KaziBantu partners with the Kolisi Foundation, United Through Sport and Ubuntu Pathways
Launched in 2022, The SiyaPhakama Zwide Schools Project is named after co-founder Siya Kolisi and his mother, Phakama. ‘Siyaphakama’ means “We Are Rising”. This project seeks to address the multitude of challenges facing township youth by creating a tailor-made programme to address physical education, malnutrition, academic education, life skills and youth employment. The project is a collaborative initiative between the Kolisi Foundation, Ubuntu Pathways, United through Sport, and KaziBantu, with a mission to help develop healthy, active, emotionally resilient and academically stronger children while contributing to the broader development of the Zwide Community and beyond.
Siyaphakama currently supports six primary schools in Zwide, offering quality physical education programmes aligned with UNESCO’s Quality Physical Education (QPE) Framework and Fit4Life criteria. The initiative promotes whole-school development, supporting administrative, ground, and food preparation staff through a workplace wellness programme, in collaboration with the Human Movement Science Department at Nelson Mandela University. To address malnutrition, Siyaphakama provides breakfast nutrition support and facilitates regular training for food preparers in health, hygiene, and safety, in partnership with the Human Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Nelson Mandela University. This training extends to the food preparers of ten community kitchens supported by the programme. The programme also creates employment opportunities for young people appointed as sport coordinator interns, who receive ongoing skills development and training. In addition, participating schools benefit from infrastructure upgrades and the distribution of sports equipment, ensuring that learners have access to safe, engaging, and high-quality spaces for physical activity and learning.
By taking a multifaceted approach to supporting education, health and physical activity and linking these with other support services such as nutrition training and teacher training, this programme has the potential to make a significant impact in the lives of children and youth and help them become active, positive contributors to society.
Meet our partners
The Kolisi Foundation was established in April 2020 by Siya and Rachel Kolisi. The Foundation was birthed through Siya and Rachel’s desire to change the story of inequality in South Africa, responding with compassion and courage to the challenges faced by our nation. Proudly rooted in their home country, Siya and Rachel are compelled by a strong conviction that every little small act of change matters. With hearts willing to respond, hands ready to serve, and heads ready to learn, the Kolisi Foundation team is committed to the vision of changing narratives of inequality in South Africa.
Ubuntu Pathways (formerly Ubuntu Education Fund) is a non-profit organization that provides an integrated support system of health, education, and social support in the townships of Gqeberha, South Africa. Ubuntu has redefined mainstream development models by focusing on the depth rather than breadth of our impact on a community of 400,000. We believe in trusting those closest to the problem to create the solution.
United Through Sport is a charity working with participants from disadvantaged communities, aged 5 – 35. We are focused on using the power of sport to help children and youth on their pathway to success. We are committed to the holistic development of each of our participants, focusing on their health, education and personal development. Our programs improve education outcomes, improve emotional well being and mental health, raise sexual health awareness, promote gender equality and build life-skills.
The Siyaphakama project continues its aim to expose as many children to Physical Education and sport as they previously would not have been exposed to.
An active child needs good nutrition to learn and play. Through the incredible support of the Siyaphakama partners, the food preparers of the participating schools receive training in food preparation and children receive the nutrition that they need to learn and play.
