500 pink bikes to bring Cambodian girls to school

Poverty is the most disruptive factor for girls’ education in Cambodia. Women in poorer provinces often face increased difficulty pursuing education. Besides needing to leave school to work for money, the distance from school is also a big challenge and prevents many girls from getting to school and having the chance of a better life. Many Cambodian girls face this problem; according to the World Bank, 79% of the Cambodian population lived in rural areas in 2018.

Helpcode Cambodia plan to buy 100 Bicycles to support girls from the poorest communities in the South of Cambodia get to school and begin peddling their way out of poverty to an education and a better life!

The project to date has raised 1000 EUR. The project has been significantly impacted by the COVID 19 Pandemic with schools closed since March 2020 and government restrictions on public gatherings and regional travel. To enable progress of the project with the funds raised to date the Helpcode Project Team has been working closely with School Directors to identify recipient female students of a Bicycle based on the national Poverty ID scale. To date 84 girls most in need have been identified from 40 villages in the provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kandal and the informal settlements on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to receive a Bicycle once the project goal of 9,000 Euros is reached. The Project Team will continue to work with the School Directors to identify the remaining 16 girls to achieve the projects target of 100 female student recipients.

The Ministry of Education will reopen all public schools in Cambodia on January 15^th 2021.

To ensure the safe implementation of the Pink Bicycle Project moving forward Helpcode Cambodia has developed and implemented a COVID 19 School Re Engagement Protocol. The purpose of this document is to provide clear and actionable guidance for safe operations by and for Helpcode staff in the prevention, early detection and control of COVID19 when operating in schools and other educational facilities.

The “Pink Bicycle” Project initiative aims to support the most vulnerable children in Cambodia with access to an education and to create supportive environments for children’s health and wellbeing within the communities and schools in which we work.

Chhin is 13 years old, studying in grade 6 at Oh Trochak Chet Primary School.

Her family received cash support of $100 from Helpcode 2 years ago as part of the Helpcode School Sponsorship Program. Chhin's family live 5 klms from the nearest school. With this money Chhin’s parents decided to purchase a bike to enable Chhin to get to school at a cost of 90$ and a school uniform at a cost of $10.

Chhin says: “I was very happy to get a Bike. Before I had a Bike I couldn’t go to school every day, the walk is long way and takes long time. I have also time to help my family at home. I share this bike with my younger sister so she can go to school too. The bike still works very well. We came to school every day because we have a bike”