Breaking Educational Barriers with Bicycles: Beauty’s Journey to Class

Beauty
Thursday, January 30, 2025

By Christabel Mundike, Communications, Zambia

In the remote Muchila zone of the Namwala District, long distances to school continue to pose a significant barrier for many children, especially girls. Yet, for 12-year-old Beauty, a Grade 5 student at the Kabwe Primary School, this challenge has been turned into an opportunity for transformation, thanks to a simple yet powerful intervention - a bicycle.

Beauty used to walk 4 kilometers each way to school. The long and exhausting trek often left her feeling drained, and she arrived late to class and struggled to focus on her studies. Coming from a vulnerable household, Beauty was at high risk of dropping out of school - a reality many rural children often face due to poverty and the distance to educational facilities.

"My school is very far from my village," Beauty shared. "The long walk made me tired, and I would often reach school late, missing some classes. I couldn’t concentrate well in class, and my performance was poor."

Recognizing these challenges, Education Above All’s Educate a programme in partnership with World Vision Zambia, provided 50 bicycles to learners in the Muchila zone through the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education (EVE) project and the Strong Girls Strong Zambia campaign, which focuses on keeping children in school by addressing barriers like poverty and long distances.

Beauty was among the beneficiaries who were offered the opportunity for education based on her vulnerability and high risk of dropping out of school. The bicycle she received has not only shortened her daily journey but has also restored her energy and hope for the future.

“This bicycle will help me cover the long distance to school. Even when I go back home, I will still have the energy to study and do my homework because I won’t be tired,” she said with a smile.

For Beauty, the bicycle is more than just a means of transport—it’s a ticket to her dream of becoming a teacher.

The impact of the bicycles under the EVE project extends beyond individual learners like Beauty. By reducing school dropout rates and addressing systemic barriers to education, the project is fostering a culture of learning and opportunity in vulnerable communities. The initiative is set to retain 7,000 at-risk learners in quality primary education by the end of 2025, ensuring that children can stay in school and build brighter futures.

For many families in rural Namwala, the challenges of keeping children in school are compounded by poverty. Parents often ask their children to stay home to help with chores or farming, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and limiting educational opportunities. However, partnerships and targeted interventions such as providing bicycles are helping to break this cycle.

With each pedal, Beauty and others like her are moving closer to a future filled with hope, opportunity, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Through partnerships and impactful initiatives, Education Above All’s Educate A Child and World Vision Zambia continue to work to transform lives—one bicycle at a time.