme.”
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With final preparations now underway the first children will be participating in the programme by early June of this year.
Also see related:
Universities push to restart International Volunteering Projects
The University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University are key members of the Bambisanani Partnership. Recently, staff from both universities have visited South Africa to establish links with a range of different partners, and to restart their successful international sports development programme.
The University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University are key members of the Bambisanani Partnership. Recently, staff from both universities have visited South Africa to establish links with a range of different partners, and to restart their successful international sports development programme.
The COVID period has meant that the two universities have been unable to conduct in-person development projects since 2019. However, during this time both universities have been working remotely with colleagues and organizations in South Africa to understand the landscape and form new exciting partnerships.
The team at Leeds Trinity University have been working with colleagues at the Imbali Education and Innovation Precinct and Durban University of Technology to explore potential areas for curriculum exchange and development in relation to their respective degree provision within sport and sports coaching. This includes a digital exchange project in 2021 where students from both the UK and South Africa collaborated to develop coaching resources and session plans to support delivery of multi-sports sessions across the KwaZulu-Natal region.
The University of Leeds has been looking to expand and develop its programme of cycling to more schools and young people across Kwazulu-Natal. To do this they have been working with a local NGO called KZN Cycling to look at the potential of developing a partnership to establish a cycling network that delivers programmes across the year, by local people, for local people.
Andy Lockwood (University of Leeds) and Chris Rowley (Leeds Trinity University) spent a week in South Africa to meet with various partners and stakeholders to formalise the progress that has been made and to explore emerging opportunities for the universities and the Bambisanani Partnership.
During the visit the team met with various government officials, Durban University of Technology (DUT) and KZN Cycling. The team also had the opportunity to visit our existing partners and friends to meet face to face for the first time in three years.
The team attended a specially arranged conference at DUT to focus on the development of sport across the region and role that the universities and the Bambisanani Partnership. This conference was attended by a range of government departments, National Governing Bodies and local coaches and players, with Andy and Chris also delivering a presentation around the Application of Sport Psychology within Training, Competition and Sports Coaching.
The visit to KZN Cycling saw the team meet with their staff teams, visit a local cycling hub and attend a community cycling clinic in a rural village. The Bambisanani Partnership is committed to developing our partnership to deliver a local hub to get cycling into communities that need it the most
The visit was an incredible success, with demand, need and impact at the heart of every discussion. The universities and the Bambisanani Partnership are now well set to develop their work and to restart their exciting visits in 2023.
David Geldart from the partnership said, “Massive thanks to Andy and Chris for this outstanding development work. We had worked hard during the COVID period to both maintain and develop new relationships virtually but there is nothing quite like being on the ground and meeting in person. We are now in a great position to expand the university strands of our work in South Africa in 2023.”
Universities push to restart international volunteering projects [WHARFEDALE OBSERVER]