Find out more about the project and find out how you could be part of the team going next year below.
Latest News
Brownlee Centre Festival of Running
Students and staff volunteer in South Africa
Teaching South Africans to cycle
Join the Team
We are looking for our next Gryphons Abroad student team to lead the project in 19/20!
We want enthusiastic and motivated students from across the University to join our team, you don’t need any prior experience in a sports setting and applications are open to all students. This fantastic project will give you the opportunity to travel to a different country and experience a new culture while leading on a project and making a clear impact on students lives in South Africa.
The trip takes place in June for 2 weeks, exact dates are to be confirmed (usually around the 9th – 25th June).
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 (700 words max) answering the following question:
- Why do you want to be part of the team and what could you offer?
Email your answer to Andy: a.lockwood@leeds.ac.uk
Applications close Friday 21st June 2019 for the 2020 trip.
Interviews Will Take Place: TBC
To become a team member, students will be required to fundraise £2200. This covers all costs associated with the trip along with a contribution to the project fund e.g. buying bikes. This is a challenge in itself however you’ll be given plenty of support from the staff team to help you reach your target.
Got any questions? Email Andy: a.lockwood@leeds.ac.uk
Project Information
The Gryphons Abroad project has two aspects;
1. Inspire through Sport
2. Cycle to Success
Inspire through Sport
Working with four local primary schools we deliver an inspirational leadership and sports programme to all grade seven students based within the Eshowe district.
Over the course of the four days, over 100 children are taught leadership skills, sports activities and a range of classroom lessons by our University students. This culminates in a day where the South African students lead in organising a range of activities and a sports festival.
The impact of this week on not just teaching valuable skills to the students but also seeing their confidence improve is invaluable to their employability in this deprived area.
Cycle to Success
The Cycle to Success project is based at Mnyakanya High School in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal. During our four days at the school we teach 20 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 (up to 2 hours walk) and this is a barrier to some students accessing an education. This programme teaches students a skill which can be life changing and will help them to access further support locally as well as improving their confidence. This impact is especially clear with young girls as cycling is not a skill that is traditionally taught to women in their culture.
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.
Gryphons Abroad Photo Gallery
Take a look at some of the photos from our trips to South Africa
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Gryphons Abroad Programme then contact us;
