In Vietnam walking and biking are the main ways students get to school. By having a bicycle a girl can save 3 hours each day for every 10 miles she travels. Compared to walking, bicycles are a simple answer to improving access to education, they directly influence whether or not a student (often girls) stay in school or drop out. This project will purchase bikes for 40 girls and help keep them in school.
Because Vietnamese women and girls are expected to maintain the home, girls are often the first to drop out of school. Bicycling versus walking provides additional time for girls to help out their families, as well as do schoolwork. Even one bike can make a huge difference in terms of family members having access to healthcare and even further economic opportunity.
The goal of this project is to help ensure that girls have the means to travel to and from school safely, attend school regularly, and receive the education they deserve.
This project will help Vietnamese youth develop a positive self-image, leadership skills, and a sense of community. We hope that these youth will be able to excel in school, their work, and as citizens through this opportunity.