If kids could get bicycles for school, they would be killing two birds with one stone
ACCORDING to the Children’s Institute situated alongside the University of Cape Town, three-quarters of South African pupils walk to school, while 9% use public transport.
About 2% use school buses, provided by government, to get to school.
Adopt–a–Child chairman and founder Luvuyo, Mpambani, in partnership with Drifters Raceway Theme Park hosted a charity event this week to try and collect more than 3000 bicycles for pupils in rural areas.
The Adopt–a–Child Foundation (ACF) is a non-profit organisation that aims to assist and improve the lives of underprivileged children in South Africa through a green lifestyle, education and sport excellence.
When travelling around the rural parts of the Eastern Cape, Mpambani said he usually saw pupils walking long distances from their home to school and back.
“I often give them lifts and I am told that they wake up at 5’o clock [in the morning], leave for school at 6’o clock only to get to school at 8. One meal is provided at school. And they have to walk back home and I ask myself, how they cope,” he said.
Mpambani said if kids could get bicycles for school, they would be killing two birds with one stone. “They would also be promoting fitness, which is one of the things we are most passionate about,” he said.
Mpambani said they will launch the project in Buffalo City Metro schools and are asking anyone who might want to donate a bicycle or money to contact his office on 043-727-5060.
