NEWS
Bambisanani leader attends South African National Day 2023 celebrations
David Geldart, CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership was honoured this week with an invitation to visit the South African High Commission in London to celebrate South Africa’s National Day.
David Geldart, CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership was honoured this week with an invitation to visit the South African High Commission in London to celebrate South Africa’s National Day.
His Excellency Kingsley Mamabolo, the South African High Commissioner with David Geldart, CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership
The event, also known as Freedom Day, commemorated the 29th year since the first post-apartheid elections were held and the day that the new constitution was introduced. The elections were the first national elections where everyone in the country over the age of 18 from any race was allowed to vote. National Day is held on 27th April but had been delayed in the UK because of the coronation. The theme for this year’s event was ‘Consolidating and safeguarding our Democratic gains’.
David Geldart met His Excellency Kingsley Mamabolo, the South African High Commissioner, who praised the work of the Bambisanani Partnership as an outstanding example of the collaboration between the UK and South Africa. In his speech, the High Commissioner highlighted the special relationship between the two countries. He also outlined the progress that had been made in the last 29 years of democracy but also the challenges that still need to be addressed.
David Geldart said “It is a tremendous honour for the partnership to be represented at this most significant commemorative celebration. For many of us involved in the anti-apartheid movement that day in April 1994 is impossible to forget. I remember watching TV and seeing snaking queues that stretched for miles and miles of people that had never been allowed to vote before. Some years later I remember, with equal clarity, meeting people that had stood in those queues and hearing their stories. The Bambisanani Partnership is very proud to play a small part in this democratic journey.”
Newcastle College raises funds for the Bambisanani Partnership
Students and staff at Newcastle College recently took part in the Goggins Challenge, in an effort to raise funds for their visit to South Africa later this year, where they will spend three weeks working with children in schools and orphanages.
Students and staff at Newcastle College recently took part in the Goggins Challenge, in an effort to raise funds for their visit to South Africa later this year, where they will spend three weeks working with children in schools and orphanages.
The Goggins Challenge involves running four miles, every four hours, for 48 hours. In total the team ran 48 miles over the course of the challenge. Brogan O'Conner, Sports Development Manager explained how it went: "It was an honour to host and take part in the Goggins Challenge. In the end, five people (two students and three staff, pictured above) managed to complete all 12 runs, and a further 12 people (four students and eight staff) ran one or more of the legs in support.
"Although it was a tough mental and physical challenge, it was a great opportunity to give students and staff different memories and experiences outside of their regular college days and one which I will personally remember for a long time.
"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made the challenge possible: the Hospitality team for providing food throughout the challenge, the HE sport rehab team for providing massage treatments, all the staff and students who popped in to wish us good luck or joined us on a run, Hollinside Homes for sponsoring the event and finally Barry Rizza, Tuition Fund Coach, for coming up with, and organising the event."
David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership said: "Massive thanks to the team at Newcastle College for participating in the gruelling Goggins Challenge for the Bambisanani Partnership charity. Brogan, Barry and the students deserve tremendous praise for their efforts and commitment to the partnership. We are rather unusual as a charity in that we have no paid staff or premises - we are all volunteers which means that any money raised goes directly to support our sports projects programmes in one of South Africa’s most deprived rural areas.
"The team of volunteers from Newcastle College will see for themselves just what impact this has when they visit South Africa this summer to work on these programmes."
The team raised a staggering £1,534, but they'd like to reach £5,000 to purchase essential supplies and sporting equipment for the children they'll be supporting in South Africa.
You can help them to reach their target by donating to their JustGiving page.
Newcastle College Students Take Part in Goggins Challenge [NEWCASTLE COLLEGE]
Fundraising Event at Michelin standard Indian restaurant
Date: Sunday 9 July 2023
Date: Sunday 9 July 2023
Time: 12.30pm for 1pm lunch
Venue: Tharavadu Indian Restaurant in Leeds
7-8 Mill Hill
Leeds
LS1 5DQ
2 minute walk from Leeds train station
Cost: £25 per person
Food: Two course Kerala Indian lunch
This will be a great afternoon for people to experience Michelin standard Kerala food
There will be the opportunity to take part in some fundraising games, so could you please bring some cash as well
This will be a fantastic event for the whole family as well as raising money for a great cause
The Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has referred Tharavadu as his favourite restaurant - the reviews are amazing
Tickets are available from Catherine Chattoe at St. Mary’s Menston c.chattoe@stmarysmenston.org 01943 883000
St. Mary's Menston Year 12 South Africa Visit 2023 Blog
St. Mary’s Menston Year 12 South Africa Visit 2023 Team
Read the blog here:
Bambisanani Leader to speak at Global School Alliance virtual conference
For further details and to register please see link below.
For further details and to register please see link below.
For further information about the The Global School Alliance also see:
Bambisanani Partnership will deliver its most ambitious volunteer programme in South Africa
This summer will see the most ambitious Bambisanani Partnership volunteer programme in South Africa to date.
This summer will see the most ambitious Bambisanani Partnership volunteer programme in South Africa to date.
In June, July and August volunteer teams from St. Mary’s School, Menston, the University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University and Newcastle College will work in partnership with schools and other organisations in the rural Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal to deliver a range of existing Bambisanani programmes as well as introducing new ones. In total, 58 students and members of staff have volunteered to work with local communities and schools in one of South Africa’s most challenging and deprived rural and remote areas.
Over the past 17 years, the Bambisanani Partnership has gained international acclaim for its work using sport as a catalyst to promote, education, health, global citizenship and leadership. Based on needs identified by local communities the partnership is committed to a range of collaborations that create learning opportunities for both students from South Africa and the UK under the banner of ‘Working together and learning together’.
The Bambisanani Partnership volunteer visits to South Africa were suspended during Covid and their reinstatement has been welcomed by all concerned: “It is wonderful that the visits will be starting again. Over the years they have made an incredible impact and changed the way that young people from both countries see the world and themselves. The visits enable special human connections to be made that change lives for the better and forever.” Mrs PK Zondi, Bambisanani Coordinator, Mnyakanya High School.
During the three years of Covid the charity demonstrated great resilience, determination and creativity in not only sustaining many of its ongoing activities but actually introducing some new projects with students in both countries. Much time was spent on maintaining the international relationships but also developing new ones. As a consequence, these visits will involve new schools, colleges and other organisations.
This year’s programme of varied activities will see Bambisanani volunteers work with over 1,000 Zulu students in primary, secondary schools and in the wider community. More than 200 students will participate in Bambisanani Sports Leadership programmes. Students from St. Mary’s and Newcastle College will collaborate with Zulu students to jointly deliver Sports and Reading Festivals for over 400 primary school learners. Students from the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University will deliver a Sports Leadership Festival for primary school learners in the town of Eshowe. The university teams will also work on the Bambisanani and KZN Cycling initiative that will launch this summer and see the collaboration teach 5,000 young people a year how to ride and maintain bikes. Considerable sports coaching will also take place as well as the teaching of other subject areas in all schools. All four UK institutions will work in collaboration with the Norwegian charity, Zulufadder, at the Doremi Day Care Centre for orphans and vulnerable children.
Newcastle College is the latest UK institution to join the Bambisanani Partnership and are clearly delighted to be taking students to South Africa for the very first time. Brogan O’Connor from the college said. “Newcastle College is honoured and excited to be joining the Bambisanani Partnership and will commit to representing the partnership with positivity and pride to uphold the values and standards set by both organisations. We recognise the amazing work that has been done over the last 17 years and we commit fully to this, aiming to add further value to the partnership by the continued involvement of Newcastle College.”
St. Mary’s School will have two groups working in South Africa this summer involving 34 Sixth Form students and staff. Miss Charlotte Wood from St. Mary’s said: “It is just wonderful that we are very much ‘back to work’ with the volunteer visits. It will allow for students to work hand in hand with their South African counterparts and explore the programme which has brought so much success over the years. It will hopefully, make the St. Mary’s students more aware of how valuable the work of Bambisanani is, allowing them to pass on their experiences to younger members of the St. Mary’s community and in doing so inspire the next generation of volunteers.”
Suzzi Garnett from the University of Leeds added: “The joint University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity University visit this summer represents a great chance to build on the projects of the past as well as look to a sustainable future for the Cycling to Success project. This group of students will deliver new things in new ways and help determine the next steps for the project'.
David Geldart, Founder and CEO of the Bambisanani Partnership was full of praise for all those involved in both countries for organising the volunteer programme: “The commitment and dedication of our team to create such amazing learning opportunities is simply remarkable. We created a fantastic platform during Covid to massively extend our work further and this is a great example of that. The encounters that will result have the potential to influence young people from South Africa and the UK that will be responsible for shaping society in the future. This is real education for a better world and we are indebted to the very special individuals and institutions that enable this to happen.”
Beyond the Bambisanani volunteer programme the charity also has an extensive range of initiatives that operate throughout the year including its Cycling programme in partnership with KZN Cycling, International Athletics Challenge that links primary schools in both countries, joint training of Physical Education and Sports Coaches linking universities in both countries, Bambisanani Awards that promote Global Citizenship, Leadership and Volunteering for secondary and primary school students in both countries and a Bursary scheme supporting South African students into university and college.
Happy Birthday Father Vlad
Happy Birthday Father Vlad from all the Bambisanani Partnership team in South Africa and the UK - Many thanks for your tremendous support in helping us to use the power of sport to make a difference in the world.
Happy Birthday Father Vlad from all the Bambisanani Partnership team in South Africa and the UK - Many thanks for your tremendous support in helping us to use the power of sport to make a difference in the world.
“Sport has the power to unite people in a way that little else can. Sport can create hope where there was once only despair. It breaks down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all kinds of discrimination. Sport speaks to people in a language they can understand.” Nelson Mandela
Good luck to Mr Harvey and Mr Keefe who will be running the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on 14 May 2023
He will be running to raise funds for The Bambisanani Partnership.
They will be running to raise funds for The Bambisanani Partnership. We wish them well.
Mr Harvey will be taking two groups of St. Mary’s Sixth Form students to South Africa in June and July 2023, to continue the fantastic work of the partnership.
Find out more about the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
Below is a link to donate:
Ground-breaking International partnership will bring cycling to thousands of children in rural South Africa
An innovative partnership has been developed between organisations from the UK and South Africa to establish a specialist cycle hub to enable thousands of children in rural South Africa to learn how to ride and maintain bicycles.
An innovative partnership has been developed between organisations from the UK and South Africa to establish a specialist cycle hub to enable thousands of children in rural South Africa to learn how to ride and maintain bicycles.
Lizzie Deignan MBE. Photo courtesy of JoJo Harper. All Rights reserved.
Since 2016, the University of Leeds and the Bambisanani Partnership have devised and delivered a Cycling to Success programme based at Mnyakanya High School in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This programme has led to almost 200 young people learning how to ride bikes safely and to also maintain and fix bikes out in the community. This programme has also operated a bike rental scheme to allow leaners who live great distances from school to ride to and from school. The project has gained widespread acclaim, including praise from World Champion professional cyclist, Lizzie Deignan MBE who has given her own kit to support it.
The ambition has always been to expand and grow the programme to further schools in the area to broaden the reach and numbers of children gaining these valuable life skills. Over the last two years, the University of Leeds and the Bambisanani Partnership have been working with the highly respected cycling NGO, KZN Cycling, to identify opportunities for collaboration and to expand the project across a great number of schools and across the calendar year.
The Bambisanani Cycling to Success programme introduced in the remote Nkandla region has had an enormous impact. This is an area where children can routinely walk two hours to and from school each day. The bikes have been subsequently been used for transportation, recreation, informal sport and even by the local football team for fitness training. Other remote rural communities also approached the Partnership to see if they could be involved but until now this has not been possible. The collaboration with KZN Cycling dramatically increases capacity to bring cycling, with all its transformative benefits, to other communities.
In this last week, the Bambisanani Partnership and KZN Cycling have signed a three-year agreement worth over £50,000 to establish a cycling hub in the Nkandla region of South Africa. This new hub will have a local community member as a member of staff to deliver schools cycling programmes, as well as community clinics and organise races and events across the area. The new hub will enable 5,000 young people per year to become cyclists and mechanics, as well as acting as a talent identification programme for KZN-Cycling performance pathway. This new partnership provides an exciting opportunity to empower the young people of Nkandla, as well as providing a blueprint for future programmes and projects.
The commitment and enthusiasm for this project is clearly evident from those involved
““We are all excited to develop this new partnership. A cycling hub like this, run by the community, for the community is development at its best. We have already seen the significant impact our cycling projects have had in Nkandla; this expansion is great news and I am sure will make a long-term impact on those who benefit from it.”
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““We’ve always believed that we have a good programme in place across all eleven districts in the province, and every year we have tens of thousands of youngsters that get included in the various elements, but the new agreement that has been put in place with the Bambisanani Partnership not only endorses the hard work being done by all, but more significantly, allows for longer term strategic planning linked to elements that are going to positively impact on the lives of the people of the Nkandla region. For people in the deep rural areas of KZN, bikes and the linked opportunities that bikes have are life changing. If there were more organisations like the Bambisanani Partnership that got behind development programmes like this, whether here or elsewhere in the world, there would be more smiles on more faces every day…” ”
““I am absolutely delighted to have signed this agreement to work in partnership with KZN Cycling. Our own cycling programmes in the deep rural areas have been a resounding success and it is a wonderful opportunity to be now collaborating with KZN Cycling to bring cycling to thousands more young people. Significantly, this work will also involve the KZN Department of Education and the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation who we have worked closely with for many years. Massive thanks must go to Andy and Alec for working tirelessly to create this pioneering programme.”
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With final preparations now underway the first children will be participating in the programme by early June of this year.
Also see related:
The Bambisanani Easter chocolate hamper at St. Mary's Menston has raised £365.08
Thank you to everyone who took part.
Thank you to everyone who took part.
Winner, Luke Mace Year 8
Joe Brooks Year 12 student who will be working in South Africa in June 2023
Mrs Harrison also won a smaller hamper
Carys Delahay Year 12 student who will be working in South Africa in June 2023
