Bicycle distribution project changes the lives of 350 school learners in Orlando
The Qhubeka community, which includes major metros, business supporters and individuals around the globe, came together to raise funds for another 350 bicycles for schoolchildren in Orlando, Soweto.
A total of 350 more schoolchildren in Orlando, Soweto, have recently received Qhubeka Bicycles as part of the ongoing bicycle distribution programme in the region.
This community public-private partnership between City of Johannesburg, Qhubeka and various corporate and individual donors and fundraisers shows how partnerships can maximise impact.
The children are from Selelekela Secondary School, Orlando High School, Lofentse Girls High School and Bona Comprehensive School.
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“This distribution event is made possible by the City of Johannesburg and our grassroots fundraisers around the world,” said Qhubeka Executive Director, Tsatsi Phaweni.
“The City has committed to an ongoing bicycle programme in the region, which has included constructing bicycle lanes and funding bicycles to help schoolchildren and adults with personal transport. With a bicycle, access to schools, clinics and jobs improves.
“Fundraisers who support Qhubeka through our relationship with Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka then matched the City’s funding to double the number of bicycles being distributed. At other distribution ceremonies, the funding has come from businesses.”
Phaweni said it’s a wonderful example of how a partnership can help move entire communities forward.
“People from the public, private and civic sectors in South Africa and beyond have supported this programme, and because of that, these children who received bicycles will be able to travel to school faster, attend extramural activities and have more time to study and play.
“We are very excited to be distributing more bicycles to the residents of Orlando in partnership with Qhubeka and their partners,” said Nonhlanhla Makhuba, MMC for Transport in the CoJ.
“We believe that the more bicycles we distribute in a particular area, the greater momentum and sustainability there is for the bicycle promotion programme and the safer it is for individual cyclists.”
A bicycle mechanic has been trained in Orlando to provide maintenance and services to the bicycles when required, which has created a new microenterprise opportunity.
Bicycle recipients each contribute a nominal bicycle maintenance amount to the school, which funds the bicycle mechanic’s stipend.
“We love how diverse our supporters are. The Orlando distribution event is a good example of how our global community helps us to change lives with bicycles in South Africa.
“Our relationship with Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, Africa’s first World Tour cycling team, has introduced many new supporters to us, and we are grateful to the team for the way they ride to raise awareness and funds for us.”
Visit www.qhubeka.org for more information.
