Going to school shouldn’t have to be a gruelling daily struggle. That is why the simple gift of a bicycle is rewriting the narrative of education for determined learners in the underserved communities of the North-West province.
Pella, South Africa (27 April 2025) – The number of learners who wrote their matric exams increased, and the pass rate has also improved. This is just a glimpse into the impact that bicycles have had on learners at Morare High School in Pella, North-West, last year alone.
For many learners, going to school looks like waking up before the crack of dawn, hurried preparation and walking long distances on unforgiving gravel roads, often arriving exhausted and sometimes, after the first bell has gone off. It’s a harsh and demotivating daily journey to getting an education, which leaves some falling behind academically or even missing school.
The Qhubeka Charity works overtime to help address the hardships faced by youngsters from underserved communities by providing them with bicycles (and teaching them how to ride them) to make the daily commute and getting to school on time a lot more convenient.
A recent bike handout saw 98 bicycles donated by RS South Africa and another 22 from the Hoffmann and Boggs Families, being given to 120 Grade 9 learners – unlocking improved access to education and better opportunities!
By reducing commute times and improving school attendance, these bicycles help learners move forward, in every sense of the word.
According to Qhubeka Charity, the number of learners sitting for their matric exams at Morare High rose from 48 to 85, the pass rate improved from 83.3% to 85.9%, and distinctions soared from 7 in 2023 to 20 in 2024!
The proof is in the pedal! These bicycles aren’t just helping kids stay in school, but they are also dismantling barriers and changing lives!
by 