I have just been reading about.......

[widget]

.............this Velokhaya programme and the fact they are looking for funds.

 

Now although I looked very carefully through its statement etc it appears to me to be looking purely at one aspect of cycling (ie)the sporting side.

 

I would hazard that most of the youngsters targeted would need mobility more than they would need an expensive bicycle for sport purpose.

 

Now, maybe someone can fill me in (as I have been in Australia for a few weeks) and perhaps lost a bit of SA judgement,- but any initiave to uplift people begins with getting them mobile which enables them to get to school,to work,to community centres and to participation events etc.

 

How is teaching a few kids to BMX ride going to achieve this?- these kids barely have enough food to eat, they walk everywhere sometimes up to 3 hours to their destination and then back, from my experience their priorities are basic,(and believe it or not, I am involved in some programmes so I know what I am talking about) and mobility is a big priority. 

 

Surely a programme to assist people to get mobile as a priority is more important than getting them into a sports team.?

 

If this programme dos this, they are hiding it very well in their mission statement - I am all for "upliftment", but I am totally against "gifting" which has never worked anywhere.

 

[Hendrik Petoors]

Widget, most of this was expounded in a previous thread by Once.... whom I assume is connected to Velokhaya. The posting was blocked by ADMIN due to "thread hijacking" It was one of those hard hitting threads with comments coming in fast and furious. The whole initiative sound way to much to the now infamous SACF/Lotto/Raleigh RC3000 saga that also caused great discussion. The fact that Velokaya advertises on Die Wielnaaf had nothing to do with the thread being blocked. Hendrik Petoors2007-07-12 02:44:25

[scotty]

Sums it up

 

 

 

 

[Hendrik Petoors]

tee heeee Scotty you are even better than a priceless credit card!!!!!!!!!!

[big.mamma]

How many of the so called Development Riders come from middle and upper class homes?

[widget]

Well, thats sad because I have strong opinions on this - I am heavily involved with programmes with the most disadvantaged youngsters - (those who sniff glue on the street corners) and believe me they dont have these priorities.

 

I dont see why we cant have a reasonable discussion on this, there is no need for it to deteriorate into a slanging match, but I do feel the priorities here are a bit wayward.

 

Its easy to help (as big mamma noted) "disadvantaged" kids from reasonably stable households (ie) those who have a meal every day and attend schooling - but there is also much bigger picture to look at. 

[Tumbleweed]

widget, admirable work you do

but, you know what it's like in here, whatever kinda discussion with the word "disadvantaged" starts out well-intentioned, you know it's gonna end up in a race/quota issue!

[linnega]

I missed the first discussion on this topic but from all accounts it wasn't properly discussed anyway.

 

I agree that the primary need for children in our country is mobility.  However, that shouldn't be the only focus of cycling charities.  Getting kids involved in sport is a great way to turn their focus to something more productive than drugs and alcohol.  Simply providing mobility is like providing housing with no running water or energy.  Sure the running water and energy can only be given when the house has been built but a house without basic amenities is no picnic.

 

I think Velokhaya/Life Cycling Academy is complementary to other charities that are focussed on mobility.  Velokhaya is part of the Olympics 2016 initiatives and thus their focus needs to be on the sporting aspect.  Personally, I think the creation of a path to success for youngsters allows them to dream big and move beyond their difficult current circumstances.  These are great hope builders and hope will drive these kids out of poverty.

 

[fandacious]

widget' date=' admirable work you do

but, you know what it's like in here, whatever kinda discussion with the word "disadvantaged" starts out well-intentioned, you know it's gonna end up in a race/quota issue!

[/quote']

 

Did you see the photos of faniefiets and his woolen jersey? Thats got to count as a disadvantage of some sorts! Can he also get a trip to TDF?

[Tumbleweed]

widget' date=' admirable work you do

but, you know what it's like in here, whatever kinda discussion with the word "disadvantaged" starts out well-intentioned, you know it's gonna end up in a race/quota issue!

[/quote']

 

Did you see the photos of faniefiets and his woolen jersey? Thats got to count as a disadvantage of some sorts! Can he also get a trip to TDF?

 

those the ones with him tryin to chat up bored girl?

[mallo]

Widget the problem remains the same as in other codes of sport as well. We cannot take care of all the issues these youngsters face daily hence we do the little we can and I can say the same for the LCA, they go out of their way to provide a wholesome living lifestyle for the kids in their program that show the potential and want for cycling unfortunately not all these youngsters will succeed and stay the course.

[butafly]

Once and Admin are related like in father and son.  i think that Once should explain his group structure wrt to the Asics team, LCA , Ascends Cycling Club and now VeloKhaya because it has come across as a bit patchy to say the least. even the big players in the CT cycling scene are a bit in the dark as to how everything fits together.

[widget]

Yes, Linnega, - I didnt see the first post either - not even sure I was here - but I read the front page of this site and its incensed me.

 

What you are saying has merit, but unfortunately, too many organisations jump on the "upliftment" bandwagon in the hope of attracting the bigger money and funding, when in fact, they are doing no more than "training" a few lucky individuals (who are usually already in a position to better themselves) to become elitist.

 

This is not "upliftment" - this is "gifting".

 

I disagree, that mobility is like providing a house without water, one cannot live in todays society without visiting city centres and social areas, most of these kids live miles from such social interaction and walk 10 kms to school and back, they walk to the shops, they walk to visit community centres they walk to fetch water, the drudge of daily life is tough enough for these kids.

Mobility is a MAJOR part of genuine upliftment, getting them shoes and warm clothes, three squares a day and an education far outweighs any sporting plan right now.

 

Mallo - I am well aware many folk are doing their best, there are many,many good people out there who are really trying, and we have to admire and support them.

This programme has merit, but, its the easy road, if we really want to uplift kids and get them into a cycling culture, we have to get our hands dirty, I dont agree in this selective upliftment.

 

[Delgado]

If you wan't to hear a true live account of a previously disadvantaged person suceeding at the top of his sport take a listen to the story of Fanie De Villiers!! Solving the previously disadvantaged by creating a presently disadvantaged is hippocrisy in itself and will get zip support from me. Remove the racial pidgeon holing and reduce it to a humanistic level and I will be the first to donate to the cause! Simple as that! No guilt!

[SwissVan]

 

Widget - What about the group of PD people who are in between the really poor buggers who have nothing and those that have everything?

Perhaps this VeloKhaya project is aimed specificaly at helping SA cycling and not at social issues.

As for mobility, well i hope they are giving the guys mtb's instead of plastic road bikes. That way they can cycle to school instead of walking 3 hrs through the veld or wherever.

 

[domenic]

Once and Admin are related like in father and son.  i think that Once should explain his group structure wrt to the Asics team' date=' LCA , Ascends Cycling Club and now VeloKhaya because it has come across as a bit patchy to say the least. even the big players in the CT cycling scene are a bit in the dark as to how everything fits together.[/quote']

I thought Once is a Broomberg and Admin an Eager?

I think a group structure would be very helpfull because I suspect that each of the mentioned entities has a specific focus, and all need attention.

It will also help if everyone stuck to the descriptions of transformation and development as used in the CSA Transformation Charter. Development is not an exclusively PDI issue.