NEWS
New Trustee for The Bambisanani Partnership
The Bambisanani Partnership this week appointed Andy Lockwood, Professional Development Manager at the University of Leeds, as a Trustee.
The Bambisanani Partnership this week appointed Andy Lockwood, Professional Development Manager at the University of Leeds, as a Trustee.
Andy became involved in the partnership in 2014 and visited South Africa in 2015 with students and staff from St. Mary’s School, Menston. Inspired by the visit, Andy wasted little time in organising a visit for students from the University of Leeds to South Africa to further develop the work of the Bambisanani Partnership. The visit, in June 2016, introduced a Leadership programme to over one hundred junior school children and pioneered a unique cycling programme (Cycling for Success) at Mnyakanya School. It was a resounding success.
Andy has worked tirelessly with the Bambisanani team over the past two years and has made a significant contribution to forging the partnership with the University. His personal commitment to fundraising has been amazing and last year he ran the 127 miles of the Leeds Liverpool canal route! Andy was clearly delighted with his appointment:
““Over the last two years, I have had the privilege of working with the partnership, initially as a sponsored guest and more recently as a fully-fledged project partner through my role at the University of Leeds. I can quite honestly say that the partnership has had a profound effect on me as an individual and the way in which I view the world. Through my visit with the partnership in 2015 and the delivery of my own project in 2016, I have seen the positive effect the partnership’s work has on the young people and communities it comes into contact with, whether it be supporting young people in South Africa to develop their leadership and coaching skills or supporting our students to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. The charity has an impact upon everyone it comes into contact with. It continues to leave a lasting and growing legacy both in KwaZulu-Natal and Leeds. It is something that the charity should be very proud of. Sport has an amazing power to change and enrich the lives of young people and this is something that I am incredibly passionate about. I am committed not only through my role at the University of Leeds but personally to the continual development of this work and the good that it does. I believe that my passion and experience will help to develop the partnership further and that I will be able to contribute to its ongoing success. It is a great honour to be appointed to the Board of Trustees and I look forward to playing my part in this amazing charity.””
““Andy is an outstanding young man who has gained national recognition for his work in Sport Development and Leadership. He has demonstrated great commitment and personal investment to the partnership and has the vision and enthusiasm to make a significant contribution to the charity, both strategically and operationally. Andy is both a fantastic team player and leader and it is a privilege for us to have him on board.” ”
The Bambisanani Partnership is a multi-award winning charity which uses sport as a catalyst to promote education, health, global citizenship and leadership in one of South Africa’s most deprived rural areas. Andy Lockwood will join Founder Trustees David Geldart, Darren Beardsley, Katie Campbell, Barbara Pounder and Diane Maguire on the Board.
Bambisanani Partnership Charity Appoints New Board Member [DIOCESEOFLEEDS.ORG.UK]
First ever Bambisanani Bronze Award goes to Caitlin Copsey
Caitlin (Year 9) is the first student to complete all the tasks required to achieve the award.
Caitlin (Year 9) is the first student to complete all the tasks required to achieve the award.
Photo: Caitlin Copsey (Year 9) with her Bronze Award which was presented during assembly
Mr Wilkes launched the Bambisanani Award Scheme last year. He asked for students to sign up for the award because they wanted to do something positive for themselves as well as helping people who are less fortunate than we are.
Students had to, in their own time, complete the following tasks:
Complete a research project
Raise over £50 for The Bambisanani Partnership charity
Show on 5 occasions that they could demonstrate excellent leadership skill
Deliver a presentation
All these tasks require you to take some of your own time and devote it to:
Planning
Preparing
Researching
Making
Baking
Selling
Leading and presenting
Supporting and helping
The bronze badge was presented to Caitlin in assembly by Mrs Chatttoe.
““I am delighted to be able to present the first ever Bambisanani Bronze Award to Caitlin Copsey. She has actually exceed the requirements of the award and is so thoroughly deserving of the Bambisanani Bronze Award.””
The Bambisanani Partnership celebrates its Tenth Anniversary
2006–2016
2006–2016
In 2006, David Geldart, the then Director of Physical Education and Sport at St. Mary’s, Menston, visited South Africa as part of a British Council and Youth Sport Trust initiative to promote sport in the country’s most deprived areas. As a direct result of that visit, St. Marys and Mnyakanya High School in KwaZulu-Natal developed a unique partnership using sport to inspire young people in both countries. The two schools named their collaboration the ‘Bambisanani Partnership’ – Bambisanani being the Zulu word meaning ‘working hand in hand’. The partnership has subsequently gained international acclaim for its ‘pioneering and inspirational work’ using the power of sport to promote education, health, global citizenship, enterprise in one of South Africa’s poorest rural regions. Ten years on, the partnership has become a multi Award winning charity chaired by David Geldart and led by Mrs Catherine Chattoe at St. Marys and Mrs PK Zondi in South Africa.
Mnyakanya High School is situated in the rural and remote Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The school, in the heart of traditional Zululand, was opened by Nelson Mandela in 2004 and is located in one of the most deprived areas of South Africa with high rates of HIV/AIDS, unemployment and adult illiteracy. The area has one of highest rates of AIDS orphans in the world. Class sizes are in excess of 60 and the school has very limited resources. Despite all this, Mnyakanya provides an oasis of hope in the area and many students walk two hours, each way, for the opportunity to receive an education.
Sport has driven the Bambisanani Partnership and has been the catalyst for whole school developments at both St. Mary’s and Mnyakanya. Over the course of the past ten years the Bambisanani Partnership has become part of each school’s identity. Teacher and student exchanges, joint learning projects involving almost all areas of the curriculum have enriched teaching and learning at both schools and empowered the partnership. A fundamental factor in this success has been whole school involvement, engagement and support of Governors, Senior Leaders, teachers, parents, students and the wider community including supporters and sponsors.
The visits to and from each country have had a significant impact on those involved. Students from St. Mary’s who visit South Africa prepare for more that eighteen months in advance. In addition to the necessary fund raising and advanced leadership training, students are involved in a learning programme that covers topics such as Apartheid, South African history and politics, Zulu culture and traditions, HIV/AIDS awareness and Zulu language. When in South Africa the students (normally lower Sixth Form) mentor twenty Mnyakanya students through the ‘Bambisanani Leadership’ programme, taught through sports activities. At the end of the programme, the students from both schools have the responsibility of jointly planning and delivering a community Sports Festival and a community Reading Festival for over 150 primary school children from the Nkandla region. Significantly, even the Reading Festival uses sport to great effect. Beyond the leadership mentoring, St. Mary’s students also coach a range of specific sports and teach academic subjects at Mnyakanya, and sports and reading at Ntlowane Primary School and Zulufadder Orphanage.
The annual visits to South Africa have also included primary and secondary colleagues in order to encourage this kind of development in other schools. Business sponsors and supporters have also visited the project.
David Geldart said:-
“The process of the young people working together using sport for the greater good never fails to remind us of the awesome power of sport. The impact on all those involved is truly inspirational.”
Quotes from St. Mary’s students:
“My world has just got bigger, I realise it is my duty to be a global citizen.”
“Much of our life in the UK has become obsessed with materialism and ‘celebrity’. We have lost touch with things that really matter. My visit to South Africa has given me a much more meaningful perspective on life.”
“How can my life ever be the same again? I have been given the most wonderful opportunity and I have a responsibility now to continue to make a difference in my life.”
Quotes from Mnyakanya students:
“We have worked together …. people of different colours, countries, religions and cultures …. we have proved it can be done.”
“My view of the world has changed. I can now see what a difference it makes when you love and respect people.”
“We have all learned so much from working together. We have learned to be leaders and to work in the wider community. We have made friends and now have greater confidence in the world.”
Beyond annual visits, the majority of Faculty areas at St. Mary’s have used the partnership as a stimulus for learning. Exceptional work in Religious Education, English, Languages, Humanities, Technology, Drama, Art and Music has further embedded the collaboration. Joint learning projects in Art and Creative Writing based on the theme of ‘The Power of Sport’ inspired over 650 students from both schools to voluntarily enter age related competitions. The work has since been exhibited in both countries and prints sold internationally.
‘Bambisanani Enterprises’ is a student led business that exists in both schools with the purpose of teaching enterprise skills and raising funding for the partnership. Business sponsors in both countries have given their time to mentor students involved. The partnership has also developed the Bambisanani Award scheme. To gain the awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold level, students have to successfully complete independent learning projects on Leadership, Social Justice, Global Citizenship, Enterprise, Volunteering and Community Engagement.
The charity supports Aids orphans into school and is currently funding four students through University. Simphiwe Ndlovu is now in his second year at University training to be a teacher. Simphiwe said, ‘I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I completed the Bambisanani Leadership Programme. I was really motivated to succeed in my studies at school to gain entry to University. To become a teacher is my dream. I want to be one of those good teachers that the world needs.’
St. Mary’s and Mnyakanya both now work with other schools to encourage them to also develop international partnerships. This involves working with schools individually and speaking at conferences about the Bambisanani Partnership and the benefits of such work.
Both the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University have become involved with the Bambisanani Partnership. Led by Andy Lockwood, staff and students the University of Leeds have recently returned from South Africa where they pioneered a unique cycling project at Mnyakanya School, teaching students how to ride bikes safely and maintain them. In addition to this, the team delivered a Sports Leadership programme to over 150 primary school children and volunteered at Zulufadder Orphanage.
In its tenth Anniversary year, the Bambisanani Partnership has ambitious plans to extend its work and influence. In addition to the annual exchanges, supporting students in need and the provision of a wide range of new learning activities in both schools, the charity is working with the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University to develop leadership programmes with its own students in South Africa. At Mnyakanya School the charity is currently working on the instillation of Wi Fi and computers to enhance teaching and learning in this remote rural area. It is also the aim to create a football pitch for the school and wider community on land nearby. The partnership's long term relationship with Zulufadder Orphanage will be developed through the building of a new Hostel for the most vulnerable of vulnerable children who need immediate care and accommodation. Additionally the partnership is also working with the South African Commission to the UK to help establish a Sport and Education Forum linking the UK and South Africa with the British Council and Youth Sport Trust to support other schools develop sustainable partnerships.
William Vilakazi, Principal of Mnyakanya School, is in no doubt about the importance of the partnership:-
“The Bambisanani Partnership continues to be an inspiration to our school and community. It is difficult to put into words the impact of the partnership. Some of the impact is physical and very practical; some of the impact is psychological, influencing attitudes, confidence, motivation and aspiration. We all learn from working together and the focus on developing young leaders is changing people’s lives. We are working in an equal partnership where there is mutual respect. There is a saying in Zulu culture: ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ – meaning, ‘we are what we are because of others’. We are genuinely working hand in hand and I believe that both school communities are enhanced as a result. What this partnership teaches cannot be learned from books.”
The partnership's founder, David Geldart added:
“This work is not easy, indeed it is fraught with difficulties and frustration; yet the prize is great if you have a team that is determined to succeed. This is not really about charity, it is much more than that; it is about people from different parts of the world working together and learning together. The Bambisanani Partnership will not change the world but it has changed the world for some people; it has changed the lives and perspectives of many. It is testimony to the unique power of sport and of education as to what can be achieved by working hand in hand in a genuine partnership. We have learned so much from our first ten years of working together; not least that we can achieve even more in the next ten years.”
Three remarkable books have been published about the work of the Bambisanani Partnership. The fourth book, Bambisanani: Ten Years of Working Together and Learning Together, is currently being written and will be published early next year.
Cardinal Plus Annual Golf Day 16 September 2016 will raise funds for The Bambisanani Partnership!
This year’s event takes place on the prestigious championship golf course at The Mere, set in 150 acres of Cheshire's finest parkland.
This year’s event takes place on the prestigious championship golf course at The Mere, set in 150 acres of Cheshire's finest parkland.
Photo: Thank you Cardinal Plus for supporting us, Sports Festival at Mnyakanya High School, 2016
Cardinal Plus is the UK's fastest growing logistics provider.
Throughout the day they will be raising funds for The Bambisanani Partnership to develop a sustainable and effective partnership that allows both our schools to work together and learn together for the mutual benefit of both communities and beyond.
Very special thanks must go to Cardinal Plus for their outstanding contribution to our charity over many years.
Cardinal Golf Day 2016 [CARDINAL-PLUS.COM]
Donate to the Bambisanani House Project
Link to donate to the Zulufader JustGiving Page for this project.
Link to donate to the Zulufader JustGiving Page for this project.
Photo: St. Mary's Pupils visited Zulufadder Orphange, June 2016
"Help us give quality education to more children in Zululand, South Africa. We are building a hostel to house 50 children so that they can fulfil their dreams."
Sipho's story
4°C is cold. 12 years old Sipho slips out from the thin blanket on the mud floor that he shares with his three younger siblings. He washes his face with icy water from an old bucket and puts on his only school uniform. There's no food in the hut that is home to the children and their grandmother. His parents have long since succumbed to HIV and AIDS. Sipho puts on his worn school shoes, picks up his threadbare school bag, and sets out on the 4 kilometre walk to school. He's a good student but it's hard to concentrate on an empty stomach.
How YOU can help
Without accommodation Zulufadder cannot help these children, so the heart of our school, Gratton school, is the boarding facility where children can stay during the week after being bused in from the rural areas.
Together with you and our partner The Bambisanani Partnership (St. Mary’s Menston) we can provide a new boarding house for 50 disadvantaged children so that they can realise their dreams.
Diana Award for St. Mary’s Students
The Bambisanani Partnership is delighted to announce that fourteen St. Mary's Menston Year 13 students have been honoured with a Diana Award.
The Bambisanani Partnership is delighted to announce that fourteen St. Mary's Menston Year 13 students have been honoured with a Diana Award.
Photo: FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BBC Reporter Danielle Hewson, Chris Chavez-Cronin, Niall Hogan, Jessica Carroll, Elliot Mulligan, Dominique Cunningham, Mitchell Lofthouse, Joseph Copsey, Lucy Tindale, Benedict Cheetham, Thomas Brady, Diana Award INSPIRE Leeds Event, 15 July 2016
INSPIRE Leeds Event gallery (197 photos)
Thomas Brady, Jessica Carroll, Chris Chavez-Cronin, Ben Cheetham, Marienn Collins, Joseph Copsey, Dominique Cunningham, Will Giles, Niall Hogan, Hannah Jowett, Mitchell Lofthouse, Elliot Mulligan, Rebecca Still and Lucy Tindale were awarded the Diana Champion Volunteer Award for their work in South Africa as part of the Bambisanani Partnership. The students visited the country during the summer of 2015 and were responsible for mentoring young leaders from Mnyakanya High School through the Bambisanani Leadership Award. In addition, they also taught at the school and together with Mnyakanya students, were responsible for organising community reading and sports festivals. The St. Mary’s students also worked at Ntolwane Primary School and Zulufadder Orphanage.
Since 1999, over 47,000 young people have been recognised with a Diana Award for making an outstanding difference in their communities’ across the globe and continuing Princess Diana’s legacy. With the support of HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry, the Diana Award aims to inspire and recognise social action in young people by going beyond its Awards programme with youth led initiatives that empower young people to achieve their full potential and make a difference.
““The Diana Award is proud to recognise incredible young people like the St. Mary’s students who have the confidence and courage to stand up for what they believe. The Diana Award is presented to inspirational young people who work to improve the lives of others in their schools and communities. With a growing network of over 47,000 Award Holders, we are building a force of young people who are committed to taking actions and improving the lives of others.”
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““We at St. Mary’s are extremely proud of the students. The Diana Award will encourage them to continue their fantastic work and will hopefully inspire others to make a difference in the community. The students were delighted to receive an award in recognition of their work.””
June 2016 St. Mary’s South Africa Visit
Read Miss Jackson's wonderful blog, and see photo gallery and tweets from South Africa
Read Miss Jackson's wonderful blog, and see photo gallery and tweets from South Africa
Photo: Visiting Ntolwane Primary School
Photos from South Africa Visit 2016
Fourteen St. Mary’s Menston students embarked on a journey to South Africa on 15 June to deliver a leadership programme to a high school in one of South Africa’s poorest rural areas. The Bambisanani Partnership, set up by Mr David Geldart, former Assistant Headteacher at St. Mary’s, has seen the school and Mnyakanya High School in KwaZulu-Natal, working in collaboration for the last ten years.
This year’s visit was led by Mr Giles Wilkes, supported by Mr Tom Pringle and Miss Eleanor Jackson from St. Mary’s. Mr Chris Mullarkey, Primary Education Tutor at Leeds Trinity University also joined the group.
St. Mary’s students Aidan Conlon, Oliver Armitage, Chris Ginty, Ryan Smith, Ben Hings, Sean Moorby, Leah Delahey, Amy Collins, Elizabeth Westhead, Jayda Etienne, Megan Lupton, Sophia Lenik, Joanna Ciesluk and Amelia Walsh used sport and literacy to develop and promote education, leadership, health and global understanding to the school children in the Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal.
This year was a special year for the partnership as not only did it celebrate its 10th anniversary, but for the first time, Leeds University were also involved. Led by Andy Lockwood, the University students assisted a group of South African second year university students in delivering a series of Leadership Courses as well as a cycling award.
As part of the programme, St. Mary’s students prepared curriculum lessons for the Mnyakanya learners. Varied lessons were delivered, including how the heart works, the great fire of London, Geography, English and a French lesson which included a rousing version of ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ - in French of course. All lessons were engaging and interactive; delivered brilliantly by St. Mary’s students.
Throughout their ten day visit, the St. Mary’s team taught South African students how to organise and deliver a mini Olympics, inspired by the forthcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. This culminated in Mnyakanya High School hosting a Sports and Literacy Festival for one hundred local primary school children. This was a tremendous success. Developing leadership and inspiring students through sport and education was the initial aim of the Bambisanani Partnership. The young South African learners were empowered and they learnt a range of skills which will help them as they continue their school lives.
As part of the annual Leavers’ Awards Assembly, Mnyakanya High School was presented with 14 football shirts donated by The John Paul II Foundation 4 Sport. The John Paul II Foundation 4 Sport was launched by Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the UK in 2010. The Foundation is inspired by Pope John Paul’s own vision of sports’ unique potential to develop individuals and communities.
Mnyakanya High School is the first school in South Africa to be invited to join the prestigious John Paul II Foundation.
During their visit, the St. Mary’s team also worked at an orphanage. The Zulufadder Orphanage and Day Care Centre supports and cares for HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children throughout KwaZulu-Natal. St. Mary’s students spent time singing, dancing and reading with the children. The visit to Zulufadder was a hard-hitting reminder of the disparity between the two countries but it reinforced to all involved that the good work of the Bambisanani Partnership must continue.
““The Bambisanani Partnership allowed me to fully embrace a new culture where appreciation for all you have, counteracts the desperation that is so prevalent in some areas. I feel as though I developed an understanding for the different behaviours and ways of life and the process of tackling the language barrier has enabled me to deliver information more effectively to certain audiences. A truly humbling experience.”
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““The visit to South Africa was an eye-opening experience. It made me realise how lucky we are and how we take so many things for granted. I felt so touched that they have such big dreams and are willing to do everything in order to live out these dreams. This experience changed me as a person as I constantly consider my actions and their effects on others locally and globally.””
““Bambisanani has had a huge impact on many things such as the way I will go about helping others. I now appreciate the smaller things as I have experienced the hardships the South African learners go through.”
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““Now in its tenth year, this remarkable project continues to inspire young people from both countries to work together and learn together. The power of sport has been utilised very successfully to promote education, health, leadership and global citizenship. The Bambisanani team and its network of supporters deserve enormous credit for their work that is truly changing lives.””
Tweets from South Africa Visit 2016
Mission Statement for our 2016 Visit to South Africa
St. Mary's Menston pupils have written a Mission Statement for what they aim to achieve and how they will achieve it during the forthcoming visit.
St. Mary's Menston pupils have written a Mission Statement for what they aim to achieve and how they will achieve it during the forthcoming visit.
Photo: Preparations continue for the '10th Anniversary' 2016 Visit to South Africa
““Our work in South Africa will demonstrate our school values: tolerance, dignity and respect.
This will be done through the sharing of knowledge, exchange of kindness and forming of friendships.””
Bambisanani 'Spirit of Ubuntu' Concert 2016
Friday evening (22 April 2016) saw another great night at the annual Bambisanani music concert. There were performances from the St. Mary's & Cardinal Heenan Jazz Band, the St. Mary's Ukulele Orchestra and the Leeds Youth Jazz & Rock Orchestra.
Friday evening (22 April 2016) saw another great night at the annual Bambisanani music concert. There were performances from the St. Mary's and Cardinal Heenan Jazz Band, the St. Mary's Ukulele Orchestra and the Leeds Youth Jazz & Rock Orchestra.
The night showcased individual talent from St Mary's students with solos, duets and small group ensembles.
The concert raised much needed funds which will go towards supporting The Bambisanani Partnership and the good work of The Leeds Youth Jazz & Rock Orchestra out in South Africa.
““It was a most enjoyable evening with some fantastic musical performances.””
Many thanks to Roger Livesey for the photographs.
Simphiwe Ndlovu Update April 2016
As a result of our continued fundraising particularly the Fairtrade cake sale at the end of last term, we are still able to provide sponsorship for our South African friend, Simphiwe Ndlovu and help him achieve his ambition to qualify as a teacher.
As a result of our continued fundraising particularly the Fairtrade cake sale at the end of last term, we are still able to provide sponsorship for our South African friend, Simphiwe Ndlovu and help him achieve his ambition to qualify as a teacher.
The Bambisanani Partnership has recently provided Simphiwe with a laptop, textbooks and stationary equipment that he requires in order to complete his studies. Simphiwe has sent us some photographs and asked to pass on the following message:
“Mrs C Chattoe and St. Mary’s team
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you for the kind donations towards my dream of becoming an outstanding teacher.
I am deeply humbled by your generosity of supporting me as a needy student, every year. As I want to be an educator, I value education as a way of improving the living standards of those who are not financially covered.
I really appreciate the fact that you always take your time out of your busy schedule in giving me assistance for making my dream come true. I wish God to Shower you with lots of blessings and of course, I hope you will manage to cover all the costs for my equipment.
Once again, thank you and I am looking forward to continue having a working relationship with you.
Many thanks to you all
Simphiwe Sibani Ndlovu”