Cakes for Bicycles

At the end of last year, in the Netherlands, Go4GhanaKids organised the sale of cakes to raise funds for bicycles for children in Ghana. Last week we were able to give out 20 bicycles, 16 of which were given to girls. The children receiving the bicycles came from 9 different communities.

'Micah inspecting the bicycles'

Most of the children who received a bicycle have just started Junior Secondary High School. Some of these children walked 10-20 kms a day to and from their school. Other recipients are in their last year of primary school and expect to walk long distances during the next school year.

'the proud owners of the bicycles'

Before we gave out the bicycles, we talked with the children about the importance of education and also about the maintenance of their bicycles. We have emphasised that the bicycles are really for them and not for another family member. Most people in the villages would like to have a means of transportation, so for fathers or mothers, brothers or sisters, wanting to have the bicycle is not so surprising. But these bicycles are really meant, first and foremost, to promote education for the beneficiaries!

'dedication of the bicycles and praying for the education of the children'

'listening to a short speech about education and bicycle maintenance'

Most parents were very excited about this gift for their children. The fact that the children can move much faster to and from their school also helps the family as, after school, water and firewood needs to be fetched, so that meals can be prepared. However, more importantly, the children will be much less tired when they come home and hopefully will have some energy and time left after their household chores, for homework. So in the end the whole family benefits!

'trying out the new bicycles'

The fact that more girls than boys received a bicycle is because of the value many parents in the rural communities of Northern Ghana place on the education of boys above that of girls. Most boys who have to travel long distances to their schools already have access to a bicycle (they may already have one or can borrow one from a father or brother). However, girls are really lagging behind. Fortunately that is changing slowly and parents are starting to encourage their girls to also go to school. The gift of a bicycle is definitely a great encouragement in this. As a famous Ghanaian edict says: 'If you educate a man, you educate one person, if you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation!'

'after receiving their bicycle they ride them home to their respective communities'

Thank God for:

• the bicycles; it will really enhance the education of the children
• our good health at the present time
  

Pray for:

• the education of these children, that the parents will be able to afford all that is needed to let them complete the schools they started
• spiritual growth; all these children visit one of our village churches; pray that they will stand firm
• training and meetings in this period