June 3, 2019
Swazi Cycle 8 Team Rides for Orphans
Young Heroes Foundation, our U.S.-based arm, completed its eighth Swazi Cycle adventure. Our team met close to 92% of its fundraising goal to help orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), and fund life support grants, medical care and vocational training programs.
Throughout eight adventures, Young Heroes Foundation has raised more than E11,700,000 (US$800,000).
Riders and non-riders who join Swazi Cycle get a rare and unique perspective into the people and needs of Swaziland. It’s an educational and immersive, boots-on-the-ground journey. Along with Young Heroes’ staff and volunteers, participants visit local communities (such as meeting children in primary schools), take part in projects (such as painting playgrounds), meet families (on their homesteads), and help us accomplish our mission. Past Swazi Cycle participants often describe their adventure as “inspiring, “rewarding,” and “fun.”
This year, our riders covered approximately 250 miles on the most popular routes from the previous seven rides. Traveling through rural and urban areas of Swaziland, riders interacted with locals along the way. Listen to Cate O’Kane, one of our Swazi Cycle 8 riders, describe her adventures. Our non-riders visited children in rural communities and a micro-entrepreneur WORTH program, which teaches financial literacy to female caretakers. Our team got a firsthand look at how women’s lives have been changed through WORTH.
The entire Swazi Cycle 8 team had the privilege of attending a graduation ceremony of nearly 200 participants in Stepping Stones, an HIV-prevention training curriculum, and a component of Young Heroes’ Halt Project.
At the end of our Swazi Cycle adventure, there was time to celebrate at the MTN Bushfire Festival, Africa’s top entertainment event – an incomparable mix of music, dance and art. Steve Kallaugher, Young Heroes’ founder and President of Young Heroes Foundation, presented a check to Khulekani Magongo, Young Heroes’ Executive Director, and his team for E1,200,000 (US$91,000).
We thank our supporters and participants of Swazi Cycle 8. We welcome continuing support. It’s not too late to make a pledge to put us at 100%. Help us help more orphans and vulnerable children, and expand support services.
Siyabonga kakhulu.
Tags: HIV services, life-support grants, orphans and vulnerable children, OVC services, Swazi Cycle 8, WORTH, youth program
