100 bicycles handed over to underprivileged kids to get them to school and give them something of their own.
Last year, Lifechoices, in partnership with the African Scholars Fund, facilitated the handover of 200 bikes to schools based on the outskirts of the greater Cape Metropole.
This year Saxon Sea Secondary School based in Atlantis & Iingcinga Zethu High School based in Ceres are the two schools identified as beneficiaries of 100 bicycles from a private sponsor, BikeTown Africa – represented by David Brienza, who will be travelling out from the USA.
“The African Scholars Fund support our youth that struggle financially by providing them with the means to contribute towards their school fees, school uniform, transport and other basic school needs. We nurture, motivate, mentor, care for and support our bursars until they have completed their basic education.”
“We are completely focused on the wellbeing of our bursars. We monitor and comment on their schoolwork and their progress. Contact with our bursars is regular, ongoing and constructive. To date we have funded and mentored over 55000 learners at high school and 5000+ at TVET college level.”
The handover ceremony took place on Saturday the 6th August 2016 at Saxon Sea Secondary School in Atlantis. They were joined by learners and representatives of Iingcinga Zethu High School as well.
“BikeTown Africa has been going strong since 2006, having delivered many thousands of bikes to groups fighting HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan African countries such as Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Malawi, Lesotho, Rwanda and others.”
“In recent years, David has turned his focus to also include learners, specifically at schools in the more rural areas – an initiative that brings not only hope, but also much joy to these young lives.”
Many of these children walk long distances to school, have little to keep themselves occupied after school and as such the gift of a bike is beneficial on so many levels.
Representatives of the Department of Education were invited to join the ASF and David, who was accompanied by volunteers from the USA.
“This entire process goes far beyond the mere handing out of bicycles. We want these learners to realize that education is not merely an accumulation of academic knowledge, but opens the door to so many opportunities – all leading to further self development. It is important that learners living on the “fringes of society” realize that they are worthy and that they matter”. – Eliza James, Director of African Scholars’ Fund.
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