Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for KNP worker as he jets off to US
Tshilidzi Oupa Mudzanani hails from Bennde-Mutale, a small village on the border of Zimbabwe and the Kruger National Park.
LIMPOPO – After passing high school, he attended a mechanical engineering course. He is now a general worker in the Kruger National Park, providing for his parents and extended family.
He loves sport, especially football and was the captain of his school team.
He was also scouted to attend training for the Black Leopards, a regional professional team.
Within his community he has been involved in the local Development Forum, where they try to steer and develop projects for the local area to be improved.
Through a project in the Pafuri Node of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park called World Parks, World Cup, WPWC, Tshilidzi got lucky.
Through this initiative, started by Vince Mehers, World Parks World Cup established a three-year partnership with Coaches Across Continents, CAC, a global leader in Sport for Social Impact, operating in 28 countries.
CAC gave WPWC an opportunity to select a local candidate to apply to attend a one week ‘Leadership’ course at the Michael Johnson Young Leaders Academy in Dallas, Texas.
Tshilidzi was selected out of 94 applicants: he fit the profile, under 23, passionate about sport, and had helped his community in the past.
He received his US visa, the first person from his community to ever go to Dallas, Texas, to meet and train with an Olympic Star.
He said he learned about leadership, community impact and sports coaching; he interacted with nine other youth from nine different countries – UK, Australia, Uganda and the US.
He said he spent time with Michael Johnson’s team discussing potential projects in his community, how to develop the project and initiate it with the support of the MJYLA, CAC and World Parks, World Cup when he returned.
To say Tshilidzi enjoyed himself would be an understatement, he came back to his community a mini celebrity, with a spring in his step and a new purpose to help his community and himself.
With the help of World Parks, World Cup, Tshilidzi streamlined his project concept – ‘Improving Communities through Sport’.
Tshilidzi is now waiting to hear about his budget from the MJYLA, as they will be supporting him for the coming year to establish his project alongside World Parks, World Cup.
As for the future, Tshilidzi said he wants to continue working in sport to help improve his community, especially access to sport for girls.
