Give a Bike to Sierra Leone
Donation protected
THE PROJECT
Access to quality education is difficult for rural children in Sierra Leone. It is still common to see young kids walk two or more miles each way to school in this West African country. The situation is even worse for girls, as rural families historically often chose boys over girls to continue with education.
In September 2018, the current Sierra Leone government launched what is called the “Free Quality Education” program as part of its human capital development agenda. It mandated all families with children of school-going age to enroll their children into schools. Although the “Free Quality Education” effort aims to increase school enrollment, access to schools remains difficult for rural students.
Give a Bike-Sierra Leone aims to collect and refurbish approximately 300 second-hand bicycles for shipment to Sierra Leone in December 2020.
The bicycles will be used by students as a means of transportation to and from their schools. The distribution process will be in the form of a “lease” to the student beneficiaries in Kenema District-Eastern Sierra Leone. We will work with a select number of School Headmasters, who will use distance and academic performance as criteria for selecting recipients. At the end of each semester, the Headmaster will review the grades and conduct of all the students who receive the bikes to determine renewal or withdrawal. This strategy is used both as a way to encourage strong academic performance, and to maintain good conduct. In order to ensure proper accountability, community leaders will also be involved in this project and collaborate with the school Headmasters.
A similar project was previously implemented by our project partner, Matthias Seisay, who lives the United States. Through his "Seisay Foundation", he has succeeded in shipping 1,500 bicycles and school supplies from the United States to schools and orphanages throughout Sierra Leone.
THE ORGANIZATION
Give a Bike’s goal is to let everyone in the world experience the freedom and flexibility of riding a bicycle. The foundation operates by collecting used bicycles from individuals and companies who no longer wish to keep them. The bicycles are then refurbished in Give a Bike’s Rotterdam workshop, and donated to support social cycling projects across the globe.
WHAT WILL YOU BE FUNDING?
1) Shipping costs from Rotterdam to Freetown: 3500 Euro
2) Costs for spare bike materials: 750 Euro (tires, inner tubes, chains)
3) Costs for re-assembly of bikes upon arrival in Freetown: 100 Euro
4) Costs for distribution in Sierra Leone: 200 Euro
Estimated total: 4550 Euro
A LITTLE EXTRA MOTIVATION?
For 5 Euro... a shout-out on social media!
For 20 Euro... a postcard from Sierra Leone!
For 40 Euro... an A4 info graphic on how to pack for a long distance cycle tour!
For 50 Euro... a full bike check at our Rotterdam workshop!*
For 100 Euro... attendance to a one on one, 1 hour workshop in basic bike repair skills in Rotterdam!*
For 300 Euro... a fully customized bike (discuss and pick up your dream bike at our Rotterdam workshop)!*
Drop us an message ([email redacted]) if you are interested in claiming your reward!
*Unfortunately available only for donors with possibility to commute to our Rotterdam (NL) workshop
Access to quality education is difficult for rural children in Sierra Leone. It is still common to see young kids walk two or more miles each way to school in this West African country. The situation is even worse for girls, as rural families historically often chose boys over girls to continue with education.
In September 2018, the current Sierra Leone government launched what is called the “Free Quality Education” program as part of its human capital development agenda. It mandated all families with children of school-going age to enroll their children into schools. Although the “Free Quality Education” effort aims to increase school enrollment, access to schools remains difficult for rural students.
Give a Bike-Sierra Leone aims to collect and refurbish approximately 300 second-hand bicycles for shipment to Sierra Leone in December 2020.
The bicycles will be used by students as a means of transportation to and from their schools. The distribution process will be in the form of a “lease” to the student beneficiaries in Kenema District-Eastern Sierra Leone. We will work with a select number of School Headmasters, who will use distance and academic performance as criteria for selecting recipients. At the end of each semester, the Headmaster will review the grades and conduct of all the students who receive the bikes to determine renewal or withdrawal. This strategy is used both as a way to encourage strong academic performance, and to maintain good conduct. In order to ensure proper accountability, community leaders will also be involved in this project and collaborate with the school Headmasters.
A similar project was previously implemented by our project partner, Matthias Seisay, who lives the United States. Through his "Seisay Foundation", he has succeeded in shipping 1,500 bicycles and school supplies from the United States to schools and orphanages throughout Sierra Leone.
THE ORGANIZATION
Give a Bike’s goal is to let everyone in the world experience the freedom and flexibility of riding a bicycle. The foundation operates by collecting used bicycles from individuals and companies who no longer wish to keep them. The bicycles are then refurbished in Give a Bike’s Rotterdam workshop, and donated to support social cycling projects across the globe.
WHAT WILL YOU BE FUNDING?
1) Shipping costs from Rotterdam to Freetown: 3500 Euro
2) Costs for spare bike materials: 750 Euro (tires, inner tubes, chains)
3) Costs for re-assembly of bikes upon arrival in Freetown: 100 Euro
4) Costs for distribution in Sierra Leone: 200 Euro
Estimated total: 4550 Euro
A LITTLE EXTRA MOTIVATION?
For 5 Euro... a shout-out on social media!
For 20 Euro... a postcard from Sierra Leone!
For 40 Euro... an A4 info graphic on how to pack for a long distance cycle tour!
For 50 Euro... a full bike check at our Rotterdam workshop!*
For 100 Euro... attendance to a one on one, 1 hour workshop in basic bike repair skills in Rotterdam!*
For 300 Euro... a fully customized bike (discuss and pick up your dream bike at our Rotterdam workshop)!*
Drop us an message ([email redacted]) if you are interested in claiming your reward!
*Unfortunately available only for donors with possibility to commute to our Rotterdam (NL) workshop
Fundraising team (4)
Give a Bike (NL)
Organizer
Schiemond,, NL
Matthias Seisay
Team member
Willemijn Lambert
Team member
Cecilia Zagaria
Team member
