Find out more about the project and find out how you could be part of the team going next year below.
Join the Team
Applications for the summer 2025 programme are now open and will close on Thursday 31st October 2024. We have a maximum of ten student places available in 2025 to deliver the project alongside 2-3 University staff members. The programme will run for the duration of August (a period of 4 weeks in South Africa) and you must be able to commit to the full time period as well as all of the mandatory training which will start in January 2025.
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 softer skills who are open minded, committed, adaptable, creative, curious and like to get stuck into new things. You will have the opportunity to travel to another country and engage in a service-learning project – not only will you make a clear impact on the lives of pupils in rural South Africa, you will also expand your own global and cultural awareness and graduate level skills.
To become a team member students will be required to fundraise – the fundraising target is £1650. This will cover 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 in itself but support is available to help you achieve this. The actual cost of the project per person is more than this but thanks to the generous support of the Footsteps Fund, the fundraising goal for individual students is 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 to all and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply. You can read more about the Turing scheme here.
To apply to become a team member you must submit a one-page application describing the following:
- Why you’d like to be part of the project
- Why you want to do international volunteering specifically
- What specific skills you would bring to the team
This should be submitted to Fenella Walsh, Operations Manager on f.walsh1@leeds.ac.uk by Thursday 31st October 2024. You may then be invited to an individual or group interview with our staff team to discuss the project and your application in more detail.
We will be holding 2 information sessions for students to find out more about the project from our staff team in October. You can sign up to attend here.
Tuesday 22nd October – 12-1pm – Wellbeing room at the Edge
Thursday 24th October – 12-1pm – Wellbeing room at the Edge
Any questions about the project can be directed to Fenella at the email address above.
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
The Gryphons Abroad project has three aspects
1. Cycle Hubs
2. Sport & Leadership
3. Cultural exchange
Cycle Hubs
Through partnership work with KZN Cycling, we will teach cycling & bike maintenance in a range of primary and secondary schools. The cycling clinics, aimed at beginners & improvers will be delivered thanks to a cycling hub located in the heart of the community. Cycling hubs are basically shipping containers which house bikes and bike maintenance equipment, complemented by 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 also plays a key role in the project in 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’ll develop an understanding of Zulu life, language and culture from the students & staff themselves.
The schools & partners we will work with are identified by the KZN department of education and we aim to position our work in the areas of greatest need across the Eshowe region of 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. You can find out more about this funding here.
Latest News
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Gryphons Abroad Programme then contact us;