From learning how to use a can opener to discovering the stark reality of the plight of orphaned children, when a dozen of SMU students first set off on a cycling expedition to South Africa, nothing could have prepared them for the adventure they were about to embark on.

In May, 12 SMU students embarked on a "Cycle of Life" expedition, cycling 1200km across the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa with a social objective of distributing gifts and aid to South African orphans. The expedition is part of the SMU Zero Limits Expedition Series, a bi-annual student-led initiative by the Singapore Management University that seeks to challenge and inspire students to create a positive social impact through adventure learning. 

The students took charge from the start – from liaising with non-governmental organisations and rural community orphanages halfway around the world, to raising funds and seeking corporate sponsorships. They are grateful to many people and organisations especially global logistics company DHL, which played a major role in helping them bring cheer to hundreds of South African orphans.

“Without DHL’s generous sponsorship, we would have had a lot more trouble delivering the personalised gifts to the children at the orphanages we visited,” said business undergrad Timothy Chua who led the team’s logistics efforts.

While the students worked hard to organise the expedition, they trained even harder to get themselves physically fit. Most of them picked up the sport only after they committed to the expedition. Their training also took them to nearby Bintan where they experienced cycling through undulating, hilly terrain as a team. 

Throughout the month-long expedition in South Africa, the group of cyclists travelled from Durban to Cape Town to offer gifts and aid to children at rural orphanages. They learnt to overcome unexpected obstacles – from battling the elements on their bicycles to having a near-missed robbery at a supermarket. 

It was not long after the novelty wore off that they realised their cycling adventure was not only a challenge to the body but also a mental test of wills.

Graduating law student Jeriel Lam recounted, “In the beginning, it was exciting because we were in a foreign country and the places we visited were beautiful. But after a while, your motivation starts to wane and not even the most scenic surroundings can inspire you to keep going.”

But the members of Zero Limits South Africa supported one another and powered through their purpose-driven cycling journey, one pedal at a time, for more than 1200km.

Individually, they had their own coping strategies. Fourth year sociology undergraduate Melanie Phay shared how she kept boredom at bay. “I started counting especially when we rode uphill. A friend of mine told me that I had to keep a steady cadence as I cycle up, so I did that and I kept doing that even though at times it got terribly repetitive and boring!”

Despite the mundane nature of long distance cycling, the team knew they had to push on and keep their eye on the bigger picture –to get from one orphanage to the next, and put a smile on the faces of needy children.

Even before the trip began, the students were acutely aware of the drawbacks of their planned volunteering mission. They knew that their one-off visit to the orphanages will not result in creating sustainable improvements to the lives of the children. However, they also realised that the fear of not making a big impact should not stop them from doing good. At the very least, they would bring hope to the children, and inspire them to persevere in spite of circumstances and follow their dreams.

For one of the team members, the experience of being at the orphanages left an indelible impression.

“This trip has been a turning point in the way I view poverty. There was an orphanage we visited which affected me a great deal,” said Faith Ooi, a social science undergraduate.

The 21-year old, who was overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness, soon came to the realisation that “the very fact that I had the opportunity to see what was happening in this part of the world meant that I can do something about the problem even if it is going about it in a small way,” she added.

While the simple act of bringing gifts to the children may be a small gesture, going to a country thousands of miles away on an expedition was a life-changing experience for many of the team members.

“It changed my perspective on life. Life for those children in South Africa is simple. They make do with very little, yet they seem so happy,” said Steve Loh, a freshman in the Business Management programme.

For expedition leader Aaron Leong, the most memorable part of the trip was “The team spirit, and the wonderful sense of camaraderie. I couldn’t have asked for better team members!” he exclaimed.

Aaron who had led a delegation to South Africa last December to plan for the trip and establish the necessary contacts added, “Having a team that shares the same attitude and goals is really great. Now I truly understand what it means when people speak of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts!”