Call for young South Africans to participate in global challenge

In Johannesburg, South Africa, today, eight young South Africans from Townships across the country have come together for the first time since their epic journey in the last edition of the race - to launch a national search for the next generation of 18-23 year-old South Africans to participate in the 2015-16 race as ambassadors for the Sapinda Rainbow Foundation.

“I never dreamed I would be able to sail, but the experience has changed my life and working with the Sapinda Rainbow Foundation I want to inspire other young people”, explained Lebalang Molobele, a 22 year-old from Meadowlands, Soweto, Gauteng Province. Lebalang who had a self-confessed fear of water before she was selected to become an ambassador for the foundation, sailed from New York to London via Northern Ireland and the Netherlands in the final leg of the race.

Accompanied by family members, Lebalang and the other seven participants attended today’s launch to talk about how the project is changing their lives and to encourage other young people to apply for the opportunity to be selected for the next race.

“I feel it is so important to encourage other young people like me to achieve their full potential. There is a huge amount of talent in this country’s youth which could make a real difference,” added Lebalang.

The chairman of Sapinda Rainbow Foundation, Dirk Van Daele, participated in the 2009-10 edition of the race and was impressed by a similar development programme with young people from challenging backgrounds in Europe. He was inspired to bring the concept to South Africa and launched the Sapinda Rainbow Project in April 2013.

Nomination forms for candidates for the 2015-16 project are available online from the Sapinda Rainbow Foundation website here

The closing date for applications is 15 December 2014.

Shortlisted candidates will attend a selection weekend in Durban at the end of February next year that will be overseen by the ambassadors. The final eight selected candidates and two reserves will attend training at our HQ in Portsmouth Harbour, UK in April and May next year. The race will depart the UK in August 2015 and return in July 2016.

For more information visit the Sapinda Rainbow Foundation website

Watch yesterdays announcement here

Watch a video about the Sapinda Rainbow project here