Gryphons Abroad

Our vision: “To develop and deliver an innovative and sustainable student led programme that inspires and motivates change in young people and communities both in Leeds and South Africa through learning and leadership”.

What is Gryphon’s Abroad?

Working with our partners the Bambisanani Partnership, we have developed a life changing sport and education programme in South Africa. In June a team of Leeds Sport staff and selected students will travel to the Kwa-Zulu Natal region of South Africa and deliver a fantastic sport development programme that will raise aspirations and access to education, having a long lasting effect on both the people we work with and the students who deliver the project.

Get Involved

Join the Team

We are looking for our next Gryphons Abroad student team to lead the project in 2017-18!

Application Process

As part of our search we’ve made the application process as simple as possible. All you need to do to apply is email us (1 side of A4 max) answering the following question:

Why do you want to be part of the team and what could you offer?

To become a team member, students will be required to fundraise £2000. This covers all costs associated with the trip along with a contribution to the project fund.

Email your answer to Tilly: n.c.hall@leeds.ac.uk

Applications Close: 30th August 2017

Got any questions? Email Tilly: n.c.hall@leeds.ac.uk

Latest News

Golf ball about to fall in hole — Charity Golf Day

Join us at the stunning Cookridge Hall for a day of…
January 25, 2017/by Tilly Hall

Andy In Africa (1) — New Trustee for The Bambisanani Partnership
This week, The Bambisanani Partnership appointed Leeds Sports…
November 29, 2016/by Lucy Wood

Orphanage header 1100 x400 — A Trip to the Orphanage
In the second week of their South African Adventure, our Gryphons…
June 21, 2016/by Lucy Wood

Project Information

The Gryphons Abroad project will deliver two projects;

1. Gryphons Abroad Inspire through Sport
2. Gryphons Abroad Cycle to Success

Gryphons Abroad Inspire through Sport

Working with our partners John Wesley School, we are currently planning to deliver an inspirational sporting programme to all grade seven students based within the Eshowe district.
Over the course of the three days, all children will converge on one of the local schools (to be agreed) to take part in a structured sporting programme aimed to develop educational attainment, sporting skills and leadership skills.

Gryphons Abroad Cycle to Success

Gryphons Abroad School kids The Cycle to Success project will be based at Mnyakanya High School in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal. The project will offer students the opportunity to learn skills to broaden their horizons and to develop skills required to gain employment. During our three days at the school we will be teaching a number of students to ride and maintain their own school bikes. Travel to and from school in these areas can be an issue due to the distance between home and school and this is a barrier to some students accessing an education. The programme will teach students how to ride a bike safely as well as how to maintain and fix bikes. This will help students to access further support locally but also give them key skills linked to employability and personal development.

Mnyakanya High School

The team will be going to Mnyakanya High School, situated in the rural and remote Nkandla region of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. The school, in the heart of traditional Zululand, was opened by Nelson Mandela in 2004 and is located in one of the most deprived areas of South Africa with one in three adults infected by HIV/AIDS, 90% unemployment and an adult illiteracy rate greater than 60%.The school serves a vast area and many students walk two hours to and from school each day. The area has many AIDS orphans. Class sizes are in excess of 60 and the school has very limited resources.