In 2003 two ordinary South Africans saw the potential of using cycling - an environmentally-friendly and healthy activity - to uplift children living in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.
The shared dream of Glyn Broomberg, a former teacher and gym owner, and Amos Ziqubu, a former postman, led to the formation of the Life Cycling Academy (LCA), a not-for-profit organisation using cycling to 'grow individuals and unleash their talent and potential'.
Glyn and Amos shared a dream to use cycling as the draw card for children and young adults to focus on education and development of their human potential.
The LCA believes young people, particularly those affected by poverty and unemployment, are less likely to become involved in negative activities such as substance abuse and crime if they have access to immediate post-school activities.
Sport-based programmes have also been shown to improve the learning performance of children, encouraging school attendance and a desire to succeed academically.
Sport teaches important life skills - cooperation, leadership, respect for others, knowing how to win and lose and how to manage competition. Through sport, youngsters learn about honesty, teamwork, fair play, respect for themselves and others, and adherence to rules.
By increasing self-esteem and confidence, the LCA's cycling programmes help to equip young people from poor communities to deal with the difficulties they face in life, and how they can, through hard work, dedication and discipline, achieve their goals.
The Academy was unofficially established in 2003 by gym owner and recreational cyclist, Glyn Broomberg, a resident of the Cape Town suburb of Clovelly near Fish Hoek.
Broomberg, who'd noted the limited and infrequent participation of black cyclists in the sport of competitive cycling, decided to approach the youth living in his nearby community of Masephumlelele - an informal settlement which takes its name from a Xhosa word meaning 'let's achieve something' - to ascertain their interest in cycling.
What he found was not a lack of interest or enthusiasm for the sport - only a lack of funding. He duly arranged sponsorship for a team of five cyclists and during the course of 2003, the interest in the team's activities grew to such an extent that soon Glyn was receiving calls from the greater Cape Town area and the need to extend the cycling programme became apparent.
Later the same year he was introduced to Amos Ziqubu, a resident of Khayelitsha, who had been trying to promote the sport of cycling in the township.
After meeting each other, Glyn and Amos decided to put all of their energy and efforts into taking township cycling to the next level.
In 2004 the Academy was officially registered as a Section 21 Company (non-profit) and Amos and Glyn set about implementing the structures that were required to ensure that their efforts and input were sustainable and would have meaningful outcomes.
In March 2004 Glyn sold his interest in his Fish Hoek gym and along with Amos - who gave up his job as postman - dedicated himself to promoting and establishing the Life Cycling Academy on a full-time basis.
Very soon after this it became clear that the program needed to expand its footprint in the community and plans were set in place to establish branches - or clubhouses - in a further three previously disadvantaged communities in the Cape Town area.
Having a footprint in the heart of township community is important; not only does it help grow youth participation in the sport, but it also boosts the transformation of the sport in the community, ensuring it has a greater chance of success.
Click here to read the 'Highlights from 2003 to 2008'.
The Life Cycling Academy (LCA) is leading the way in South Africa with regard to the transformation of the sport of cycling.
The LCA is dedicated to the promotion of safe, recreational and competitive cycling and empowering the youth from previously disadvantaged communities.
Along with their corporate partners, co-founders Amos and Glyn have put structures and business practices in place to create a range of focused, sustainable and meaningful programs that are having meaningful effects on both the participants' lives and the sport of cycling.
The Life Cycling Academy has a clear vision, a vision that is effective, achievable and sustainable - GROWTH THROUGH CYCLING!
Today, the LCA - with the support of sponsors past and present - has grown into an organisation that offers a range of programmes - from cycle safety, to school education, as well as programs that generate an interest in cycling at this level; to elite level professional cycling where youngsters are given the opportunity to participate in the sport at the highest levels.
The organization continues to proudly influence the lives of its more than 500 registered participants through its principles of dedication, discipline, motivation, loyalty and teamwork.
Since its inception in 2003, the LCA has not only managed to establish a solid business model, but has also delivered on its objectives of empowering the youth through cycling.
This can be seen in the growth of its programs, the relationship it shares with some of South Africa's leading corporate structures and the fact that it is the first and only organization to be successful in developing cycling in previously disadvantaged communities to the level where its members are able to compete both nationally and internationally.
In order to maintain this level of performance and success it is imperative that the LCA continues to forge relationships with dynamic and community oriented corporate entities; companies that believe in corporate citizenship and the future development and growth of South Africa through the empowerment of the youth.
(See 'Our Sponsors')
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, with the daily running left in the hands of the Chief Executive Officer and his team of managers and instructors.
In order to ensure the success of the LCA it is run along strict business principles and structures, with each participant having his or her area of expertise and responsibility.
Did you know
The Life Cycling Academy boasts South Africa's only 'all black' professional elite cycling team! The team, originally formed in January, 2006 is known as Team GT/Velokhaya and is sponsored by the Pedal Power Association (PPA).