Elite USA endurance athlete and corporate leader Rhonda Vetere made a deeply personal visit to Zandvliet High School in Macassar on Wednesday, 15 October, reaffirming her six-year commitment to supporting student-athletes in the area.
Vetere, an All World Athlete who sits on the Nelson Mandela Board – Laureus Sport For Good, believes her life’s motto—“I believe sports and the right mentorship can change your world”—is perfectly exemplified by the learners she mentors in South Africa.
Vetere’s connection to the local community began not on the corporate circuit or during one of her 142 endurance races, but in 2018 during a keynote speech at a school.
“I met the learner Leonique Olly while speaking and teaching, and her eyes, gratitude and shyness changed my life,” Vetere recalled. “Ever since I met her, I have been coming back every year to watch her grow and help any school that I can.”
For Vetere, who built her success from the age of 12, helping these learners is a profound calling. She chooses South Africa because she “respects the culture, what the people endure,” and is determined to help students stay in school.
Her dedication to Zandvliet High is rooted in a consistent partnership with Coach Lewellyn de Wee of Anton Bantu Athletics Academy, whom she met in 2018. “He has stayed in touch with me every year and I love helping his students,” she said. The coach invited her to the school and informed her about the athletics program’s needs.
Vetere’s visit to Zandvliet was driven by her eagerness to connect with the students, particularly Lolique, whom she has dedicated herself to helping academically and with necessary support.
When observing the young athletes, the veteran of over 121 global events—including the rigorous 55-mile Serengeti women’s empowerment run she helped create—saw a shared spirit.
“They use sports like I do to release the tension and upgrade your body and mindset,” she observed.
Her most striking impression of the South African students was their spirit, which she described as “kindness, tenderness, shy and speak with their eyes.”
Vetere confirms that her support is comprehensive: “I give back by doing all of this!”—meaning she provides financial aid, equipment, expertise, and personal mentorship. She is actively looking for a school to fully partner with when she returns in May.
“I am dedicated to helping this Country and the students to help them learn sports and traject them in their life and career,” Vetere concluded.
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