Whatshot
Changing 1 100 Lives, One Bicycle And Book At A Time
Changing 1 100 Lives, One Bicycle And Book At A Time
Volkswagen is one of the largest donors of the Bicycle Education Empowerment Programme (BEEP). The cost of one bicycle is R2320 - and learners / parents or guardians are required to sign a contract which stipulates the terms and conditions of using the bicycle (school attendance). The bicycle becomes the personal property of the learner after the two year contract has elapsed.
A recent report by World Bicycle Relief revealed that academic performance increases by an average of 59% after receiving a bicycle and the average school attendance improves by 28%, as students spend less time commuting and more time in classrooms.
"The success of our initial donation of bicycles has inspired us to look at other opportunities to extend our commitment to making a small but impactful difference in the lives of the learners in the schools we are supporting. As a result we have partnered with some of our dealerships in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Nal'ibali in donating reading material and stationery to the school." said Thomas Schaefer, Managing Director: Volkswagen Group South Africa. Schafer added: "We hope reading will empower the learners and open their eyes to the new world filled with indefinite opportunities."
"It is wonderful that donors like Volkswagen South Africa continue to invest in the longevity of BEEP, supporting efforts to teach children how to ride safely and proficiently which ultimately contributes to the sustainability of the programme." Paula Barnard, national director of World Vision SA.
With the help of 12 participating Kwa-Zulu Natal Volkswagen Dealerships, a number of books and stationery were collected and used to fill backpacks along with a Nal'ibali bilingual story-card and supplement to encourage reading for enjoyment.