Students from Newcastle College and Newcastle College University Centre have returned from a three-week volunteering programme in South Africa after helping to inspire more than 800 children and young people through sport, leadership and education.
The group of 12 students, supported by two colleagues, travelled to rural KwaZulu-Natal as part of the Bambisanani Partnership, an award-recognised international programme that brings together young people from the UK and South Africa through the power of sport.
Working across a primary school, secondary school, special school and a day centre supporting orphans and vulnerable children, the students delivered sports coaching sessions, leadership workshops and activities designed to build confidence, communication and teamwork.
During the three-week visit, the team worked with 846 children and young people, while also developing valuable skills of their own. Self-evaluations completed before and after the programme showed improvements across every employability skill measured, with students recording an average increase of 26.5% in areas including communication, leadership, teamwork, problem solving and resilience.
The visit marked Newcastle College's fourth annual trip to South Africa through the Bambisanani Partnership and was the programme's most successful to date.
One of the highlights of the trip saw students return to Ngqamzana Primary School, where they delivered a week of coaching sessions to almost 500 pupils before being thanked with a celebration of traditional music and dance. The group also spent time at Doremi Day Centre, where they supported orphans and vulnerable children through games, reading activities and donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste collected through fundraising before the trip.
During their final week, students worked alongside learners at Matholamnyama Secondary School, helping them develop leadership and coaching skills before supporting them to organise and deliver their own sports festival for children from a neighbouring primary school.
Kacey Southgate, who studies FdA Airline and Airport Management at Newcastle College University Centre, said:
"My trip to South Africa was one of the most rewarding, unforgettable, life-changing experiences I have ever had.
"Although we were there to teach, I feel that I learned just as much from the children through their resilience, positivity and appreciation for every opportunity they were given. It reminded me that making a difference does not always require big gestures. Sometimes, simply giving your time, energy and support can have a meaningful impact."
Daniel Barrett, a Level 3 Sport Coaching and Development student, added:
"This trip has genuinely impacted me as a person. It has changed how I see the world and myself and has made me want to do it all over again. I'll always be grateful to everyone who made it possible."
Brogan O'Connor, Sport Lecturer at Newcastle College and Bambisanani Trustee, said:
"Every year this partnership reaches new heights, and this year's visit was our most successful yet.
"Our students made an extraordinary contribution to the lives of more than 800 young people in South Africa, but perhaps the greatest impact was on the students themselves. They returned home with greater confidence, resilience, leadership skills and a broader perspective on the world around them.
"Seeing those qualities develop over three weeks is incredibly special and is exactly what this partnership is all about."
Barry Rizza, Enrichment and Development Manager at Newcastle College, said:
"Watching 12 students from completely different curriculum areas become a team capable of leading sessions in a new country, culture and environment has been one of the proudest moments of my career.
"They didn't simply travel to South Africa. They stepped outside their comfort zones, represented the College with maturity and professionalism, and made a genuine difference to the lives of hundreds of young people. Those experiences and skills will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
The Bambisanani Partnership gives Newcastle College students the opportunity to develop leadership, communication and employability skills while making a meaningful difference to communities in rural South Africa. Recognised nationally as a finalist in the Association of Colleges Beacon Awards, the programme continues to provide students with experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.