I visited the Kwano cycling Academy recently. It is aligned to the Murray secondary school in Plettenburg Bay which now houses some 1800 learners. Like most secondary schools it opens its doors at 7:30 am and then closes them at 13:30. Little happens in the afternoon.
Colin Shave, a passionate cyclist, had the idea of inviting kids to join the Kwano Academy which runs an afternoon school on the premises focusing on improved English and Maths tuition including a compulsory cycling training session on one afternoon.
Their credo is “Changing Lives through Education and Cycling” https://www.kwano.co.za with a Vision of “Assisting in a tough community environment, with few positive role models, where the formal education system does not prepare youth for the “real world” and limited extramural activities exist.”
Started in 2014 with just 10 students they now have 120 secondary school kids covering grade 8-12 with 23 matriculants aligned to the programme below:
100% of the matriculants pass
100% of the funds raised is spent directly on the kids
100% of the 11 board members are volunteers
Sipho Mthembu is the cycle Programme Leader and their achievements on the tracks are remarkable.
One can’t help feeling slightly overwhelmed as one visits the school; witnesses the passion of the founders; the enthusiasm of the teachers in the Maths and English classrooms; and the bright eyes of the kids as they realise, through real examples amongst them, that opportunity and the ability to fulfil their potential awaits.
It’s such a great, amongst many, South African story combining goodwill, positive energy and delivery.
By Steuart Pennington
The post A REMARKABLE SOUTH AFRICAN STORY appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News.
