The Pedal Project:

The challenge: Girls in rural areas of Busia District Eastern Uganda face numerous difficulties in accessing and staying in school. The relationship of distance and schooling is particularly critical in rural areas. Girls must walk long distances to widely dispersed secondary schools. Many girls who live in rural villages walk between 2-8 km every day to attend school. Sometimes they become victims of sexual assault.  This transportation challenge leads to low enrolment, absenteeism, and poor class performance as girls often arrive at school late and return home too tired to study. With a lack of public transport and an inability to pay for private transportation, most rural girls drop out of secondary schools before completing their education. In addition to the transportation problem, girls also drop out of school due to lack of menstrual health management, HIV, early marriage, and teen pregnancies.  

Solution: The Pedal Project seeks to increase graduation rates among underprivileged girls who attend St. Elizabeth Secondary School in Busia District, Eastern Uganda by addressing barriers that prevent girls in rural areas from completing their education.  The project will address mobility constraints by providing bicycles for 20 bright and talented girls ages 13-17years from deprived backgrounds.  Simultaneously, the project will coordinate a school campaign for its 100 students to address other significant issues that affect girls’ school attendance and performance, including menstrual health management, HIV, early marriage, and teen pregnancies. Your donations of $20, $50, or $100 will help buy a Buffalo bicycle to ease the transport challenge these girls go through.