NEWS
Bambisanani Partnership Supporters Tharavadu named one of the UK’s best Indian restaurants by the 2024 British Indian Good Food Guide
Congratulations to Tharavadu
Full Story:
Tharavadu named one of the UK’s best Indian restaurants by the 2024 British Indian Good Food Guide [THE HOOT LEEDS]
Related:
Tharavadu Fundraising Event is a Great Success (13/05/2023)
Bambisanani Charity Dinner at Tharavadu is a great success (13/07/2024)
A Warm Yorkshire Welcome for South Africans
South African teachers, Mrs Pk Zondi and Miss Mazet Langa from Mnyakanya High School and Mrs Eunice Mchunu from Umlazi Primary School together with students Amahle Nsbande and Bayanda Gcaba from Mnyakanya recently visited Leeds as part of the Bambisanani Partnership exchange programme. Mnyakanya School established the partnership with St. Mary’s, Menston 18 years ago. The visit was coordinated by Mrs Pk Zondi and Catherine Chattoe from St. Mary’s supported by Charlotte Wood, Barbara Pounder, David Farmer, Margaret Hattersley, Gerry Sayers, Brogan O’Connor and David Geldart.
South African teachers, Mrs Pk Zondi and Miss Mazet Langa from Mnyakanya High School and Mrs Eunice Mchunu from Umlazi Primary School together with students Amahle Nsbande and Bayanda Gcaba from Mnyakanya recently visited Leeds as part of the Bambisanani Partnership exchange programme. Mnyakanya School established the partnership with St. Mary’s, Menston 18 years ago. The visit was coordinated by Mrs Pk Zondi and Catherine Chattoe from St. Mary’s supported by Charlotte Wood, Barbara Pounder, David Farmer, Margaret Hattersley, Gerry Sayers, Brogan O’Connor and David Geldart.
During the one week stay the visitors participated in lessons at St. Mary’s, Menston and St. Joseph’s Primary School, Pudsey. They also toured the sights of Leeds and York as well as visiting Saltaire Village with local historian Andy Harrison-Beaumont and the Brontë Parsonage in Howarth with the benefit of expert, Diane Fare. The team also spent a day at key member of the Bambisanani Partnership, the University of Leeds, where they enjoyed the extensive facilities. The group were joined by many St. Marys students who have visited South Africa or will be visiting next year for an evening of Bowling and later in the week a bracing walk on Rombald’s Moor to the ‘Twelve Apostle Stones’. When visiting the Leeds Playhouse as special guests to watch A Raisin in the Sun, the visitors were stunned with an invitation from Emma Gill to have a backstage tour and meet several of the actors. As well as attending a service at York Minster the group were special guests at the annual St. Mary’s Mass of Welcome for new Year 7 students at St, Peter’s and Paul’s Church in Yeadon which happened to fall on Zulu Heritage Day. Whilst at St. Mary’s, the South African students taught Zulu to Year 7 students on International Language Day. Amahle and Bayanda also taught Zulu language at St. Josephs as well as Athletics. Over 40 members of the Bambisanani team in the UK attended a celebration meal with the South African guests at Tharavadu Restaurant in Leeds, a restaurant that has supported the partnership for several years. On the final day of the visit the visitors added much to St. Mary’s Open Day and were able to meet Graham Davies and Janet Kerr of the Rotary Club of Aireborough who have supported the partnership since it began. At a final lunch event the guests had the opportunity to meet 8-year-old Althaea Dickinson, who earlier in the year had organised a campaign to get over 1,000 reading books into South African primary schools and Graeme Collin who has been instrumental in providing kit for the Bambisanani Cycling programme in South Africa. It certainly was a very busy and exciting week which created many wonderful encounters.
Suzzi Garnet from the University of Leeds said, “Leeds Sport was delighted and honoured to host staff and pupils from Mnyakanya High School at the University of Leeds for the first time. Our visitors had lots of fun trying out various pieces of equipment in the Edge gym, followed by a raucous session on our climbing wall, experiencing both bouldering and rope climbing. A special lunch reception was followed by a tour of various prominent buildings on campus including the Brotherton Library, a lecture theatre and the Great Hall. It was particularly special that one of the pupils, 14-year-old Bayanda showed University staff and students around Mnyakanya back in 2023 and we got to return the favour last week!
15-year-old Bayanda and 17-year-old Amahle said that they were overwhelmed with joy when their dream to visit UK came true and that all their friends were surprised when their departure date was announced by the Principal at a school assembly.
An extremely enthusiastic Bayanda Gcaba commented: “I’m so excited that this visit to the UK was successful. When we started preparing for it by asking for donations and selling some snacks at school to raise money, many people did not believe that the trip could really be possible. Some people doubted us so our travels have surprised many people. I just cannot explain how much I enjoyed every single thing about this very wonderful visit. We learned so many things about how people in the UK behave and how young people achieve their goals. I especially loved visiting the theatre for the very first time to see the drama called ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. I also very much enjoyed learning about Titus Salt and how he cared for his workers and about Emily, Charlotte and Anne Bronté who were strong women and great writers. The university experience was amazing and I would like to study there one day. We learned so much all week and had great fun meeting so many kind and respectful people. All this wonderful experience wouldn’t have happened without the effort and support of Mrs Pk Zondi, our Bambisanani Partnership coordinator at school who helped to communicate with our relatives and community for assistance. I would also like to pass my thanks to all my family especially my grandmother Mashandu Gcaba and my father Siyabonga Gcaba who all encouraged me to take this trip. In conclusion, I wish to send my words of appreciation to all the Bambisanani UK team for their massive support and hospitality when we were there. It was a dream come true for me, I experienced so much and learned so much. I am inspired further and have many ambitions for the future.”
Amahle Nsibande still cannot quite believe her amazing adventure as she commented: “I just joined Mnyakanya High School last year in 2023. I was attracted by the Bambisanani Partnership even before I joined the school. Today I’m so excited to know that I received this opportunity to visit the UK as part of the partnership. We visited several schools and University of Leeds, sharing experiences and learning about each other’s cultures through sports and educational activities. I was so excited to meet new friends, participate in different events and visit different parts of Yorkshire. This trip broadened my horizons of thinking and left me inspired by the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect. I wish to thank all the UK Bambisanani team for all the love they showed to us. We don’t hesitate to say that every member of the team was willing to do so much for us with open hearts.”
Bayanda’s father and Amahle’s mother said that the travelling of their children to the United Kingdom gives them hope that there is still more to come for their children. Bayanda’s father said:
“My son’s experience to visit abroad has made all the Gcaba family to be proud of him. We believe that this is an indication that he will have a brighter future. I wish to thank all Mnyakanya teachers who enabled this to happen. It is my wish that he continues to travel to different places, so that he will learn from the young people of other countries. I also hope that the Bambisanani Partnership will continue to develop our children for a better future.”
Miss Zanele Langa, a teacher at Mnyakanya High School said: “It was indeed a great pleasure to visit our friends in the UK. We share many great memories and created many more,. This was another fantastic opportunity for young people of both countries to ‘work together and learn together’ as is the aim of the Bambisanani Partnership. Our young people had the opportunity to attend lessons but also to teach lessons and coach sport. We learnt many new things about history and culture in Leeds York, Saltaire and Howarth. Learning about Titus Salt and the Brontë sisters was inspirational as was the visit to Leeds Playhouse. Interacting with students, teachers and families made us feel welcomed. Visiting the University of Leeds was a great experience for both learners and teachers. Touring different places helped us learn more about the life in UK. The genuinely warm welcome that was given to us absolutely everywhere in Yorkshire was truly amazing.; we were treated like VIP’s! We felt as if we were at home, and even now we are convinced that we have our second home in the UK; the true spirit of Ubuntu surrounded us. Words cannot express how much we appreciate all that our UK friends did for us. We hope and pray that this partnership will grow even stronger and reach to different generations.”
Mrs Pk Zondi, the Bambisanani Partnership coordinator at Mnyakanya said, “It is still difficult to convince my mind that the visit to the UK took place and was so successful, since it had been our dream for many years. The Mnyakanya visit to the UK has drawn the attention of many people to the partnership between UK schools and Mnyakanya High school. Many teachers and learners who have recently joined Mnyakanya High School have developed strong interest in the Bambisanani Partnership because of this visit. The families of the students who were part of the visit are extremely proud about the experience gained by their children. We believe that the life of these two students will change for better, and their way of thinking will never be like before. I do not have enough words to appreciate all the UK Bambisanani team for the love they showed to us, for orientating us with almost all parts of their life, places and cultures. The hospitality we received was AMAZING! The visit has taught us so much about the people, the culture and life in UK. There is something very special about the Bambisanani Partnership, not least its ability to bring people together, broaden perspectives and change lives for the better. It creates friendships and understanding of other people.”
Member of the Bambisanani team, Gerry Sayers said “It was my great pleasure to help to transport our friends from Mnyakanya School during their stay. We had such a good time chatting on the journeys to the various events which had been organised for them. I was able to catch up with Pk and Mazet who I had not seen since 2007 when I visited Mnyakanya. I also acted as a tour guide describing the geography of Leeds in which all were very interested. What a great time we had together learning from each other, enjoying each other’s company and making very special memories.”
The Mnyakanya High School Principal, Mr Siyabonga Ngubane, forwarded words of praise and gratitude to students Bayanda Gcaba and Nsibande Amahle who worked very hard to raise funds for themselves to visit United Kingdom to represent their school and their country. He further mentioned that this visit will strengthen the Bambisanani Partnership even more. He said: “It was so exciting to see our learners in posted videos, enjoying themselves participating in classroom, sports, cultural and social activities. I wish to thank all the Bambisanani team in UK for taking such good care of our students and teachers while they were there.”
Pricillia Guliwe from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education praised all involved in the visit for their vision and determination to make it happen and said that it is her dream that more schools in the remote rural areas had the opportunity to visit the UK.
David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the partnership said, “Huge thanks to Catherine and the team for going well beyond the extra mile in organising a wonderfully varied, action packed week for our guests. Enormous credit must go to Pk and Mazet who despite considerable challenges, worked tirelessly in South Africa to make the visit possible. Special thanks to many of our sponsors and supporters who stepped in at late notice to make this a fantastic experience for all involved. The wonderful hospitality and kindness were typified by Bambisanani Trustee, Barbara Pounder, who provided her house to accommodate our guests. Pk, Mazet, Eunice, Amahle and Bayanda were outstanding ambassadors for their country and we learned much from them during the course of their stay. Such educational exchanges, based on mutual respect and learning, have the potential to broaden horizons, change world views and promote genuine global citizenship. Long may this continue in Bambisanani visits to and from South Africa.”
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
Related:
3 African Peaks Challenge
This year David Farmer, Deputy Head Teacher at St Joseph’s Pudsey Catholic Primary School, is undertaking the African 3 Peaks challenge. He is attempting to ‘virtually climb’ the highest 3 African Peaks, Kilimanjaro, Stanley and Kenya with a combined total of 16,203m.
Mount Kilimanjaro
He will do this by adding his ascents both outside and inside the gym over the coming weeks. He has climbed Mam Tor, Whernside and Ingleborough and is planning further treks across the UK whilst concurrently visiting the gym and ascending over 600m in one hour using the running machine.
The efforts are to help raise the £4,000 required to drill a bore hole at Thembinfundo, a special needs school in South Africa which at present has no running water and major sanitation issues. Mr Farmer said “These children deserve the dignity to learn with the basics of fresh running water, they have the potential to realise so many wonderful achievements but need the barriers to learning removed.”
If you wish to donate please use the following details:
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/19318
Thank you for your support.
International Award for Bambisanani Partnership
For the second year running, The Bambisanani Partnership has been named as International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year at the annual Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards.
For the second year running, The Bambisanani Partnership has been named as International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year at the annual Acquisition International Non-Profit Organisation Awards.
The Bambisanani Partnership is a multi-award-winning UK based charity that originated as a partnership between St. Mary’s Catholic School in Menston, UK and Mnyakanya High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2006. The partnership, which is run entirely by volunteers, uses the power of sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership has gained international acclaim for its work. The partnership now involves more than 40 schools and universities in both the UK and South Africa. The University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University and Newcastle College are key members of the partnership. In South Africa, the partnership operates in the Nkandla region which one of most remote and deprived parts of the country with over 90% unemployment and one of highest Aids/HIV rates in the world. ‘Bambisanani’ is a Zulu word meaning ‘working hand in hand’ which aptly encapsulates the philosophy of the partnership which seeks to provide collaborative learning opportunities for young people in both countries. The partnership has been recognised for its work contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals relating to Health and Education and is a founding member of Sport and Sustainability International.
The award was presented in South Africa this year by Priscilla Guliwe from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education who said, “It is a great honour to present this prestigious award to the awesome Bambisanani Partnership. Making one small change can change a life. The Bambisanani Partnership is changing the lives of our learners in South Africa and in the UK. Excellence is a choice, and that is why Physical Education and Sport is so important in developing young people; healthy body and healthy mind. The Bambisanani Partnership is helping young people to excel in so many ways.”
Mrs Pk Zondi, Bambisanani Coordinator at Mnyakanya School and Mrs Catherine Chattoe, Bambisanani Coordinator at St. Mary’s School, received the award on behalf of the partnership.
Mrs Zondi said “It was so exciting to hear the good news about the Bambisanani Partnership. It means we are a winning team; it is really amazing that the Bambisanani Partnership is so highly recognised. I was overwhelmed by the surprise. To be chosen as a receiver of this award on behalf of the partnership is a great honour; I felt so humbled.”
Mrs Chattoe commented, “To receive this international award in South Africa with Pk was so special. The Bambisanani Partnership all about making a difference through our team and our collaborations. We were able represent our team members from both countries who work tirelessly day in day out to implement our programmes. This is a great honour for our team.”
Over the past eighteen years, more than 23,000 young people from the UK and South Africa (from primary school to university) have participated in a variety of Bambisanani Partnership programmes and projects including ‘Leadership through Sport’, Sports Festivals’ Cycling to Success’, ‘Literacy through Sport’, ‘Numeracy through Sport’ ‘Art through Sport’, ‘Learning through Football’, ‘International Athletics Challenge’ and the joint training of Physical Education teachers and Sports Coaches.
In addition to ongoing programmes, 38 young people from St. Mary’s School, University of Leeds and Newcastle College have volunteered in South Africa this year. A group of South African teachers and students will visit Leeds later in the year.
Beyond this the charity has been instrumental in bringing clean drinking water and computers to schools as well as rebuilding houses and providing university bursaries to disadvantaged young people; always working in partnership with the local community.
The work of the partnership has been highlighted at conferences throughout the world, including the Global Sport for All Summit held at the Vatican and at the International Olympic Academy.
David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the partnership added, “It was just wonderful and most fitting that Catherine and Pk received this most significant award on behalf of the team. They represent the two founding schools of our charity and the beating heart of our mission to use the power of sport to change lives for the better. They are absolutely outstanding and we simply would not be where we are today without their inspirational commitment and dedication.”
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 Coastland Hotel and Resorts, brought together 13 primary schools.
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.”
The 10th Annual Martin Green Memorial Golf Tournament in aid of Cancer Research UK reaches new heights
The Martin Green Memorial Golf Tournament remembers a remarkable man who whilst a teacher at St. Mary’s School, Menston played an important role in developing the Bambisanani Partnership – a unique charity that uses the power of sport to change lives of some of the poorest children in South Africa.
The Tenth Annual Tournament was held at East Morton Golf Club, as it always is, and raised £1,517 for Cancer Research UK. Over the past ten years this event has now raised over £12,300 for the charity.
The weather completely defied a terrible forecast and the day was a tremendous success, marked with wonderful camaraderie, great fun, superb hospitality and some outstanding golf. 23 people played in the 18-hole Stableford tournament with many others making generous donations and providing prizes.
Winner Connor Mitchell
The winner of the 2024 Martin Green Memorial Trophy was Connor Mitchell with a very impressive 46 Stableford points. Playing for the first time in the tournament it was a remarkable day for Connor, not only did he win the prestigious silver trophy he also won the Nearest the Pin competition and manage to score two 2’s during the course of his excellent round. Former winner Mark Sutcliffe was runner up on 43 points and another former winner, Craig Thornton took third place with 42 points. The Longest Drive competition was won by Adam Antenbring, the Straightest Drive competition by Anne Emsley. The Putting prize went to Andy Doherty for the second year running. The awards this year were presented by Alex Smickersgill.
This year’s Champion Connor Mitchell said, “It’s a real honour to have won this competition in Memory of Martin Green. The event has been brilliantly organised and it is for such a good cause.”
Straightest Drive - Anne Emsley
The event was organised by former friends and colleagues of Martin; Alex Smickersgill, Catherine Chattoe and David Geldart. David said, “Massive thanks to everyone that played and supported the event in any way. We are indebted to Jean Green (Martin’s Mum), Fred Heaton, Danny Halligan, Duncan Baines, Michelle Hefferon and Mike Gosling for making it such a great occasion. Special thanks to all the organisations and individuals that provided an absolutely outstanding array prizes and refreshments. Thank you of course to St. Mary’s School and all the team East Morton Golf Club who always go the extra mile to ensure that this tournament is a tremendous success and celebration. We are already looking forward to next year’s competition which will be our 11th Anniversary event and edging towards a target of raising £15,000 for Cancer Research UK.”
Runner-up Mark Sutcliffe
Longest Drive - Adam Atenbring
Nearest the Pin - Connor Mitchell
Putting Award - Andy Doherty
Westminster Abbey honour for the Bambisanani Partnership
David Geldart represented the Bambisanani Partnership at the Service
David Geldart the Founder and CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership charity was recently invited to attend a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the 30th year of South Africa’s democracy at Westminster Abbey in London.
The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who said:
“We meet under God and in good company to give thanks for thirty years of democracy in South Africa. In 1994, South Africans held their first non-racial, democratic elections. After voting in those elections, Nelson Mandela spoke of ‘a new era of hope, reconciliation and nation building’. Thirty years down the long road to justice and righteousness, we now honour those who have carried that flame and worked tirelessly in that cause. Giving thanks for their courage and their witness, we recommit ourselves to the vision of a nation free from domination of any kind. We pledge ourselves to effort and hope. Here we will pray for ourselves and for South Africa and the welfare of all her people.”
Lord Boateng gave a passionate Address
Lord Boateng, A former British High Commissioner to South Africa, gave a passionate and inspiring Address to the 2,000 strong international congregation that included Her Majesty Queen Nompumelelo Zulu.
The service included performances by South African tenor Innocent Masuku. Reflections were given by Christina McAnea, General Secretary of UNISON and by the Honourable Ronald Lamola MP, minister of Internation Relations and Cooperation, representing the government of South Africa. Mr Bassim Haidar, Honorary Consul of South Africa affirmed the call to unity given President Nelson Mandela. At the end of the service, faith leaders representing the Hindu, Jewish and Muslim communities, offered words of blessing for South Africa and its peoples.
Her Majesty Queen Nompumelelo Zulu attended the Service
David Geldart said, “As an Anti-Apartheid campaigner and someone that has worked in and with South Africa for the past 18 years it was a great honour to attend this most significant event to not only give thanks and praise for what has been achieved but also to reflect and consider the future actions. I remember vividly the TV footage 30 years ago of snaking queues of people that stretched for mile after mile waiting with great dignity to vote for the very first time in their lives. A most significant moment in history; a message for humanity from humanity. We had been told for years that this could never happen but we believed and had faith that it would; it did happen. Some years later I would meet and make enduring friendships with many people that had stood in those queues - their stories and their hope had a profound impact on me as had those TV scenes of first-time voters. Many of these people became key members of the Bambisanani Partnership and over the past 18 years we have together we have engaged more than 21,000 young people from both South Africa and the UK in our various projects and programmes using sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership. Much has been achieved but there is more to do. It really was a great honour to represent the Bambisanani Partnership team at this wonderful event.”
The service included performances by South African tenor Innocent Masuku
The Honourable Ronald Lamola MP gave a Reflection
Published: 17/07/2024
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