International Volunteering

Gryphons Abroad

Want to be part of a project which will make an impact on you and others? Join us as a Gryphons Abroad volunteer in rural South Africa!

Our international volunteering project, Gryphons Abroad, engages young people in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal in a programme of cycling, sport, leadership & education. The project has aspiration, cultural & global awareness and employability at its heart, and as a volunteer you will develop a range of skills which will set you apart when you leave University.

The project is delivered in partnership with The Bambisanani Partnership, the KZN Department of Education and KZN Cycling.

Find out more about Gryphons Abroad and how you could be part of the team.

Get Involved

Join the team

Applications for the summer 2025 programme have now closed. Applications for Summer 2026 will open in September 2025. Below is some information which prospective applicants may find useful.

Who can apply?

Any University of Leeds student can apply for the programme – you do not need any experience of teaching cycling or sport as full training will be provided including formal qualifications.

We are looking for students with outstanding soft skills who are open-minded, committed, adaptable, creative and curious.

You will have the opportunity to travel to another country, make a clear impact on the lives of pupils in rural South Africa and expand your own global and cultural awareness and graduate level skills.

More information about applications

The project runs during the summer months for a period of four weeks – usually for the duration of August

To become a team member students will be required to fundraise – the fundraising target in 2025 was £1650. This covers all costs associated with the trip along with a contribution to the project costs e.g., the cost of setting up the cycling hub, tools, parts, helmets etc. This is a challenge but support is available to help you achieve this.

The cost of the project per person is more than the above but thanks to the generous support of the Footsteps Fund, the fundraising goal for individual students is now 50% lower than in previous years. We hope that this will open up access to international volunteering to a diverse group of students.

Through the University of Leeds Turing scheme all students can also apply for a cost-of-living grant and students from underrepresented groups can apply for additional cost of living funds as well as travel funding. The Turing funding aims to open up access to international opportunities for all and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply.

Please note this opportunity is exclusively aimed at current University of Leeds students only. Applications will not be accepted from the wider public or from other local institutions (However, Leeds Trinity & Leeds Beckett run their own international programmes for their students).

Project information

Group of people on bikes The Gryphons Abroad project has three aspects:

Cycle hubs
Sport & leadership
Cultural exchange

Cycle hubs

Through partnership work with KZN Cycling, we teach cycling & bike maintenance in a range of primary and secondary schools. The cycling clinics, aimed at beginners & improvers are delivered thanks to a cycling hub located in the heart of the community.

The cycling hubs house bikes and bike maintenance equipment, with a truck and trailer to take the bikes on a tour of local schools. KZN Cycling sustain the hub year-round, as well as employing development officers and coaches specifically to bring cycling to remote areas.

Access to cycling can be life changing in rural areas as children & young people face long walks to access education and employment and KZN Cycling also offer a performance pathway for pupils with the potential to compete locally and nationally.

Volunteer teaching bike maintenance

Sport & leadership

Sport plays a key role in the project by bringing people together and developing wider skills. One week of the project will be spent delivering a sport & leadership festival for primary pupils from three schools in the township of Eshowe.

The festival involves a daily rota of sports sessions, classroom sessions and applied sports leadership sessions culminating in pupils delivering their own sports activities for their peers.

Cultural exchange

The final part of the project involves cultural exchange – you will have the opportunity to share your experiences as well as learn about the rich culture of the region. In every school you can expect to be warmly welcomed with Zulu singing and dancing, as well as being invited to join in!

Every school is unique and different, and you will develop an understanding of Zulu life, language, and culture from the students & staff themselves.

Volunteers helping kids on bikes

The schools & partners we work with are identified by the KZN department of Education and we aim to position our work in the areas of greatest need across Kwa-Zulu Natal. Cycling & education enable pupils in rural areas to gain valuable life skills and confidence.

This project is kindly supported by the Footsteps Fund.