SA2UGANDA in support of quality education

10 Jan 2013

In December 2012, a team of four bikers departed Cape Town for Kampala, Uganda, on a long-haul ride, dubbed SA2UGANDA, in support of quality education in South Africa.

The bikers reached their goal destination, Kampala on 31 December 2012 and now, four weeks into their journey, Peter Pretorius and Gerhard, Oscar and Rosca de Waal are in the final stages of their trek back to Cape Town.

The adventure was undertaken to raise money for QE4SA (Quality Education for South Africa), an initiative of Symphonia for South Africa focusing on improving the state of education in the country through its School @ the Centre of Community (S@CC) programme.

The SA2UGANDA team planned to travel about 350 kilometres a day, but averaged up to 550 kilometres on some stretches. Having passed through some of Africa's most remote communities in the course of the expedition, the group visited a total of ten countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Lesotho).

Riding for a good cause

L to R: Rosca de Waal, Peter Pretorius, Mr. Saleem (manager of Tyre Express in Uganda), Gerhard de Waal and Oscar de Waal

click to enlarge

The foursome are currently making their way down through Tanzania and Mozambique, and are expected to cross the border back into South Africa at Ponto do Ouro on Wednesday, 16 January 2013.

Oscar de Waal explains that the inspiration for embarking on the journey was threefold: "For the fun of it, to see other African countries and peoples (so much to see!) and to ride for a great cause: QE4SA."

"I am a father blessed with two children," Oscar says. "I know firsthand what the benefits of a quality education means to our society."
Oscar is an advocate of active citizenship. "What you sow is what you reap," he says. "Let's stop being passengers in life. We all have the responsibility to get involved and do something to improve the country's education system."

With approximately 4 000 km to go before reaching Cape Town, members of the public are encouraged to make donations at www.qe4sa.org/index.php/sa2uganda.

All proceeds will go to Symphonia for South Africa's Partnerships for Possibility programme, a process designed to assist principals fulfil their roles as community leaders by partnering them with business leaders. Partnerships for Possibility has demonstrated the success that can be achieved when schools are supported by business, government, parents and the community.

For more, go to www.qe4sa.org and follow the SA2UGANDA team on Twitter @SA2Uganda.