Sizwe Hlekiso, Gugulethu After school centre coordinator at Siyazingisa Primary school explains why he is willing to cycle the Cape Town Cycle Tour for the first time tomorrow, “ I have seen so many young people being changed by the activities and programmes of the Amy Foundation including the Youth Skills Development (YSD) and After School Programme. I am so motivated and inspired by the Mission and Vision of the Foundation and the good work that is done in the communities. The youth need these kinds of programmes that the Amy Foundation runs so that we can have a more educated and empowered generation.”
Amy Foundation (formerly the Amy Biehl Foundation named after the slain Amy Biehl ) is a non-profit organisation working to educate, develop, empower, and upskill children and youth from challenged and vulnerable communities in Cape Town, South Africa, keeping them away from all negative influences and turning them into emotionally well-rounded contributing global citizens who make positive life choices.
Amy Biehl was a bright young American student who lost her life during apartheid whilst she was on a 1-year Fulbright scholarship. Four young men were sentenced to 18 years in jail but thanks to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation process the parents of Amy, Linda and Peter Biehl supported their application for amnesty and the four young men were released after serving 5 years in jail. Two of the four men were so humbled by this forgiveness that they dedicated their lives to the youth and the Amy Biehl Foundation was born.
Amy’s father, Peter died unexpectedly with no medical insurance in 2002 and by 2006 the Amy Foundation was bankrupt. It became a truly South African organisation and Kevin Chaplin, an ex-banker for 26 years, took over and has been running the Foundation ever since and building it to what it is today.
The Amy Foundation carries out After School Programmes (ASP) and Youth Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Programmes (YSD) using the one-stop-shop approach – from primary and secondary schools and continuing once, they have left school until they become economically active. The programmes support up to 1 200 children and youth daily in four after-school centres based in the underprivileged communities of Cape Town, namely Gugulethu, Browns Farm – Phillipi and Bonteheuwel, and a centre for youth skills development and training in Sybrand Park, near Athlone with youth attending from all the various townships, as far afield as the township of Khayelitsha.
The after-school programmes supplement the shortcomings of the educational system in the townships, while the youth skills programme addresses the unacceptably high unemployment levels in these challenged communities.
Faizel Newman, Soccer coach at Mimosa Primary and Bonteheuwel High School, doing his second Cycle Tour tomorrow explains that he loves sports and cycling especially. “ I love tracking progress and trying to be better at it. I think it makes me a better person and helps me grow in many ways. One thing that cycling has taught me after completing my first one last year is that if you can achieve something without a struggle it’s not going to be satisfying. So, this year I am doing my 2nd cycle tour hoping to inspire my soccer class as their superhero coach. I have realised that life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving forward. “
Hlekiso continues, “ I want to play a bigger part and want to do something that I have never done before. I have been in the NPO sector for 17 years and I see myself as a catalyst for change. Many of our staff and all our beneficiaries come from very poor and extremely disadvantaged communities and I want to inspire them. The Amy Foundation supports, guides and mentors’ youth and through the YSD programme, they become entrepreneurs and employed, making a direct impact in the communities that they come from and live in. I love being part of the fundraising team, as any NPO cannot run without funds. We need all the help and funding we can get. “
Both Faizel and Sizwe plan to raise R9000 each which will keep one youth in the programmes for a full year and give them access to free programmes, daily meals, outings, and outreach activities.
Donations can be made via BackaBuddy :
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/faizel-newman-cycles-for-the-amy-foundatio
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/sizwe-hlekiso-cycles-for-the-amy-foundatio
OR: https://amyfoundation.co.za/how-you-can-help/donate/?v=d41d8cd98f00
Banking Details: Amy Foundation Trust, First National Bank, Adderley Street branch Account Number: 62085677890, Branch code: 201409, Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXXX | Reference: Your First Name and Surname / CTCT
