Tour de Great Dyke Pedals Hope Into Young Lives

THE Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke is producing success stories beyond cycling, with disadvantaged children who once struggled to remain in school now graduating from universities and pursuing professional careers.

As preparations gather pace for the ninth edition of the annual cycling event, organisers have highlighted the growing impact of the Gifted Children Foundation, which uses proceeds from the tour to support talented learners from underprivileged families.

Among the beneficiaries is Odette Marimo, who has become an optometrist in Malawi, while another student has graduated with a Bachelor of Accounting Honours degree from the National University of Science and Technology.

One beneficiary who had dropped out of Lower Six because of unpaid school fees returned to class with the foundation’s assistance and scored 10 points in his 2025 A-Level examinations.

Another student, who hopes to become a scientist, attained 15 points at A-Level this year.

These achievements have given fresh meaning to the 2026 tour’s theme, “Ride With Purpose, Every Child Matters”.

Speaking at the Tour de Great Dyke 2026 edition launch, Gifted Children Foundation patron and Tour de Great Dyke managing director Emily Hwengwere said the initiative had supported 137 talented but disadvantaged children, with 45 completing O-Level and 27 completing A-Level.

She said the foundation was particularly encouraged by beneficiaries who had progressed from difficult circumstances to higher education and professional careers.

“These are just some of those stories that keep us going in Gifted Children. And these are some of those stories that make us very grateful for getting this far,” she said.

The foundation was established in 2015 by YaFM founder Munyaradzi Hwengwere in honour of his late mother, who dedicated much of her life to helping vulnerable children.

It was formally registered as a charitable educational trust in 2018.

The cycling event has since become an important fundraising platform, bringing together businesses, athletes and communities along Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich Great Dyke.

YaFM has consistently committed 10 percent of the tour’s proceeds towards the foundation’s education programmes.

The initiative has also widened its reach to include children from artisanal mining families.

Since 2024, five children from such families have received educational assistance, giving miners another reason to participate in the cycling event.

Nedbank Zimbabwe senior brand and marketing manager Joel Gombera said the bank’s continued involvement reflected its commitment to initiatives that delivered measurable benefits to communities.

“Meaningful sponsorship should create value beyond visibility,” Gombera said.

“Our association with the Tour de Great Dyke reflects our commitment to supporting initiatives that bring together sport, business and communities, as well as make a difference in the lives of the children.”

Minex chairman Munyaradzi Hwengwere said the initiative carried forward his mother’s belief in helping children overcome financial barriers to education.

He challenged the organisers to document the achievements of beneficiaries and show how support from corporate partners had changed their lives.

“The challenge for the organisers here is always to profile the impact that this programme has done, not just in terms of numbers, but also to say where have those children gone to, and who are they today,” he said.

The ninth edition has attracted support from Nedbank and other partners, including MIPF, ZENT, Mutapa Gold Resources, NetOne, Fidelity, Manica Bikes, Cell Insurance, Firstlink, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and Sterling Lodges.

Organisers are also encouraging members of the public to contribute through SMS donations to 3446, with each message costing 20 cents.

Although rising school fees continue to limit the number of children the foundation can support, the organisers hope this year’s tour will attract additional funding and expand its reach.

The foundation currently assists 27 learners and hopes to increase that number through stronger partnerships.

A planned book, The Great Dyke: Beyond the Rock, will also form part of this year’s activities, documenting stories connected to the region.

The tour’s educational achievements are becoming an important measure of its success.