The gift of Cycling to School

The Gift of Cycling to School

Education is a basic human right, and sometimes the obstacle to getting an education is simply that the school is hard to get to

Changing Lives

Thank you.

Education is a basic human right, and sometimes the obstacle to getting an education is simply that the school is hard to get to.

Some communities are very isolated so some students have to walk an 18km round trip to school every day. Long journeys to school result in students arriving late, being too tired to study when they are there and some students don’t enrol at school at all. Walking long distances in the heat can also be dangerous.

Long trips to school mean shoes wear out quickly. When teachers discovered one child who was having to walk to school bare foot because his family could not afford any more shoes, they decided to look into what could be done about it. This prompted the initiative to find bicycles to help students to get to school.

The Gift of a Bicycle

Bicycles enable students to get to school more easily, and safely. It means they don’t have to take time off school and can be more attentive in their lessons. There is a huge impact on their performance at school too, as they are more able to study effectively.

When they receive these bicycles the students were overjoyed. They are so keen to get an education, even if it does mean walking long distances to get there, but having a bicycle enables them to get far more out of their education. Bicycles will also allow some students who are completely missing out on education to enrol in school and stay there.

Educators are also delighted to see the children arrive safely at school, on time and not too tired to work. They can enjoy teaching and see the children thrive.

How does it make you feel knowing that you are part of a new, sustainable movement, enabling students to access education in remote areas?

Thank you.

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Your Gift Helps People Like… Lamin

Teachers at Njoren School, in the Upper River Region of The Gambia, noticed that Lamin, one of their students had holes in his shoes, and eventually had to walk bare foot. The teachers were concerned when he explained that his parents could not afford to buy any more shoes, they wore out so quickly, as he lived an hour walk away. He was a very bright boy with the potential to go on to secondary school and do well.

When Marie Antionette, General Secretary of GTU (Gambia Teachers Union), heard this story she discussed ideas with the teachers in the region and decided that many of the children needed bicycles to get to school. She contacted the Steve Sinnott Foundation to see if they could provide funds for them to buy bicycles locally to give to the children who lived far from their schools.

Now Lamin and many other children at his school have bicycles to get to school. They are not tired when they get there, their shoes are not wearing out and they are more able to concentrate at school.