Realizing Potential

Our last shipment we loaded for Rwanda is finally on its way to our partner Learn, Work, Develop where it will help fund and support young women and children. This container was loaded during Women's History Month and we are proud to say it will benefit women who are making history today.

It all started with the women of Stone Ridge who helped us initially load the bikes for this shipment. The following day we were visited by Washington International School, and when we asked if anyone wanted to hop up in the container and do some heavy lifting we had three eager candidates- Nicole, Hannah, and Megan. Nicole, age 13, was in there two days in a row and helped closed the door on this shipment. 

We explained that these bikes would be incorporated in a program that focuses on women's health and future successes. Some teen girls may be as young as these students and pregnant. For most, they have been kicked out of their families and have no way to support themselves or their babies. They lack the means, experience, and confidence to excel in these situations. Learn, Work, Develop steps in and ensures they receive the healthcare they and their growing babies need. For other young women, they provide skills training in various fields, including bike mechanics. 

They recently added a program called Bike for the Future where they are encouraging more women to enter into bike racing in addition to learning how to repair bikes. The idea is to build confidence and teach skills they can use to support their young families, all while changing attitudes in the community. Cynthia and Amina are two of the first students in the program. They recently competed in a bike race and both won medals.

"The competition was my first-time experience, and I managed to secure a medal. It didn't only boost my confidence, but also proved that girls can excel in cycling competitions," said Amina, who studies in primary 6. "I discovered a career path where I truly excel. It is as if I unlocked my inner strength that I should use to achieve my greater dreams."

Cynthia, who is in her second year of secondary school, learned how to ride a bicycle at the age of 8 thanks to her two older brothers. "In our community, there is stereotype that cycling is exclusively for boys. By participating in competitions like these, it paves the way for more girls to break barriers and realize their potential," Cynthia, 15, expressed.