THISHANTHINI

empowering generations to come

Thishanthini first used her bike when she was a community mobilizer for World Vision, who was World Bicycle Relief’s implementing partner for our very first bicycle distribution in 2005. It was her job to canvass the community and find families with children that could benefit with the support of World Vision. She had the task of monitoring 200 sponsored children. Before she had the bike, she could visit five of these families per day. With her bike, she visited ten. She was also able to visit other mobilizers and villages much farther away where Thishantini gained much more knowledge and experience once she was able to travel more broadly.

Currently, the bike Thishantini received over nine years ago is still in working condition. Her brothers use it to reach their farm, 25 kilometers from home. Before they had access to bicycle transportation they walked and returned home very late at night carrying small quantities of firewood they had purchased. Now, with a bike, they carry much more wood on the sturdy rack with less need for frequent trips saving them time and money.

Thishanthini isn’t the only one to use her bike in her mobilizing work. Pictured are two of her colleagues Kavitha and Veny who also enjoy the benefit of bicycling.

Today, Thishanthini is a preschool teacher and proud mother of a 3-year-old son who she predicts will use the same bike for his schooling. Voicing her thoughts for his future she shared, You will find, you are not only affecting one generation, you are now affecting many.