How the gift of mobility has changed Zambian students’ lives

Thanks to your incredible support, we have been implementing the Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Programs (BEEP) in Zambia since 2009.

Your efforts have helped create a strong bicycle infrastructure in the region. In Zambia, distance and transportation remain the biggest obstacles to education.

Read on to discover how the gift of mobility has changed Zambian students’ lives.

LOVENESS

RIDING SINCE 2009
Loveness was one of the first Zambian students to receive a Buffalo Bicycle. Before she received her bicycle, she would walk two hours each way to school. Her bicycle made it easier to concentrate on school because she spent far less time and energy on her commute. As a result, her attendance and grades improved – and Loveness was able to graduate. Her younger sister, Doris, began riding the bicycle once Loveness graduated. Today, Loveness is working in a nearby city and saving up for nursing school.
>> Read our latest update to learn more about Loveness!

PRISCAH

RIDING SINCE 2010
Priscah used to walk 8km each way to school, and would often run in an effort to be on time. Once she received her bicycle at age 13, Priscah got an extra hour of sleep each morning and was able to contribute to her household’s morning chores for the first time. After school, Priscah would use her bicycle to help her finish her evening chores faster, leaving more time for studying. Six years later, Buffalo Bicycles have played an important role in the health and happiness of Priscah’s whole family.
>> Read our latest update to find out how Priscah’s family uses these bicycles!

CHILD MARRIAGE WOULD DROP 64% IF ALL GIRLS HAD SECONDARY EDUCATION

FEWSTAR

RIDING SINCE 2010
In 2009, Fewstar’s parents desperately needed money. In order to collect a dowry worth about $425 USD, they arranged a marriage for their daughter. A school official intervened and helped Fewstar get a Buffalo Bicycle, making it possible for the girl to finish her education. Fewstar also used her bicycle to help with chores like fetching water, transporting goods to market, and accessing healthcare. Fewstar credits the bicycle with helping her dream of a new future: one in which she graduates school and secures a job delivering bicycles to others.

Beene at home with her bicycle

BEENE

RIDING SINCE 2011
Beene would walk 16 km a day to and from school, when she could make it. She suffered from leg pain that kept her at home 2-3 days a week. In 2011, Beene received a Buffalo Bicycle and was able to attend school every day for the first time ever! With more energy and no more pain, Beene joined inter-school athletics. She also had more time and energy for her important responsibilities at home, including caring for her nieces and nephews, cleaning, fetching water, and working in the family garden. When school was not in session, Beene’s family used the bicycle to transport goods to market and take the children to a healthcare clinic 8 miles away.

MORE THAN HALF OF ZAMBIANS LIVE ON LESS THAN $2 A DAY

BELITA

RIDING SINCE 2012
At age 14, Belita would rise before 5am each day to walk to school, with no time to help her grandmother with chores. Still, she was often late and punished publicly for tardiness, which filled her with dread. With her new Buffalo Bicycle, Belita was no longer late to class – and that resulted in an improvement in her grades, plus enough time and energy to take on more responsibilities at home. Thanks to the bicycle, Belita transports vegetables to market – a task her grandmother used to take on by foot, which caused her chronic pain. Now life is easier and happier for both Belita and her grandmother.
>> Read more about Belita and the impact of a bicycle on her life.

ETHEL

RIDING SINCE 2013
Before she owned a bicycle, 15-year-old Ethel walked more than two hours across hilly terrain each day to attend school. With a bike, her commute now takes 45 minutes. She’s happy to arrive at school on time to pursue her goal of becoming a nurse. In addition to setting an example as a successful student, Ethel has mobilized her community by using her bicycle to transport fellow classmates to school.

375,000 ZAMBIAN CHILDREN AGES 7-14 ARE NOT IN SCHOOL

TAMARA

RIDING SINCE 2014
Before she received a Buffalo Bicycle, Tamara often missed class due to her difficult, 4 km route along challenging terrain. Her new bike made getting to school easier – and helped the whole family get to church and take maize to the mill. Now Tamara dreams of becoming a teacher. Her bicycle is helping her take the steps she needs to achieve that dream!

MARY

RIDING SINCE 2015
Mary lives at Children’s Village, a home for vulnerable children without parents who can care for them. Children’s Village supports education for all children who live there, but the nearest school is 8 km away. The daily walk to and from school exhausted Mary and left her no time or energy for friends, homework, or activities. With a bicycle, Mary flourished. She has more energy and time for school and the activities that make her happy.

4.7 MILLION CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY IN ZAMBIA

JENNIFER

RIDING SINCE 2016
Jennifer is a 9-year-old student at Malulaki Primary School in Zambia. In late 2016, she received a Buffalo Bicycle along with 200 of her classmates. Now her 4.5km trip to school takes her a fraction of the time! Girls with bicycles have more options, independence, and access to education. In rural regions, a bicycle can truly transform a young girl’s life.

 

Will you help grow the impact of bicycles for students in rural Zambia?
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