International Volunteering

Gryphons Abroad

Want to make an impact with your summer break? 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 2026 programme have now CLOSED. Applications for Summer 2027 will open on Saturday 8th August and close on Friday 31st October.

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 2027 project will run for a period of 3 weeks. The provisional travel dates for 2027 are Saturday 7th-Monday 30th August. These dates are subject to availability of flights etc and may change.
To become a team member students will be required to fundraise – the fundraising target for 2027 is £2500 per student. 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 and all students can apply for funding support from the Turing scheme (see below).
The cost of the project per student is more than the above but part of this cost is subsidised thanks to the generous support of the Footsteps Fund. 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.
Participation in this programme can also be used as part of the SOUL Discovery programme. This module supports students to reflect on the personal & professional value of their volunteering.
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).

How do I apply?

Applications for Summer 2027 will open on Saturday 8th August and close on Friday 31st October. To apply you should send one side of A4 outlining the following:

Why you want to be part of our Gryphons Abroad team and why you want to do international volunteering specifically
What skills you would bring to the team and what skills you would hope to develop through your involvement

Please send your application to Chloe Marshall, Sports Workforce Officer on [email protected]. For more information about the Gryphons Abroad project you can contact Suzzi Garnett, Sports Workforce Manager on [email protected]

Project information

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.

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.

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.