LEAD SPONSORS

World Bicycle Relief: Bicycles for Education Empowerment Program Introduction The Need for Education The Power of Bicycles: BEEP Financial Requirements

Introduction

Beginning in June 2009, the Bicycles for Education Empowerment Program will provide approximately 50,000 bicycles to increase access to school for children in rural Zambia who are especially at risk for extreme poverty and high HIV/ AIDS infection rates. World Bicycle Relief willadminister the program in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Education, community-based organizations and several international NGOs – including World Vision, CARE International, Expanded Church Response, The Salvation Army, Child's Fund and Reformed Open Community Schools.

The Need for Education

Research shows that education is an essential element in the fight to end the cycle of disease and poverty in Africa. According to the World Bank, "A basic education has a general preventative impact: it can inform children and youth and equip them to make decisions concerning their own lives, bring about long-term behavioral change, and give them the opportunity for economic independence – all fundamental to prevention, and therefore to hope."

However, for many children in rural Zambia, it is especially difficult to complete their education. Family dependence on the contribution of children in economic activities, the impact of HIV/AIDS on families, the increasing populations of orphans, the growing number of child-headed households and extreme levels of poverty have resulted in only 60% of Zambian children in primary school completing their secondary education.

Of special concern is the reduced school participation of girls, who have less opportunity for education than boys. A 1998 study showed that girls in Zambia spend more time on productive work than any group of adult men, including fuel and water collection, caring for younger siblings and support of household businesses.

While the scope of this problem is broad, one way identified to immediately increase school enrollment and the children's health is safe, reliable transportation. It is not uncommon for a student to walk 20 km to and from school – a four-hour commute each day. According to a 2007 report by the Zambian Ministry of Education, walking long distances puts children at risk for harassment, sexual abuse, poor nutrition and an inability to provide critical support for their families. High school students must travel even further and often rent rooms near school, which puts them at risk of transactional sex and other dangers of living away from parental supervision.

The Power of Bicycles: BEEP

World Bicycle Relief is partnering with the Zambian Ministry of Education, local communities and relief organizations to distribute approximately 50,000 bicycles to improve educational, health and economic outcomes for children, teachers, community leaders and bicycle mechanics in 16 districts in Zambia identified as in critical need.

Outcomes:

• In partnership with local communities and the Zambian Ministry of Education, distribute 50,000 bicycles in 5,000 schools over a three-year period.
• Increased school attendance for 50,000 Zambian children, thereby making them less vulnerable to harassment in transit, improve their health and nutrition, and performance in school.
• Improved quality of education for children. Teachers will gain time for professional development, to communicate with local school administrators, to access educational resources and to visit student homes.
• Improved quality of life for children and families, as community school volunteers can assist schools in income-generating activities, communicate with regional administrators on behalf of families and teachers and transport ill children to health facilities.
• Job training for 350 bicycle mechanics who will learn technical and business skills that will provide a source of revenue for themselves and their community. This also ensures that bicycle recipients can keep their bikes in working order.

Financial Requirements

The program will take approximately three years and $8 million to complete. Each bicycle costs approximately $134 to place in the field – that includes the costs of:

• Engineering and supply chain management to ensure the bicycle is robust and appropriate for its intended use
• Training one regional bicycle mechanic for every 50 bicycles distributed to ensure proper care and maintenance
• Assembly in Zambia by Zambians and distribution of the bicycles to each individual school

Please support this program. Through your help, more children will be able to complete their education on their way to a better life.

Contribute to Bicycles for Education Empowerment. Please visit our donations page.