Cycling social ride for Chiawelo residents
The event aimed at empowering pupils around the area of Soweto, and to pass the gesture of kindness in allowing them not to be discouraged from going to school due to lack of school uniform, stationery, and school shoes, as lacking from the mentioned can contribute to low self-esteem to individuals.
Veli Netshitangane and his team held a charity social ride event at Chiawelo Ext 2 on Saturday, May 29.
The event took place at a restaurant called House 3425 located at Kubayi street, Chiawelo ext 2. House 3425 is the mastermind and brains behind this initiative. The charity ride started at the restaurant which is also a cycling clubhouse for Chiawelo south side cycling, they did a 30km ride from Chiawelo to kliptown, Maponya, chaf pozi, Baragwanath hospital, Naturena, Freedom Park , Eldorado Park, then back to Chiawelo at Putalushaka primary school where the ride was completed.
The event was about raising donations for primary school kids as the nation is facing a difficult time due to retrenchments that are taking place, influenced by the pandemic at hand. This has rather left some parents experiencing salary cuts while others are losing and have lost their jobs.
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“We decided to work together with a local primary school to give kids hope knowing that even during these tough times there are people who care about their wellbeing. We went out to source donations from individuals, private companies, etc. We managed to raise over 100 sanitary pads, over 450 bottles of hand sanitizers, stationery, and school uniform,” said Netshitangane.
“This was inspired by the current situation we’re are faced with, which is making it more difficult for school pupils in Soweto, especially those coming from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds to focus on their studies, but instead they constantly worry about their menstrual health management and the fact that they will have to miss school because of not afford sanitary pads.
According to research, 30% of learners in South Africa are missing school while on their periods because they cannot afford a mere sanitary towel,” he explained.
The event aimed at empowering pupils around the area of Soweto, and to pass the gesture of kindness in allowing them not to be discouraged from going to school due to lack of school uniform, stationery, and school shoes, as lacking from the mentioned can contribute to low self-esteem to individuals.
The team always hosts cycling social rides to try and inspire young kids and other adults to join, as cycling is a sport that is not perpetuated enough in our community. The team is trying to educate the community about cycling and hoping that from the very same community they can build professional cyclists that can compete internationally.
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