Kayamandi South Africa
It actually started with Songo's dream.
My dream is to start mountain biking in Kayamandi,
and also road bikes. But also to have a place for the kids
where they can ride.
We not only cover the basic things,
we also want to bring joy and a lifestyle to the kids of Kayamandi.
We fundraised a lot of money during the last year's Cape Epic,
and our plan is to do the same
and keep the whole thing on good maintenance,
and whatever is needed,
and especially to have smiling kids.
The kids have to sign a form
and then they have to basically come ride the bike down.
It's really cool.
The first thing: do your schoolwork.
That's why if we are not here,
that means you had to finish your work, your schoolwork.
The response is amazing.
Families, parents are talking to Songo:
cannot our kid also be involved with this project?
It's a big need, a huge need.
Every kid who comes here, I think that changed their life.
I get to come out here and actually see the progress
and take it in for myself.
It's not something where you're throwing money at a problem,
and just hoping that it's going to be good.
I can come here and really see what's happening
and that inspires me to even want to do more.
They're actually helping us grow the seed
that is planted in the kids, the seed of dreaming,
of becoming a pro rider one day.
They're actually helping the seed to grow
and become the flower or the tree that it wants to be.
We started in 2008 with the BMX
and then in 2009 we introduced the mountain bike,
and last year we introduced the road bike.
This foundation has really grown to a stage
that we couldn't imagine that it would reach.
Many more kids have entered, we've entered lots of races.
People now recognize us as a team,
not anymore a foundation or something.
It's really been a great journey.
Absa Cape Epic MTB Stage Race
Finishing the Epic of the young riders,
coming from Kayamandi is actually quite a big achievement.
While you finish it, for the younger riders as well
can look up to you knowing that you've done something,
you've done something positive in life.
No one has done something so great here
around in this community.
I look up to those guys. Some of them are my heroes.
I think we're the only township now that has got five boys
at this serious KPP.
So that is something to be proud of.
Maybe one day in the future we'll have a team from Kayamandi
come to win the KPP. You never know.
All things are possible. With God there is nothing impossible.
If you have passion for a sport you should follow it,
because if it's in your heart, you can achieve.
Sometimes people will tell me: You cannot go to the track.
You'll fall, you'll break your knees.
But when I just think of cycling, it's this amazing feeling.
I feel like I belong.
Help the Songo boys attend more races! Visit bit.ly/sauserkids