SA township students get wheels turning

Penelope Chauke from Kwabhekilanga Secondary School in Alexandra Township was one of 360 students who received a new bicycle donated by AutoTrader, Qhubeka and The City of Johannesburg as part of the Urban Scholar Bicycle (USB) Programme.

The aim of the programme is to provide schoolchildren with improved mobility, and in doing so further boost academic performance.

Alexandra (aka Alex) was identified as an area for bicycle distribution by the City of Jo’burg due to the transport corridor that exists between Alex and Sandton. Kwabhekilanga Secondary School learners where chosen to receive the bicycles due to them achieving the highest Matric pass rate in both 2014 and 2015. The majority of learners there walk to school.

Qhubeka is World Bicycle Relief’s programme in South Africa. World Bicycle Relief is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing education, health and economic opportunities by providing simple, sustainable transportation. Since Qhubeka’s founding in 2005, it has delivered more than 60 000 specially designed, locally assembled bicycles to people across South Africa.

Learners who participate in the programme will be supported with bike safety and maintenance training by African Public Bicycles.
They also have committed to safe use and storage of the bicycle and to make a nominal financial contribution. This will be used by the school to fund the training of a bicycle mechanic, who will be responsible for maintenance of the bicycles. The bicycles will be owned by the school until the beneficiaries graduate from school and all contract terms are met, at which time the students take ownership.

By Michelle Lewis