KZN Cycling and University of Leeds accept International Award

by Tim Whitfield

DURBAN – KwaZulu-Natal Cycling and the University of Leeds on Thursday jointly received an international award on behalf of the UK-based Bambisanani Partnership for their cycling programme in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

Accepting the award International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year award on Thursday were (from left) Siphamandla Mbhele, Assistant Project Manager for KZN Cycling; Manqoba Bhengu, the Acting Chief Director for Sport Promotion and Development within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; Suzzi Garnett from the University of Leeds; and Alec Lenferna, Chief Executive Officer of KZN Cycling.

KZN Cycling and Leeds University, working together under the Bambisanani Partnership umbrella, accepted the International Sport and Physical Education Charity of the Year award on Thursday in Newlands East, Durban, for their work teaching young people how to ride and maintain bikes in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

It was the third time the Bambisanani Partnership – a UK-South Africa charity that uses sport and education to transform lives and strengthen communities – has won the award. The recognition this year is for the joint programme undertaken by KZN Cycling and Leeds University in Nkandla.

The Bambisanani Partnership is a multi-award-winning UK-based charity that began as a collaboration between St. Mary's Catholic School in Yorkshire, England, and Mnyakanya High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal in 2006. Run entirely by volunteers, the partnership has grown to include more than 60 schools, colleges and universities across the United Kingdom and South Africa, using sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, leadership and global citizenship.

University of Leeds students and staff, partnering with the Bambisanani Partnership and KZN Cycling, at the cycling clinics.

In South Africa, the partnership operates in the Nkandla region, where Bambisanani has partnered with KZN Cycling's internationally-recognised development programme to expand cycling opportunities in one of the country's most remote and disadvantaged communities.

KZN Cycling's province-wide initiative has been strongly supported by the KZN Department of Sports, Arts & Culture for many years. The relationship with the Bambisanani Partnership in Nkandla has changed lives through education, practical skills training, and providing children in particular with improved mobility.

Alec Lenferna, Chief Executive Officer of KZN Cycling, and Suzzi Garnett from the University of Leeds accepted the award on behalf of the Bambisanani Partnership.

"The aim of the KZN Cycling development programme is to try and change people's lives for the better," said Lenferna after receiving the award. "So being able to get the programme going with the Bambisanani Partnership in Nkandla fits in exactly with what we are trying to do and we can only thank people like them and the KZN Department of Sports, Arts & Culture for the opportunity."

Suzzi Garnett from the University of Leeds says the project benefits both the communities and the students who work on the project.

KZN Cycling is growing the sport throughout the province with regular clinics, training programmes and development events.

"Working in partnership with KZN Cycling for the last three years has helped bring our cycling project to new levels," said Garnett. "From one school in the Nkandla region we are able to scale that up through the cycling hub to many schools throughout the year. The impact in South Africa is really clear, and the impact on our students and staff from the UK as they engage with the community is helping them develop their skills and their global awareness. We're providing really meaningful experiences for young people in South Africa and the UK."

Manqoba Bhengu, the Acting Chief Director for Sport Promotion and Development within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, expressed his appreciation for the work done by all the partners in the project.

Skills training is a vital component of the training clinics.

"We just want to take time to appreciate the Bambisanani Partnership and kudos to the team working on this partnership in the province, such as KZN Cycling, as well as all of those that are responsible for its implementation in Nkandla," said Bhengu.

"We really appreciate Leeds University for taking time and obviously being part of this particular initiative in trying to give a platform for our young people in this province in a code that is historically not for them because of the entry barriers.

"We are extremely proud as a provincial government that we are able to help give a platform for this type of programme, working with all the stakeholders and ensuring that we build a brighter future for these young kids."