GO! Durban Cycle Academy                      develops young people 

The GO! Durban 

Cycle Academy 

has significantly 

impacted the lives

of young people

through its dynamic youth development programmes since it was started. The Academy was launched in

2016 as a joint initiative between eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA)

and Green Corridors, which promotes a clean environment. It provides free  cycling training, academic support, and life skills opportunities to youth at four sites in the heart of communities in Inanda, Chesterville, KwaDabeka, and KwaMashu. The Go!Durban Cycle Academy began as a pro-active way to encourage a culture of active mobility within communities that don't usually have access to cycle training and equipment, as well as promoting the care of the environment. Now the largest cycling development programme in South Africa, the Academy has 400 beneficiaries between the ages of six and 18 years. Talented riders are recognised and selected to participate in provincial and national events based on technical ability as well as their school academic results according to the 'no pass, no race' rule. One of the young cyclists, Sfundo Dlamini said being part of the Academy has changed his life for the better. ''I have made friends here. My confidence and performance on the track and at school has improved because there are extra lessons offered,'' he said. Although the academy was introduced under the non-motorised transport strategy to promote cycling and caring for the environment in communities, it has since evolved into a well-rounded youth development programme that now incorporates musical theatre academy where youth are enrolled in singing, dancing and acting classes. Recently 10 students from the GO! Durban Academy in Inanda received their national colours at the South African Championships of the Performing Arts (SACOP) held in Rustendburg, in the North West. They returned home with a tally of 20 medals (15 gold, four silver and one bronze). They also won the highest award of the competition, the Grand Champion Group Award. Futhermore, they have all qualified to be part of Team South Africa to represent the country at the World Championships in Los Angeles in July 2022.

For more information: 

cycle@godurban.co.za  

TO MITIGATE the effects of climate change, the Municipality's Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) Unit in partnership with Bright Future Special School participated in a tree planting campaign recently. The campaign was held under the theme 'Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being' and aimed to create awareness on the importance of planting indigenous trees. The initiative of planting helps to address climate change. The Municipality has several tree planting activities being implemented to educate the public on the role trees play to protect the environment. The Municipality partnered with the school to equip children to become environmental ambassadors. Bright Future School Principal Sipho Nkosi said the partnership is a way to involve learners with special needs in community projects. ''Being part of community projects helps them to feel accepted while gaining skills. The school has also partnered with waste management companies for learners to understand proper waste management,'' he said. 

One Home, One Garden for food security

TO IMPROVE food security in communities, the Municipality's Agri-Ecology Unit recently distributed garden starter kits to 10 families in ward 82 in uMlazi. The handover was done under the banner of One Home, One Garden. The donated kits included a garden fork, hand hoe, wheelbarrow, steel rake and a watering can. Families also received compost as well as beetroot, spinach, beans, carrot, tomato, and butternut seeds. The programme aims to provide vulnerable families with a livelihood intervention by providing household garden essentials to start their own gardens.'' Agro-Ecology has strategies such as the One Home, One Garden programme to eliminate food insecurity and can be a means to provide an income. The  programme promotes food security and sufficient and sustainable food production by enhancing the development, implementation and adoption of sustainable ecosystem-based systems coupled with improved food systems and climate resilient farming methods. The Agro-Ecology Unit will also provide permaculture training to the families. They will also be taught to grow crops on various mediums such as trench beds, vertical gardens, tower gardens and tyre gardens depending on the capacity of the yard and/or the location. A beneficiary, Andiswa Zulu, 40, applauded the initiative. She has started her tyre garden and is growing three types of vegetables.