NEWS
Newcastle College: changing the lives of young people in Newcastle and South Africa
More than 800 South African children benefited from a life-changing international volunteering programme as Newcastle College students returned from their fourth annual visit to KwaZulu-Natal.
Students and staff from Newcastle College and Newcastle College University Centre have returned from South Africa after spending three weeks volunteering through the Bambisanani Partnership, using the power of sport to inspire young people while developing their own leadership, confidence and employability skills.
The team of 12 students; Cara Meakin, Daniel Barrett, Egor Mihins, Freya Maun, Harry Ainscough, Jonathan Mooney, Kacey Southgate, Katie McAlpine, Lilly Hudspith, Olivia Hollister, Reshna Begum and Sofia Martin, accompanied by Sport Lecturer and Bambisanani Trustee Brogan O'Connor and Enrichment and Development Manager Barry Rizza, travelled for more than 30 hours to Eshowe in rural KwaZulu-Natal, where they delivered sports coaching, leadership workshops and educational activities to children aged between one and 18.
Working across Matholamnyama Secondary School, Ngqamzana Primary School, Thembimfundo Special School and Doremi Day Care Centre for orphans and vulnerable children, the group engaged with 846 children through sport, helping to develop teamwork, communication, confidence and leadership skills.
For many of the Newcastle students, the experience proved just as transformative as the impact they made overseas.
Kacey Southgate, a Level 4 Airline and Airport Management student, said:
"My trip to South Africa was one of the most rewarding, unforgettable and life-changing experiences I have ever had. Although we were there to teach, I feel that I learned just as much from the children through their resilience, positivity and appreciation for every opportunity. The experience challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and reminded me that making a difference doesn't always require big gestures. Sometimes giving your time, energy and support can have the greatest impact."
Level 3 Sport Coaching and Development student Daniel Barrett added:
"This trip has changed how I see both the world and myself. It has made me appreciate what I have and inspired me to continue helping others wherever I can. I'll always be grateful to everyone who made this opportunity possible because it has genuinely changed my life."
One of the most memorable moments came during the team's visit to Doremi Day Care Centre, where they spent time reading with children using books donated through fundraising efforts in the UK, led by 10-year-old Althaeá Dickenson from York. Alongside games, dancing and sports activities, the students also distributed toothbrushes and toothpaste they had collected before travelling and helped many of the children brush their teeth for the first time.
During the second week, the group returned to Ngqamzana Primary School, where they delivered sports sessions to nearly 500 learners across five days. With physical education not part of the school's regular curriculum, the sessions focused on fundamental movement, teamwork, communication and confidence while encouraging children to enjoy being physically active.
Their week concluded with an emotional farewell ceremony featuring traditional songs and dances performed by the learners before Newcastle College students returned the gesture with their own performance.
The programme also brought together volunteers from Newcastle College, Newcastle College Sixth Form and St. Mary's School, Menston, for a sports festival at Thembimfundo Special School. More than 250 learners participated in activities including boccia, javelin, parachute games and team challenges, creating a day filled with laughter, inclusion and celebration.
In the final week, Newcastle College students worked alongside 24 learners at Matholamnyama Secondary School to develop leadership skills before supporting them to organise and deliver their own sports festival for local primary schools.
Alongside the impact in South Africa, the programme delivered measurable benefits for the Newcastle College students themselves. Before and after the visit, participants assessed their confidence across ten key employability skills, including communication, leadership, teamwork, problem solving and organisation. Every skill area improved by at least 26.5%, with one student reporting an overall increase of 74% in self-perceived employability skills.
Mr Ngeleka, Principal of Matholamnyama Secondary School, said:
"Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge and kindness with our learners. The lessons you have taught about leadership, honesty and caring will stay with them long after you return home. I am confident that many of you will go on to become leaders in your schools, communities and countries."
Brogan O'Connor, Sport Lecturer at Newcastle College and Bambisanani Trustee, said:
"This trip is always one of the highlights of the academic year. Every year our students return home with greater confidence, resilience, leadership skills and a much broader perspective of the world. While they make a remarkable difference to the lives of hundreds of young people in South Africa, they are equally transformed by the experience themselves. It represents everything international education should be, and I couldn't be prouder of what this group has achieved."
Barry Rizza, Enrichment and Development Manager at Newcastle College, added:
"Watching 12 students who had never worked together before develop into a confident, supportive and high-performing team has been one of the proudest moments of my career. In just a few weeks they demonstrated leadership, adaptability and professionalism in an unfamiliar environment, representing Newcastle College with maturity and compassion. The skills they have gained will stay with them for the rest of their lives, both personally and professionally. This is exactly what enrichment should achieve - taking young people beyond the classroom and helping them realise their full potential."
Let’s celebrate 20 years of the Bambisanani Partnership!
We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for this special occasion celebrating two decades of collaboration, global learning, and transformational impact.
This memorable evening will take place at Headingley Stadium, bringing together our alumni, partners, supporters, and friends for a night of celebration and connection.
To register your interest for a seat or table, please contact:
Catherine Chattoe c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org
or Brogan O’Connor: brogan.oconnor@ncl-coll.ac.uk
Please would you be kind enough to share details of this very special event with any of your friends and colleagues who you think might be interested. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you.
Bambisanani team wish Matt ‘Good Luck’ in Wembley Final
Members of the Bambisanani team in the UK and South Africa are wishing Matt Crooks and his team Hull City AFC all the very of luck in the Championship Play Off Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 23 May.
Professional footballer Matt is a supporter of the Bambisanani Partnership and last year travelled to South Africa with a team of volunteers from St. Mary’s School, Menston. Whilst in South Africa Matt organised two highly successful football tournaments in the deprived Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal. Matt also spent time at Vumanhlamvu Primary School who present three sports awards annually in memory of Matt’s friend and former St. Mary’s student Jordan Sinnott.
Mrs Catherine Chattoe, Bambisanani coordinator at St. Mary’s said, “ Matt is a great supporter of the partnership and made a fantastic contribution as a volunteer in South Africa last year. Mnyakanya School and Vumanhlamvu School, where he organised competitions, have both sent messages wishing Matt and Hull City the very best of luck in the game. I’m sure that they will all be trying to find a TV on the day to watch the match full of Zulu enthusiasm!”
Together Everyone Achieves More
One of the great strengths of the Bambisanani Partnership is the charity’s network of organisations, community groups and individuals from the UK and South Africa who are committed to working together to deliver needs led initiatives in some of the most remote and challenging rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
Over recent months a large shipment of sports kit, clothing, books and sanitary products that were donated in the UK has been distributed to various schools, nonprofit organisations and community groups in South Africa. Contained in over 80 large boxes and weighing over a ton, the goods were transported free of charge by long term Bambisanani supporters The Cardinal Group who also donated 2,000 sports shirts.
More than 2,000 football shirts were also provided by the charity Kit Aid run by Derrick Williams. Sanitary products and reading books were also donated by schools, companies and individuals. Bambisanani team members Barbara Pounder, Catherine Chattoe, Brogan O’Connor and David Farmer were responsible for the huge task of sourcing, storing and transporting the items in the UK. In South Africa the logistics and distribution were organised by long term Bambisanani friend, Nick Phillips from Eshowe Rotary Club and the nonprofit organisation of Zulufadder that focuses on education and sustainable projects for children and youth in South Africa.
Nick’s team then went into action sorting all the items and distributing them to locally led initiatives where they would have the greatest impact. Part of the team sorting the boxes were three ladies from Norway who were volunteering at Zulufadder: Janne Skarpeid Hermansen, Helle Rohrt and Gunn Skarpeid. The distribution team included Sivlia Hellesvik and Normvula Ngema from Zulufadder, Gugu Mhlongo from the Lutheran Mission in Ntumeni, Trevlyn Palframan a local Eshowe man active in rural support and Siyabonga Ngubane, PK Zondi and Mazet Langa from Mnyakanya High School.
Nick Philips has said: “This example of working together was responsible for the universal happiness among the recipients especially the sports kit which was very well received.”
Gugu Mhlongo spoke of the “the amazing gratitude when people receive from the unseen, unknown, unexpected hand. There is hope because people live in hope.” Gugu works for an organisation called Uthando House where she runs Youth Leadership workshops and her dream is for everyone to ‘remember their GREATNESS.’
Mrs Barbara Pounder who coordinated this project added: “As a result of this huge international cooperation thousands of children, young people and women have had their lives positively impacted. This large shipment of items will facilitate a range of community led initiatives promoting sport, education and dignity. Locally delivered projects empower communities through shared ownership and capacity building. The 6,101 miles travelled, the volunteer hours needed and the generosity of everyone involved is ‘practical greatness’ and testament to the philosophy of the Bambisanani family who continue to ‘work together’ to make the world a slightly better place; we can certainly all achieve more by working together.”
Related article:
Thank You to The Cardinal Partnership (10/09/2025)
Bambisanani Fundraising Lunch 2026 at Uyare Restaurant
Please contact Catherine Chattoe to book tickets
c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org 01943 88 3000
We will be holding both an Auction and Raffle on the day so items for both would be gratefully received. No item would be too small or too large – from bottles of wine to weekends away every item will help us raise much needed funds for our ambitious 2026 programme.
Mnyakanya High School rises to the challenge with Outstanding 2025 Matric Examination Results
By Mrs PK Zondi, Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Mnyakanya High School is thrilled to announce an outstanding 92% matric pass rate for students taking the 2025 national examinations. This remarkable achievement came as a surprise to most teachers who were not expecting this success because of many challenges that came after a long period of teacher emigration that led to gaps in staffing.
These exciting and inspiring results produced 61 learners who qualified for universities with a Bachelor’s Pass, 42 earned a Diploma Pass which opens the door for them to further their studies in colleges. 23 students achieved Higher Certificates, qualifying them to study in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.
The principal of Mnyakanya High School, SV Ngubane, praised teachers and learners saying "These results reflects a great strength and dedication from learners, teachers and parents who worked together extremely hard to overcome the challenges of the last year. Computer classes that were introduced to the school by the Bambisanani Partnership also opened the world of learners into digital learning and prepared students for a technology driven world." He further thanked all teachers who sacrificed their family times during weekends, holidays and after normal school hours to come and teach learners.
Amahle Khanyile receiving her top achiever award 2025 from SV Ngubane, Principal.
One of the top achievers of Mnyakanya High School Amahle Khanyile, who was overwhelmed with joy commented:
“2025 was really challenging, it wasn’t easy at all, but I'm so grateful that I was able to achieve my goal of being recognised as one of top achievers at Mnyakanya High School. I am proud to say that through my hard work and dedication, I am now a first-year student at the Durban University of Technology, which is a great honour for me. I wish to send a special thanks to everyone who contributed positively towards my success. I am so excited to equip myself with the skills and knowledge I will learn in the next chapter of my life.”
The principal added that these school results did not happen by chance, but as result of implementing several key strategies to overcome staffing gaps such as:
After school study groups led by senior teachers and supported by alumni students who return to mentor current learners.
Peer tutoring programmes pairing top performing students with those who need extra help.
Regular parent-teacher meetings to keep families involved in their children's progress.
Additional weekends, holidays and evening classes to prepare learners for final examinations.
Miss FJ Lekena , a deputy principal of Mnyakanya School said: "Our teachers went beyond their call of duty by staying at school until late to help learners with difficulties in concepts.”
The school's achievement has drawn praise from local leaders and from municipality leaders. The Ward Councillor Nkwanyana came to school to donate pair of shoes to learners with challenges and passed these words of gratitude:
"Mnyakanya's success is inspiring the whole community and is changing the lives for the better in many families. It really shows what's possible when we invest in education.”
Mnyakanya School Educators
The school is looking forward to expanding its career guidance program to help learners make informed choices about university and TVET pathways. Mnyakanya High School is a great inspiration to many young people from neighbouring primary schools who see the school as the only pathway out of the poverty to their success. Many parents who never had a chance to complete school now express pride and optimism for their children's future.
Mvubu Uyabusa is going to study Astrophysics at Wits University in Johannesburg
Mvubu Uyabusa one of the top achievers said:
"I am grateful that I had an opportunity to be a student at Mnyakanya High School. It has been tough because I came to the school from another province to do grade 10. My home language is totally different from the local language of the school. I wish to pass words of appreciation to everyone who impacted positively to my journey. I am so excited that I represented my school by being one of the top achievers of the class of 2025. I’m so thrilled to mention that this year I am doing my first year in Astrophysics at Wits University in Johannesburg.”
David Geldart, who established the partnership between Mnyakanya School and St. Mary’s School said “The educators and learners at Mnyakanya are an inspiration to many other educators and learners and not just in South Africa. On my first visit to South Africa, I met amazing young people who were prepared to walk two hours to and from school each day because they wanted and valued an education. This desire to learn, persevere and work hard despite phenomenal challenges is typical of young Zulu learners in my experience. The teachers at Mnyakanya go far further than the ‘extra mile’; their dedication and devotion is simply remarkable. They are achieving all of this with very limited resources. Their success is richly deserved; they are living proof that nothing quite succeeds like hard work and determination. Well done to you all!”
Bambisanani Founder at the BBC
The Founder of the Bambisanani Partnership, David Geldart, recently featured in a BBC interview with presenter Nick Ahad from Radio Leeds as part of the ‘Yorkshire Best’ series.
In the interview David speaks about the origin, development and impact of the Bambisanani Partnership as well as his work nationally and internationally in sport and education.
You can listen to the programme via this link.
Related articles:
Olympic honour for the Bambisanani Partnership (17/10/2023)
Changing lives through Sport brings International Award for the pioneering Bambisanani Partnership (05/07/2023)
Bambisanani leader attends South African National Day 2023 celebrations (01/07/2023)
Bambisanani Partnership inspires at International Conference (23/12/2023)
Vatican honour for Bambisanani Founder (01/07/2022)
ACHPER Conference article Global Education Matters January 2019 (PDF)
Charity Chairman receives leadership honour article Ilkley Gazette September 2018 (PDF)
Can you help the Bambisanani Partnership Change Lives?
Funding Request for 2026
As we approach the Bambisanani Partnership’s 20th Anniversary, we are preparing for our most ambitious year yet. None of our work is possible without the generosity of people like you. If you can support us —or share this request with someone who might — we would be deeply grateful.
Background:
The Bambisanani Partnership is a multi-award-winning UK charity founded in 2006 between St Mary’s School (Menston) and Mnyakanya High School (KwaZulu-Natal). Entirely volunteer-run, we use the power of sport to advance education, health, leadership, and global citizenship.
Today, over 60 schools, colleges and universities in both countries work together through Bambisanani. More than 34,000 young people have participated in our various programmes and projects.
We work in one of the most deprived regions of South Africa, where unemployment exceeds 40% and HIV/AIDS rates are among the highest in the world. Our partnership model—bambisanani, meaning working hand in hand—ensures that all projects are co-created with local communities and co-funded by South African partners. With no paid staff or premises, 98% of all donations directly fund frontline work.
Our work has been recognised globally, including at the Vatican’s Sport for All Summit and the International Olympic Academy. We were named International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
Why We Need Your Help in 2026
Next year, 40 young volunteers from St Mary’s School, the University of Leeds and Newcastle College will travel to South Africa to help deliver and expand our programmes. They have already raised £143,000 to fund their own volunteering costs. We are now seeking £30,000 to support ten priority, community-driven projects on the ground in South Africa. Each initiative will be matched by contributions from local partners, ensuring long-term impact and preventing dependency.
Priority Projects for 2026
(Any support for the projects below would make an immediate difference.)
Cycling to Success – £9,000 to train 5,000 children a year in riding and bike maintenance (matched by KZN Cycling).
Thembinfundo Special School Water & Sanitation – £7,000 to bring clean water, toilets and washing facilities to all 200 learners.
Thembinfundo Sport – £1,000 for adapted PE and sensory equipment.
International Athletics Challenge – £1,000 to equip 1,000 learners for athletics for the first time.
Leadership Through Sport – £1,000 to train 100 young sports leaders.
Literacy Programme – £1,000 for 2,000 books for rural primary schools.
University Bursaries – £2,000 to allow two exceptional students to complete teacher training.
South African Study Visits to the UK – £2,000 to support life-changing exchange opportunities.
School Shoes – £1,000 to provide 650 pairs of durable shoes for children in need.
Ubuntu Arts Project – £1,000 to launch a collaborative arts-through-sport programme across both countries.
Administration Costs – £4,000
As a volunteer-run charity with no employees, this small sum ensures smooth delivery of every project above.
How to Support Us
Donations—large or small—have real impact, especially as most projects unlock matching funding from South Africa. A one-off or monthly gift can be made here:
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/19318
I would be delighted to provide further information or meet to discuss our work and ambitions for this milestone year.
With sincere thanks,
David
David Geldart, Founder/CEO
The Bambisanani Partnership (UK Registered Charity 1163461)
www.bambisananipartnership.org
d.geldart@bambisananipartnership.org
Our mailing address is:
The Bambisanani Partnership
St. Mary's Menston
Bradford Road
Menston, West Yorkshire LS296AE
United Kingdom
Outstanding year of impact for the Bambisanani Partnership
2025 was a year of strong progress and meaningful impact for the Bambisanani Partnership. Working together with partners and communities, the Partnership continued to turn shared vision into action delivering initiatives that make a real difference in people’s lives.
Throughout the year, Bambisanani focussed on programmes that responded to community-identified needs while supporting long term growth and resilience. By placing communities at the centre of its work, the Partnership ensured that initiatives were relevant, inclusive and grounded in local realities. This approach strengthened trust and encouraged shared ownership of outcomes.
Collaboration remained the foundation of Bambisanani’s success in 2025. By bringing together diverse partners around a common purpose, the Partnership improved coordination, used resources more effectively, and expanded its overall reach. This collective effort enabled greater impact than any single organisation could achieve alone.
Volunteers, Supporters and Partners of the Bambisanani Partnership have been praised by the charity’s CEO, David Geldart, for their outstanding dedication and impact in 2025.
Over the course of the past 19 years, the Leeds based charity has engaged over 34,000 young people from both South Africa and the UK in its various programmes and projects using the power of sport to promote education, health, global citizenship. The partnership which started with St. Mary’s and Mnyakanya now includes 60 schools, colleges and universities. This year saw no less than 7,515 young people from both counties involved. The inspirational work of this small charity, run entirely by volunteers, has gained global recognition.
Over a three-month period in the summer 35 student volunteers and 10 members of staff fromSt. Mary’s School, Menston; The University of Leeds and Newcastle College worked with 32 different schools and 3,589 learners in the remote rural Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal. This included 7 new schools being added to the various programmes this year. Primary and secondary school learners participated in a range of activities including Sports Festivals, Sports Coaching sessions, Cycling Clinics, Leadership Programmes, Literacy Festivals and wider academic curricular and extracurricular activities. Students involved in the volunteer programme recorded a 39% increase across ten key graduate employability skills.
Throughout the year the charity’s pioneering Cycling partnership with KZN Cycling trained 3,490 young people how to ride and maintain bikes. This work has now progressed to include various Cycling Competitions and a Talent Identification Programme. The Cycling programme reached the milestone of involving 10,000 children this year since the initiative began; an achievement that was recognised in the South African Parliament for ‘transforming lives and communities’
Supported by a range of Bambisanani based interventions the significant hard work by teachers and students saw Mnyakanya High School achieve its best academic results and significantly increased enrolment. The school has gone from a Matriculation examination pass rate of less than 20% a few years ago to over 90% this year.
Throughout the year 346 children from 13 UK and South African primary schools joined together to participate in the Bambisanani International Athletics Challenge.
Young people are not ‘just’ participants in Bambisanani programmes they also lead them. This is clear in the partnerships Leadership Through Sport courses where young people from both countries work together to deliver sports programmes to the wider community and in our Cycling programme but also in other ways. This year St. Mary’s student Leona Vaduatha and Mnyakanya student Bayanda Gcaba have both had inspirational work published about the Bambisanani Partnership. Two years ago, a then 8-year-old Althaea Dickenson from York started collecting books for South African primary schools on hearing that they could not participate in World Book Day. This work has continued this year with over 2,000 books collected and distributed to schools. Her initiative has been praised not only by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education but also her local Member of Parliament, Keir Mather.
This year saw Bambisanani volunteer Poppy Bhengu from South Africa gain her PhD in Philosophy of Sport and Exercise Science. Poppy is an outstanding role model who overcame many challenges to achieve her success. Dr Bhengu will be an inspiration to many young people involved in Bambisanani programmes.
Work with partners and the local community to bring clean water and sanitation to Thembinfundu Special School has continued. This is a major undertaking that has the capacity to transform the school. Progress is slow but significant; a Bore Hole has been reinstated; Water Storage Tanks are now in place and some plumbing into the school has been possible. The situation has improved but is still deplorable; the partnership remains committed to working with others to provide facilities that the children deserve.
Yet again this year the charity has been recognised for its commitment and contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 17 namely Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Reduced Inequalities and Partnership for Goals. It is the experience of the partnership that these are very important issues for young people and that its international collaborative encounters and activities significantly enhance their knowledge, understanding and motivation to become proactive global citizens who wish to create a kinder, more equitable and sustainable future.
The University of Leeds received a Global Impact Award for their pioneering work in South Africa developing our Cycling programme and Leadership through Sport initiative in primary schools. The work of the partnership has been further recognised this year in several journals, the prestigious Trialogue Business Handbook and in a BBC interview.
Recognising, rewarding and celebrating the achievement of young people through annual awards is an important aspect of the charity’s work. During 2025 17 special awards were presented to students at Mnyakanya High School, Ntolwane Primary School, Vumanhlamvu Primary School and Thembinfundo Special School.
The Bambisanani Partnership works with, and coordinates, a range of other charities, organisations and businesses with aligning values. A great example of this this year was working with the UK charity Kit Aid who donated over 1000 football shirts for schools in South Africa. The Shipping company the Cardinal Partnership transported these to South Africa and also donated over 1,000 sports shirts. In South Africa these shirts were distributed by long term Bambisanani collaborators, Eshowe Rotary Club and the Norwegian charity Zulufadder.
During the year significant amounts of money were raised and donated by Bambisanani volunteers, institutions and supporters. Sponsored events saw supporters walk, run, climb, row, swim and cycle some incredible distances to raise much needed funds. Bambisanani activities could not happen without this generosity and tremendous effort.
With no employees or premises all money donated and raised goes to fund front line projects and activities. Furthermore, it is the policy of the charity always to seek a percentage of funding for every project from South African sources and indeed only for projects that have been identified by local communities. The partnership remains an incredibly lean and efficient organisation committed to respectful and sustainable development.
David Geldart was full of praise for the Bambisanani team, “This has been an outstanding year of activity and impact, and it simply could not happen without our small army of volunteers, supporters and sponsors from both countries. They are wonderful selfless people who are making a real difference in the world. Behind all the impressive statistics from this year are real people whose lives have been positively impacted. Our work is not about charity or ‘rescue’ it is about collaboration and mutual respect. All our work is driven by the schools and communities in South Africa that we work with. Our aim is to develop capacity and empower the communities in which we work not to create a dependency culture. Our work has always striven to create genuine ‘two-way’ learning opportunities for young people from both countries. I have nothing but praise for our team members in both countries who make all this happen and know that their focus is now firmly on 2026 and making that our most successful year to date.”
Overall, 2025 stands out as a successful and impactful year for the Bambisanani Partnership. The progress achieved reflects the dedication of partners, community members, and supporters who believe in the power of working together. As Bambisanani looks ahead, it does so with confidence, strengthened relationships, and a continued commitment to creating positive and lasting change.
Some Bambisanani Highlights from 2025
