We are giving books and bikes to vulnerable girls who live in rural and poor villages in Kilwa Tanzania to help them get better education. Many young girls walk hours one way to school, and these long distances often keep them from attending regularly. Safety is another reason to give young girls bikes, as they are very often the targets of human trafficking, rape, sex trade and sweatshops. Bicycles and books are the first simple answer to improving both their safety and access to education.
Tanzania women and girls are expected to maintain the home and care for younger siblings, 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 books helps to study at home and do schoolwork. A single bike and book kit can make a huge difference in terms of access to healthcare and further economic opportunity for the whole family. A bike also provides a safer way for young girls to get to school.
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 need and deserve.
Girls with greater access to school have been shown to stay in school longer. Girls in Kilwa are also exposed to the dangers of being trafficked for sexual exploitation, rape, sexual harassment, early pregnancy due to long distance from their homes to schools. Although not only books and bikes are obviously not the only answer to quality education , but they do provide a safer way for these girls to travel versus walking and increase education quality.
