Sixteen-year-old Sandry is a strong young woman with a clear vision for her future and a passion for learning. She’s especially proud to be a Wayuu woman, an indigenous tribe in Latin America. As she says, “We do more. We cook. We clean. And we are also leaders in our community.”
In Sandry’s community, women are revered, and considered the “children of the true goddess.”
I want to keep working hard so that I can be the strongest woman that I can be.
“Being a Wayuu woman makes me feel strong. I want to keep working hard so that I can be the strongest woman that I can be.”
In honor of International Women’s Day, World Bicycle Relief celebrates the strength and resilience of girls and women around the world.
Sandry is one of five children in her family. Her father, a fisherman, leaves very early in the morning for work on his motorbike. He would try to be back in time to help Sandry get to school but was often late. So Sandry would instead walk the 4 kms to school on dirt roads.
She would arrive tired at school, late or sometimes miss class altogether.
This changed overnight when she received a Buffalo Bicycle from World Bicycle Relief. Now she saves time and has the energy to learn when she gets to school.
Sandry hopes to become a social worker, inspired by one who helped her. She wants to work with kids, teaching lessons through theater and other interactive activities.
When she’s not studying, Sandry loves to play soccer. She also uses her bike to collect water with her friends. She enjoys going together: “We just have fun, riding.”
Sandry dreams for her community to have more access to education – and all girls to have the chance to learn as she has had.
