songo.info is a social development program in South Africa that uses sport to provide opportunities for children living in townships. It was founded through a partnership between world champion mountain biker Christoph Sauser and community leader Songo Fipaza, with the goal of giving children a safe place to play and develop skills that can help them achieve their dreams. The program focuses on sport development, education, personal growth, health, and well-being for children in the township of Kayamandi through activities like biking, tutoring, and leadership training. It has had success in sending children to competitions and helping some participants represent South Africa internationally.

1. songo.infoan introduction
“A bike can change a life, it changed mine”
ChristophSauser

2. what is songo.info?
songo.info is a social development program focusing on sport enablementand educational support to create opportunities for the childrenof South Africa’s townships
We strive to better children’s lives through the opportunity to participate in sport

3. Through the songo.info program we strive to give childrenthe best start in life creating opportunities to pursue life dreams and aspirations

4. powerful partnerships
songo.info is a potent collaboration of world champion mountain biker ChristophSauser, and local community leader Songo Fipaza powered by Specialized

5. it was conceived by...
World Champion Mountain Biker ChristophSauser’sambition to ride the 2008 Absa Cape Epic with South Africa’s up and coming, Burry Stander,and to contribute to a country he has developed a close bond with...

6. they were inspired by Songo Fipaza’sdream...
To provide South Africa’s township children with a safe place to play away from challenges of the township streets, where they could be nurtured and developed and given opportunities to achieve life dreams

7. and conquer they did... after a few trials and tribulations!

8. Posters on the wall of a songo kid’s bedroom in a informal dwelling in Kayamandi
they are also key role models for the songo kids

9. Kayamandi is one of the oldest townships in the Western Cape, located just on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. It is predominately inhabited by Xhosa speaking South Africans who immigrated from the Eastern Cape to find employment in the Western Cape from 1940.
Kayamandi means “sweet home” in Xhosa and is home to over 35 000 people, in a land space of just over 1 square kilometre. Sadly for most, Kayamandi is not as “sweet” as it’s name alludes to.
Community
•The population is growing by 10% per annum, however the land space has increased marginally
•Unemployment rate is estimated at 40%
•Average income per household is estimated at R1000 where each household has on average 7 adults and children
•There is a High prevalence of alcoholism, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS
songo.info community: Kayamandi
Children:
•10% of population, approx. 3 500 children are under the age of 10
•50% of these are from singles mothers
•There are 2 primary schools in Kayamandi with 4 000 children across both schools
•Junior school and High school are also characterised by large classes
•English literacy rates remain low
http://www.visionafrika.com/where-we-are/vision-kayamandi/

10. songo.info’smission
To run a consistent and sustainable sports and educational development program providing children with opportunities to participate in recreational and competitive sporting activities while enabling their educational and personal growth and development

11. songo values
Trust
Consistency
Accountability
Availability
Reliability
Responsibility

12. songo.info objectives
1.Provide a safe and fun environment for children to play away from township streets
2.Provide opportunities to learn skills in riding, training and racing, with opportunities to participate in local and international races and events
3.Grow and develop township children providing educational and social support giving skills for their future
4.Share knowledge on health, nutrition, leadership and well being with children and their parents
5.Provide a platform for talented children to pursue competitive careers

13. pillars of songo.info programme
songo.info focus areas
Through the sport enablement programme we strive to support children in educational, physiological, emotional and personal development, as well as health and well being
Sport Development
Educational Support
Personal & Leadership Development
Nutrition and Health
Care

14. http://www.unicef.org/sports/index_23624.html
“...the concept of sport for development –that sport is not just an end in itself, but also an effective tool to help improve the lives of children, families and communities.”

15. unicef on sport and play
“...this is the broad consensus that regular physical activity is essential for the physical, mental, psychological and social development of children and adolescents. Involvement in sport can boost children’s health, improve academic performance and help reduce crime.
UNICEF believes that sport can be an effective programmatic tool to help achieve goals in health, education, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, child protection and child development”.
http://www.unicef.org/sports/index_23624.html

16. why education is important to us...
“Istronglybelievewhenaddingsporttoittheweapongetsevenmorefirepower.Balanceisthekey!
Ipersonallywouldnothavemadeittothetopofmountainbikingwithoutgoingthehardway,finishingschoolandmystudiesasMetallurgist.”
We,atsongo.info,deeplybelievethatwhenwefindtherightbalanceofeducationandsportourkidswillfindthekeytosucceedintheirlives.Thisiswhatdrivesourmotivationandwhatwearestandfor!”
“Educationisthemostpowerfulweaponwhichyoucanusetochangetheworld.(NelsonMandela)
as Christophsays...

17. Tenacity and drive of Songo Fipaza: who tirelessly works to enable opportunities for the children of Kayamandi
Commitment and support of ChristophSauser:as a global mountain biking icon and role model attracting local and international support
two key factors drive songo.info’ssuccess...

18. achievements to date
•BMX Track built in Kayamandi –Track was built in 2008 and extended and made more competitive in 2012
•BMX program: Runs daily with a coach who was developed through the program and where we have acquired racing jerseys and full face helmets, and been able to send the kids to BMX Nationals in Jhbfor the 1sttime in 2012
•Mountain Biking Program: where 30 + youngsters are training and racing regularly taking part in local and national XCO and endurance events thanks to the generous support of the mountain biking community
•Road Riding: Acquired road bikes in 2012 to start a road riding program for those that wanted to focus on road or to compliment mountain biking
•In January 2012, The Reeds Motor Group sponsored a Opel Vivarobus to the program enabling us to transport kids to and from events
•During 2012 our clubhouseslowly started to evolve and is almost complete from a structural perspective

19. 2012 achievements
Luyandawins overall WP Spur
Schools League
Mike Horn visits the program and donates 12 mountain bikes
Bongs and Sandisotake part in joBerg2C
Elton takes part in Lord of the Chain Ring and visits Eastern Cape School
Siphoand Azurepresent SA at World DuathlonChamps
Svigand Sandisoexperience
African wildlife on Tour de Tuli

20. Specialized donates 6 x29’ers
songo.info clubhouse in development
Reeds donates an Opel VivaroBus

21. exceptional achievements
SiphoMadoloand AzukileSimuyilehave trained hard and come far in the songo program over the last 4 years where they started truly reaping the rewards of their success in 2012through winning the ExxaroBest Development Team in the Absa Cape Epic, going on to race at the TransAlpsas their prize, followed by representing South Africa at the World DuathlonChamps in France.
To say we are super proud is an understatement!

22. 1.Furnish our clubhouse
•Obtain secure fencing and floodlights to protect the clubhouse and BMX track
•Develop a study as a quiet room to study and do homework
•Develop an afterschool tutoring program focusing on Maths & Physics
•Build a computer room to enable the young kids to develop computer literacy skills and Skype-pal programs with friends around the globe
•Build a mini gym for winter & in-door training
2.Establish the educational leg of the songo.info program to support after- school studies and tertiary education
•Develop school bursaries
•Develop tertiary education bursary
•Build a library
3.Develop specific streams for developmentin each of the sport disciplines: XCO, Endurance racing, BMX, Duathlon
4.Enhance the BMX Program
•Buy 5 new racing bikes & 4 training bikes
•Buy proper BMX pants
2013 goals

23. most importantly... create sustainabilityin the program

25. songo.info at WP BMX champs

26. songo.info is a regular participate in the TotalSportsChallenge

27. Burry will always be in our hearts

28. more info & contacts
angelique tostee
info@songo.info
079 8727215
www.songo.info
songo fipaza
fipaza@songo.info
083 2440734
Website:
Twitter: songoinfo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/songo.info
Cool Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEuALtEHhTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=571SAZtQiLs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaUpC89_V2chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gMIQzPMN3s&feature=player_embedded