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Shosholoza is born from a dream called Izivunguvungu, an ancient word from the isiZulu language which means ‘sudden strong wind'. Founded by MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth is based in Simonstown, near Cape Town.
Launched as a normal sailing school in 1997 by Shosholoza helmsman Ian Ainslie, the school also provided free lessons to disadvantaged youths and ran programmes for street children. But in 2002 a plan was developed to turn it into a fully-fledged youth foundation by Team Shosholoza's managing director, Captain Salvatore Sarno and Admiral Koos Louw of the Simonstown Naval Base.
Since then the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth has become a full-time academy where children from poorer communities can learn valuable life skills through sailing, boat building, music, computer courses, environmental projects and even fishing. The idea is to prepare the youngest for careers in the workforce. It is fully sponsored by Mediterranean Shipping Company and uses the facilities of the South African Navy in Simonstown.
"The basic concept of Izivunguvungu is self-assistance, which means help the people to help themselves," explains Ainslie. "Thanks to the combination of sailing, social work and extra lessons, we help youngsters to develop their self esteem and capacity to take care of themselves in the future." Most of the youths come from nearby townships and many have been sailing regularly for more than two years. Others have won local regattas and gone on to crew with top national sailing teams.
The South African America's Cup Challenge 2007 has brought a new focus to the MSC Foundation as Ainslie was tasked with finding and training a development team for Team Shosholoza. The Shosholoza crew list already reflects the team's close links with the Foundation; almost 80% comes from the school, bringing into the America's Cup the real soul of South Africa. Some of the best from this school, such as Golden Mgedeza, Marcello Burricks and Solomon Dipeere are today part of the Shosholoza team.
"We are continually growing and expanding the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth. Our dream is that it will one day become a fully-operational boarding establishment with a formal academic curriculum to complement the sailing, music and other extramural activities already in place," says Capt Sarno.
In the future of the Izivunguvungu Foundation are a youth hotel and a music school with an orchestra in addition to the participation of the Shosholoza team in the America's Cup for the pride of a great country, South Africa.
Shosholoza sailing team of the South African Republic (RSA) signed up for the 32nd America's Cup
Sail numbers: RSA 83 (the first version 5 ACC boat built)
Syndicate established: 2003
Syndicate Head: Captain Salvatore Sarno
Skipper: Mark Sadler
Helmsman: Paolo Cian
Tactician: Tommaso Chieffi
Strategist: Jan Ainslie
Navigator: Marc Lagesse
Designer: Jason Ker
Click here to view the article.
Shosholoza is born from a dream called Izivunguvungu, an ancient word from the isiZulu language which means ‘sudden strong wind'. Founded by MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth is based in Simonstown, near Cape Town.
Launched as a normal sailing school in 1997 by Shosholoza helmsman Ian Ainslie, the school also provided free lessons to disadvantaged youths and ran programmes for street children. But in 2002 a plan was developed to turn it into a fully-fledged youth foundation by Team Shosholoza's managing director, Captain Salvatore Sarno and Admiral Koos Louw of the Simonstown Naval Base.
Since then the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth has become a full-time academy where children from poorer communities can learn valuable life skills through sailing, boat building, music, computer courses, environmental projects and even fishing. The idea is to prepare the youngest for careers in the workforce. It is fully sponsored by Mediterranean Shipping Company and uses the facilities of the South African Navy in Simonstown.
"The basic concept of Izivunguvungu is self-assistance, which means help the people to help themselves," explains Ainslie. "Thanks to the combination of sailing, social work and extra lessons, we help youngsters to develop their self esteem and capacity to take care of themselves in the future." Most of the youths come from nearby townships and many have been sailing regularly for more than two years. Others have won local regattas and gone on to crew with top national sailing teams.
The South African America's Cup Challenge 2007 has brought a new focus to the MSC Foundation as Ainslie was tasked with finding and training a development team for Team Shosholoza. The Shosholoza crew list already reflects the team's close links with the Foundation; almost 80% comes from the school, bringing into the America's Cup the real soul of South Africa. Some of the best from this school, such as Golden Mgedeza, Marcello Burricks and Solomon Dipeere are today part of the Shosholoza team.
"We are continually growing and expanding the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth. Our dream is that it will one day become a fully-operational boarding establishment with a formal academic curriculum to complement the sailing, music and other extramural activities already in place," says Capt Sarno.
In the future of the Izivunguvungu Foundation are a youth hotel and a music school with an orchestra in addition to the participation of the Shosholoza team in the America's Cup for the pride of a great country, South Africa.
Shosholoza sailing team of the South African Republic (RSA) signed up for the 32nd America's Cup
Sail numbers: RSA 83 (the first version 5 ACC boat built)
Syndicate established: 2003
Syndicate Head: Captain Salvatore Sarno
Skipper: Mark Sadler
Helmsman: Paolo Cian
Tactician: Tommaso Chieffi
Strategist: Jan Ainslie
Navigator: Marc Lagesse
Designer: Jason Ker
Click here to view the article.
