Students and staff from Newcastle College have recently returned from South Africa, where they spent three weeks volunteering in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
The team of 10 students and two staff members completed the 26-hour journey to Eshowe South Africa in June, to work with children aged two to 13.
Harnessing the power of sport, the team worked in a secondary school, primary school and day centre for orphans and vulnerable children throughout their time in South Africa. They hosted sports activities and leadership sessions for more than 1,000 children, designed to help them foster skills in leadership, communication, team building, and confidence.
Kieran Thomas, a Sports Performance and Rehabilitation student who was part of the team to travel, said: “This has been an absolutely life-changing experience. It was fulfilling, taught me so much, and made me value all the little things we take for granted in the UK. I have loved every second.”
This was the College’s second visit to South Africa as part of the Bambisanani partnership. The trips and work experience were funded by the Turing Scheme, the UK’s global programme for studying, working and living abroad, offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for personal and professional development for students.
Ahead of the trip, staff and students worked hard to fundraise so they could also provide the schools in South Africa with donations of clothing and sporting equipment.
This included a team completing the Three Peaks Challenge earlier this year, raising almost £3,000. Half of this money went to MyWalk, a campaign that provides school shoes for children in rural South Africa who walk barefoot to school. The shoes, crafted from recycled hospital waste, cost less than £2 per pair. This donation will equip an entire primary school of 700 children with shoes. The remaining funds supported the activities and donations across schools and communities in rural South Africa, in partnership with Bambisanani.
Mr. Ngobo, a maths teacher at Ngqamzana Primary School, expressed his gratitude, saying, “We thank you for your support more than words can express. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much for your generous contributions. With supporters like you, we know we can achieve our goals. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us make a positive impact in society. We are so grateful for our partnership which is making a difference. This is your home; you are welcome anytime. God bless you.”
Brogan O’Connor, Enrichment and Development Manager at Newcastle College and a Bambisanani Trustee, summarised the visit, saying: “Weeks like these make me immensely proud to represent both Newcastle College and the Bambisanani Partnership. The things our students have achieved in the past 18 days, the memories and friendships they have made and the impact they have left with their new friends in South Africa is nothing short of remarkable.
“Using the power of sport to work together with colleagues and friends at Doremi Day Centre, Ngqamzana Primary School and Matholamnyama Secondary School, we have shown that anything is possible. I look forward to continuing to strengthen and grow the Bambisanani Partnership at Newcastle College and can’t wait to see what the next few years holds.”