Give a girl a bike: help her to go to school

Hear from, Rajani, a bicycle recipient in the 9th grade to understand a bit more about your donation’s impact.

“My name is Rajani. I am from Dhuldev village. Beffore getting a bicycle, I always used to travel by bus to go to school.

My family’s situation is not that great when it comes to money. My dad is a wage laborer. My mom is also a wage laborer. And because my parents are wage laborers, there’s awlays a shortage of money in my house. Even if I want to buy a small piece of candy, I have to think ten times. I feel sad when I see my mom wake up at 5 AM working on other people’s fields. It’s hard labor.

I believe that money is everything for humans. My mom always says it because she is going through it. She believes that we should all work hard and that is when our situation will be better.

Even though we are poor, they still want me to go to school. In total, we are 4 siblings. I have 2 older sisters and one younger brother. My older sister is in 12th grade so she requires some extra money, which my uncle helps us with even though he doesn’t have that much money either.

Though my mom has never been to school, she still wants me and my siblings to go to school and do something different - not be wage laborers.

From home, my school is 7 km away. Because it is 7 km away, I used to not get home until 6 PM. I always dreamt about my bicycle but because of my family’s situation I never thought I could get it.

Since Mann Deshi has give me a bicycle, it’s like my dream came true.

I also enjoy the breeze while riding the bicycle. I love to ride my bicycle. Now, everyday I go to school on my bicycle. Even though sometimes I’m scared while riding alone on my bicycle, I still want to do it because I enjoy it and my parents want me to study.

I want to study a lot and make my family name proud. I’m really thankful for Mann Deshi for giving me this bicycle.”

We plan to give out ten more bicycles next week to girls like Rajani. On their behalf, thank you.

• About our Bicycle Programme (PDF)
  

Dear Mann Deshi Supporters,

I would like to share a story of Snehal, a bicycle girl.

Fourteen year old Snehal attends the 9^th standard of the New English School in Vele. Her father is a truck driver and she lives with eleven other family members in a tiny home about three kilometres away from her school. Early each morning, Sneha and her brother walk to school. Despite the gruelling commute, she is not only an excellent student but also enjoys  participating in sports, cultural and other co-curricular activities after school.

Since she received her new bicycle, Shehal, who also ferries her brother to school, has more time to participate in her beloved extracurricular activities. Her family is also very relieved that both children now have a safe journey to and from school.

Thank you so much for GlobalGiving for all its continuous support.

Help girls pedal their educational journeys

 “I reach school in time by pedaling the distance and attend all the lectures. I used to walk 4 kms and often miss first lecture.” Says Trupti.

Mann Deshi helps girls like Trupti attend school by providing bicycles. In 2017, we have provided bicycles to 200 deserving girls and kept them in school. Commuting on bicycles also facilitates their physical development as well as the campaign sends out eco-friendly message.

Trupti's parents said, “Now, we don't panic about Trupti's safety as riding the bicycle, she safely reaches home before it’s dark outside.”

Thank you so much !

Links:

• Chetna Sinha to co-chair the 48th World Economic Forum 2018
• Entrepreneur with Social Impact for the FILA 2017

Snehal is a student at the New English School in Vele. Her father is a truck driver and she lives with 11 other family members 3 km away from her school. Sheha wakes up very early each day to walk to school with her brother. However, despite all her difficulties, she is one of the best performers at her school. In addition to her school work, Snehal also participates in sports, cultural and other co-curricular activities after school.  However, participating in after school activities was very difficult due to the long commute back in the evening.

Since she received the bike, Shehal spends less time going to school and more time learning and participating in various extracurricular activities. Her family is also very glad that Snehal has a safe and reliable method of getting to school, and are proud of their daughter’s accomplishments.

Thank you so much for all GlobalGiving supporters...

“Shreya’s mother’s name is Ashwini, Before getting the bicycle, Ashwini spent a great deal of time each morning walking her daughter and her young son to school and back. As such she had no time to work to earn a second income. However, since getting the bicycle Shreya can take her little brother to school, saving Ashwini much needed time. She has now started working and is able to support her husband and supplement the family income.”- Says Ashwini

Shreya is a student at the Kanyashala Girls School in Satara and lives in a small apartment 4km away from her house. Shreya walks to school daily as her family is not able to afford the bus or taxi fare to send her to school. This commute was bad for Shreya’s health and she found that she was often too tired to complete her homework upon returning home.

Despite all these difficulties, Shreya is an extremely good student and has topped her class every year since the 1^st standard. She is well loved by all the classmates as well as her teachers, and hopes to attend university someday.

Now that she has a bicycle Shreya’s commute is very short. She is not tired after she comes home, so she spends even more time studying and working towards her academic goals. Shreya’s dream is to someday be successful enough to take care of her parents and build them a nice comfortable home of their own.

Links:

• Girls on Wheels