Bike donation for children at Thallakera school in India

Bikes to beat school drop-out

One of the most common causes of school drop-out in Indian villages is the distance between homes and schools, along with other problems that make it difficult to prioritise education for village children.

Cycling is the only means of transport available to thousands of families in India, and, even so, is a luxury not everyone can afford. According to the latest Indian census, half of Indian households own a bike, while only 14% have a motorcycle and 2% a car.

This initiative have been particularly beneficial among girls, who have seen drop-out rates fall from 40% to 4% since Vicente Ferrer Foundation started giving out the bikes.

Vincente Ferrer Foundation is a development NGO which is committed to transforming and improving the living conditions of the most disadvantaged communities in Andhra Pradesh, one of the most poverty-stricken and destitute parts of India, as well as one of the poorest and most underprivileged communities on the planet. Education is one of the areas which is given special attention, since access to schooling is key to community development.