Philanthropic journey: Hilton teacher to trek 500km to help orphans

In a quest to help two orphaned children from Manguzi (near the Mozambique border) gain an education, a Hilton teacher in KwaZulu-Natal will embark on a 500km cycle/run challenge on Youth Day, 16 June.

Kwanda Sibiya, a science teacher at Hilton College, representing the non-profit organisation Sports for Lives, will lead a team of six who are challenging themselves to complete an eight-day trek to Manguzi.

The initiative is an inaugural one in conjunction with the Kolisi Foundation and seeks to bridge social and economic divides through sports.  

HILTON TEACHER DETERMINED TO HELP ORPHANS

The rest of the team comprises of Chris Kingsley, Ncedo Koyana, Peter Storrar, Caroline Storrar and Rod Spencer, some of whom work at Hilton College or belong to non-profit organisations. They plan on cycling and running to conclude their journey on Wednesday.

Sibiya hopes the challenge will raise sufficient money to raise, educate and mentor two orphans from Maguzi aged 5 and 6-years-old. Growing up, Sibiya’s life was not easy and his family found it difficult to make ends meet.

Sibiya, after reading a news clipping on Mark Shuttleworth, was inspired to pursue a career in science. After years of hard work and perseverance, Sibiya is now a science teacher and housemaster at the prestigious Hilton College.

Sport for Lives co-founder Chris Kingsley said: “The partnership between the Kolisi Foundation and Sport for Lives is driven by our shared desire to change the narratives around inequality in South Africa.”

“Our purpose is to activate generosity through the vehicle of sport and we are honoured to be partnering with the Kolisi Foundation, because we are both a platform through which Kwanda’s voice and personal hope for his community can be amplified,” added Kingsley.