Who We Are
Creating a culture of continued improvement.
Our History
Where we started our journey.
2014
- Jan – Kwano started and partnership establish partnership with Murray High School.
- Recruited the first 10 students… sinalling the start to something great.
- Based at Equine Librium Farm outside.
- Registered as a charity with Board of Trustees.
2015
- First MTB race… Tsitsikama MTB Challenge.
- Apr – Expanded to 15 students.
- First Multi-Day Race… Team sent to Sani2C and placed 60th out of 600 teams.
2016
- Re-located program base to Cairnbrogie Dairy Farm.
- Established partnership with Specialized for bicycles.
- Nov – Sipho Mthembu recruited as Cycling Program Leader.
2017
- Jan – Established new base for the program in the community at
Murray High School. - Expanded to 20 students.
- Mar – Expanded to 32 students… including the first female students.
- Sent teams to several local & national events… Karoo2Coast, W2W, Origin of Trails etc.
- Jun – First podium in an Open event… 2nd at Sabrina MTB race.
- Attended the HotChillee “Rider Development Summit”.
- Received 2 Wattbikes… donated by Wattbike SA.
2018
- Expanded the girls program.
- Buffalo Foundation select Kwano Academy as major beneficiary.
- Jun – Nicky Giliomee (female pro) visits the Academy to talk and ride with the girls.
- Jul – Recruited experienced teacher Trevor Snyman to launch the After School Academic Program.
- Placed 3rd out of 14 schools in Southern Cape Spur Series.
- Aug – Took team of 4 to York Enduro Pro event… student placed 5th in pro field.
- Dec – Velotech UK held an 8 day Bike Mechanics course at the Academy.
2019
- Jan – Students attend Leadership Camp at Ingwe.
- Mar – Student (Siphe Ncapayi) won “King of the Mountain” at HotChillee’s Cape Rouleur road race.
- Buffalo Foundation sponsored a Kwano Team for Jo’burg2C.
- Jul – Siphe Ncapayi invited to ride in 3 day London to Paris road race… won the U23 category!
- Expanded program to 50 students… 30% females.
- Oct – Siphe won the Rainmaker Rollercoaster 7 day gravel race.
- First Academy Apprentice… Aries Analise started electrician apprenticeship with Gensmart.
- Kwano team sponsored by Woolworths compete in W2W 3 day race.
- Established Kwano Parents Committee.
2020
- Academy complied with Education Dept protocols throughout Covid lockdowns.
- Adapted Academy offerings after initial lockdown period… access to all on-line teaching tools.
- Conducted Covid 19 education, distributed masks and sanitization materials.
- Received Section 18A approval from SARS.
- Alumni Masixole Zondani accepted to Exxaro Academy with scholarship to study.
- Apr – First distribution of food hampers to all Academy families.
- Launched Academy Parents Committee T-Shirts.
- Recruited experienced maths teacher… retiring from local private school.
- 2020 expansion plans deferred till 2021.
- Dec – Second distribution of food hampers to all Academy families.
- Masixole Zondani wins Sabrina Love.
2020
- Acquired new laptops via the Click Foundation.
- 100% Pass rate for Matriculants.
- Increased to 65 students… 25% girls.
- Kwano Buffs launched… donated by Tania Pfaf.
- Squirt sponsor Academy team to ride W2W 3 day event for Squirt.
- After School Academic Program remains open every day in spite of limited official school attendance.

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