J969N Qhubeka Community Programs

The Situation

The need is primarily to provide children with improved access to education. Bicycles are an effective way to address the needs of school children in South Africa. 12 million of the country’s 16 million school-going children walk to and from school and 500 000 of these walk more than two hours to school and two hours back. With a Qhubeka Bicycle, a child’s commute time is reduced by up to 66%.

A lack of access to transport means that people have to walk long distances to get to jobs, clinics, shops and opportunities. With a bicycle, people can travel 3 times faster than if they were walking. A bicycle also increases a person’s carrying capacity by five times and saves people money they would otherwise have had to spend on public transport.

Bicycles make it easier for people to get to where they need to be, whether it’s a work opportunity, or visiting family, a clinic, shops or community event.

The Objectives

1. The overall vision is poverty alleviation and improved school attendance and pass rates Our contribution will be to provide access to schools, clinics and jobs where it is severely restricted to walking for more than 30 minutes each way.

For students the objectives are:

• Increased on-time attendance
• Improved Grades
• Reduced mobility time (walking)
• Increased mobility distance (cycling)
• Increased safety for girls

For people not in employment, education or training the objectives are:

• Sustainable income above the living wage
• Reduced mobility time (walking)
• Improved quality of life
• Increased hope
• Increased sense of dignity

For the elderly and the sick the objectives are improved access to health care with regards to dread diseases such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, AIDS, TB, etc.