Maggie and Febby were two determined teenage mothers in rural Malawi who, despite many challenges, fought to stay in school. They were walking nearly two hours each way every day—until their school provided them each with a bicycle, transforming their daily lives. 

We first met the girls in 2017, when they first received their Buffalo Bicycles. They inspired us to film their stories and share “The Comeback Girls” with the world.

The gift of a bike freed them from exhausting commutes, empowered them to continue their education, and offered hope that their children might eventually break the cycle of poverty. In their community, these young mothers became symbols of resilience, ambition, and the power of simple solutions to create big change.  

Seven years later, we paid Maggie and Febby another visit to learn how their lives had changed since we first met them.

After successfully passing her exams and finishing secondary school, Maggie started a business in her community as a mobile money agent.

Then, when the chance to join World Bicycle Relief as a Shop Controller at a Buffalo Bicycles retail shop presented itself, Maggie jumped at the opportunity.

“With this job, I found confidence,” she says. “World Bicycle gave me a bicycle that I used to go to school. It wasn’t hard for me to accept this job to work with them.”

Today, Maggie’s daughter attends primary school nearby and she’s able to send her youngest child to a private daycare. Her younger brother now uses the same bicycle to reach school, and Maggie’s steady income allows her to support him and her parents. She and her husband, who has taken over her previous business, have even bought a piece of land.

Maggie credits her Buffalo Bicycle for helping her land where she is today – because it helped her finish her education.

“When a girl gets educated, she is able to help others,” Maggie told us. “When a girl is educated, she can go anywhere. She doesn’t struggle with work.”

Her advice for other girls who drop out of school because of pregnancy?

“If they have the opportunity, they should definitely go back,” Maggie says. “Getting pregnant is not the end of everything.”

We met with Febby at her family’s home, where she lives with her brother, children and mother. She no longer had her bicycle.

She shared that, in 2018, she fell very ill and did not pass her secondary school exams. Per the local Bicycle Supervisory Committee’s policy, her Buffalo Bicycle was given to another student to use.

“I was disappointed,” Febby says. “It took me a long time to recover from it.”

Yet, Febby persevered. She says life hasn’t always been easy, but she took the education she received and now runs her own small business selling clothes out of her home. 

With her earnings, she’s able to pay for her children’s tuition and proudly shares their accomplishments, including that of her son, who she says is at the top of his class and preparing to finish secondary school. 

We shared with Febby the video of The Comeback Girls, explaining that this film of her and Maggie had been seen around the world, winning hearts and awards.

Inspired by her story and dedication, our team gifted her a new Buffalo Bicycle. 

“I am very happy, because I was not expecting this,” Febby says. “It is such a surprise!”

She’s excited for what comes next – and for how she can help support her family’s dreams as well as her own.

“For a girl who is in the same situation that I was, my advice would be that it’s not a burden when you have a child,” Febby says. “You can still go back to school, and even do better than someone who never left school. Because when you are educated, you are able to achieve your goals. Things are much easier because you have a lot of resources at your disposal, and ultimately, you are able to depend on yourself. 

The impact of Maggie and Febby’s bicycles didn’t stop with their first ride—it continued for years to come. We’re inspired by where their journeys have led, guided by their own determination and hope.