St. Mary’s visit to South Africa 2026
Vision
‘To use sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership in both the UK and South Africa’
St. Mary’s Students Make a Lasting Impact in South Africa
The Bambisanani Partnership has gained international recognition for its pioneering work in one of South Africa’s poorest regions. Using sport as a catalyst, the partnership promotes education, health, global citizenship and leadership, creating meaningful opportunities for young people both in the UK and South Africa.
This summer marked one of the multi-award-winning charity’s most ambitious volunteering projects in its 20-year history. Students and staff from St. Mary’s School, Menston, the University of Leeds, Newcastle College and Newcastle Sixth Form recently returned from South Africa, where they worked both independently and collaboratively to extend and develop the work of the partnership.
Leadership Through Sport
Following eighteen months of preparation, planning and fundraising, sixteen students from St. Mary’s embarked on a life-changing visit to South Africa. Their mission was to deliver a Leadership Through Sport programme to students at Mnyakanya High School, located in the remote and rural Nkandla region of South Africa.
This year’s visit was led by Charlotte Wood, with support from Catherine Chattoe, Amy Marsh and Richard Giles.
The student team comprised:
Emilia Armitage, Juliana Beaumont, Freya Birch, Joseph Black, Ursula Burrows, Matthew Chamberlain, Libby Connor, Eloise Dawson, Esther Dooling, Thomas Eager, Lucia Flatman, Bethany Jackson, Evie Johnson, Annabel McClelland, Mollie Rayner and Alicia Thorning.
The visit began with the group travelling into rural Nkandla, where St. Mary’s students organised and delivered the Bambisanani International Athletics competition involving ten local South African primary schools. The event was a fantastic opportunity for the UK students to develop their leadership and organisational skills while working alongside young people from the local community.
The athletic performances were particularly memorable, with the student leaders amazed by the impressive times and distances achieved by the primary school students, many of whom were running barefoot on challenging and uneven ground.
Empowering Young Leaders
After four intensive days of coaching in tennis, tag rugby and rounders, thirty students from Mnyakanya High School had developed the confidence, skills and leadership experience needed to take on a challenge of their own.
The students successfully organised and hosted a spectacular Sports and Reading Festival for more than 120 children from Ntolwane Primary School. This was a wonderful example of the sustainable impact of the Bambisanani Partnership, with young people passing on their knowledge and skills to others within their community.
The St. Mary’s students also delivered lessons across a range of curriculum areas. Staff and students at Mnyakanya High School took part in engaging lessons in Art, Maths, Biology and Geography, providing opportunities for cultural exchange and shared learning.
Celebrating Achievement
A special presentation ceremony and partnership celebration provided an opportunity to recognise the incredible
achievements of the young people involved. Students from Mnyakanya High School received their well-deserved Leadership Awards, recognising the commitment, confidence and skills they had developed throughout the programme.
Students from both Mnyakanya High School and Ntolwane Primary School were also presented with a series of annual awards, including awards from the John Paul II Foundation for Sport and the Lawrie McCauley Awards for achievements in football and creative writing.
The ceremony was a fitting celebration of the hard work, dedication and achievements of the students and highlighted the lasting impact of the partnership.
A Special Day at Thembimfundo Special School
In collaboration with Newcastle College and Newcastle Sixth Form, the St. Mary’s team also visited Thembimfundo Special School, which supports children with a wide range of disabilities. Together, the volunteers organised a sports day filled with activities including dancing, high jump, boccia, javelin and parachute games.
The experience proved incredibly moving for everyone involved. One student reflected:
“It was moving, rewarding and insightful to see how the children took part, and to see how genuinely happy they were to have us there. A particular success was the parachute activity, where the joy on their faces was incredible, this is a day that I will never forget.”
The day demonstrated the power of sport to bring people together, create joy and provide opportunities for every child to participate.
Creating Magical Memories
The final part of the visit saw the St. Mary’s students volunteering at uMlalazi Day Centre and Crèche, a centre for orphans and vulnerable children run by the Zulufadder Children’s Trust.
This was a particularly magical experience for the group. The students brought stories to life using props and toys, creating memorable and engaging experiences for the children.
Highlights included acting out the popular story Going on a Bear Hunt, read by Catherine Chattoe, followed by a very special Teddy Bears’ Picnic.
The laughter, excitement and enthusiasm shared throughout the day created memories that will undoubtedly stay with the students for many years to come.
Reflections of the students and staff
“The experience has changed me in ways I never expected. It has strengthened my confidence and self-belief, broadened my perspective of the world and given me a greater sense of fulfilment.”
“Our ten days in South Africa were extraordinary – beautiful, joyful, funny and incredibly memorable. Every one of you brought something unique to the experience: kindness, courage, humour, energy, empathy, teamwork and leadership. I watched you face new challenges, overcome fears and grow in confidence, often without even realising it. One of the most remarkable moments was seeing you move from learners, to teachers, to leaders in just a few days. What happened at Mnyakanya wasn’t magic; it was the result of dedication, care, belief and hard work. Thank you for allowing me to share in such a wonderful experience. Keep smiling. Be good. Do good. Be amazing.”
“My time volunteering in South Africa was one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences I have ever had. Working with local schools and communities helped me develop confidence, valuable life skills and meaningful friendships, while experiencing a different culture and making a positive difference.”
“Before the Bambisanani team arrived my greatest fear was to express myself in English, but I’m feeling confident now. I learnt a lot about how to be a good leader. I’m so grateful of the opportunity that I got. I wish to say thanks to Bambisanani Partnership.”
“I can’t believe I have a friend overseas. That makes me feel important, and I was very proud to be awarded as an outstanding young leader. I hope that I will be a good future leader.”
“All the students who participated in the Bambisanani young leadership training are showing a great excitement and self-confidence. They had their first experience in communicating with people from another part of the world. They show a strong willingness to practise what they had been trained for. We as a school have a great confidence and hope to these young people .We hope that their experience in Bambisanani will change their lives forever.””
Developing Leaders for the Future
The visit to South Africa not only built friendships and maintained relationships between the UK and South Africa but it also increased employability skills of the students involved.Students' overall self-assessment increased from 64.8% before the visit to 89.1% afterwards — an improvement of 24.3 percentage points.
The largest reported gains were in leadership (+39 points), initiative (+33 points), communication (+27 points) and teamwork (+25 points). This provides strong evidence that the Bambisanani experience had a positive impact on students' confidence in their transferable skills.
The 2026 Bambisanani visit was a remarkable experience for everyone involved. Through sport, education, leadership and friendship, the students from St. Mary’s were able to make a positive difference while also developing skills and experiences that will remain with them for a lifetime.
The visit once again demonstrated the incredible power of the Bambisanani Partnership to connect communities, develop young leaders and inspire young people to believe that they can make a difference in the world.
Reflecting on the visit, group leader Charlotte Wood said: “In 2018, I was given the opportunity to go on my first Bambisanani visit. Fast forward eight years, three years of COVID when travel was not possible, and I have now completed my seventh visit.
Most people ask me if I get bored of going to the same place or whether it becomes repetitive. My answer is always the same: everyone I have the privilege of working with is unique, and no visit is ever the same.
I am incredibly thankful to have been given the opportunity to make a difference, not only to my own students but to hundreds of young people in South Africa.
The sixteen students who visited South Africa this year not only helped others but also grew as leaders themselves. The skills they developed through leadership, teamwork, resilience and communication will help them to achieve their goals in the future.
They were an absolute privilege to take and were a credit to St. Mary’s School and the Bambisanani Partnership. They truly embedded the values of the partnership throughout their visit.”
