Bikes for the Philippines

Mission

Bikes for the Philippines provides bicycles as a tool to build self-esteem and help children attend and improve performance in school.  BfP seeks to encourage life-long habits promoting learning, health, and livelihood, and protecting clean air: EDUCATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ENVIRONMENT.

Background

Businessman and undersea sports professional Joel Uichico noticed school children in the community of Baclayon, on the island of Bohol, walking long distances daily to school, often three and four kilometers over dangerous terrain.  This made him wonder about the drop-out rate.  He also learned about the plight of older youth who had already dropped out, who had no hopes or dreams for the future, but who should they so choose, could return and participate in the Alternative Learning System (ALS).    

Joel was inspired to make a difference.  He established the Bikes for the Philippines program to provide bicycles to students to (1) reduce the dropout rate of school children who walk long distances to school and hence were considered most at risk of dropping out, and (2) reach out to dropouts to complete a high school equivalency program.

With the help of his cousin in the United States, Jo Grant, Joel  was able to connect with Bikes for the World.  Joined by Joel Esguerra and the Baltimore office of Gensler, a global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, bikes were collected and fundraising began. 

Bikes for the World dispatched an initial shipment of more than 500 bikes in July 2011.  A eco-tourism business in Baclayon, Peacock Garden Resort, funded the freight costs. The bikes arrived in Manila and were sorted and refurbished by volunteers, including an extensive network of Filipino cyclists, and members of the Filipino Army.  Reconditioned bikes were distributed beginning in January 2012.  The initial managing entity of the program was the Baclayon Recreational & Aquatic Activities Bohol (BRAABO) a for-profit organization that effectively operates as a non-profit.   

Impact

With a high concentration on training, the program doesn't just 'hand out' bikes to beneficiaries. There is an effort to expand entrepreneurial skills in this program not only in bike mechanics but apprentice training programs at resorts as rental agents or tour guides and other positions in community organizations.

The program has been well-received in the community, not only by student beneficiaries, but by local political leaders, the Catholic Church, and members of other civic groups, who have provided assistance in many forms including signage and other public investments, mentorship, and more.

Equally importantly, the program has been covered by the national press and received support from national institutions, including the country's Army--who provided volunteers to recondition the bikes--and Navy--who transported the bikes destined for Bohol.   

It is still too early to have a systematic evaluation of the change in regular student drop-out rates.  However, anecdotal evidence to date is positive.  Having a bike has already cut doen many students' commute time to and from school, affording them to more time--whether to concentrate on ther studies or to do other things remains to be systematically seen.  However, ALS students have returned to school and are graduating.  And other communities are clamoring to participate.  In late 2012, the Bikes for the Philippines Foundation was established as a local non-profit to administer and expand the program to a second and neighboring community on Bohol -- Maribojoc.

Beneficiaries

	Joe Israel Students who receive bikes in Baclayon, on the island of Bohol in the Philippines, are carefully selected. The bikes are intended to help students who live great distances from school stay in school and graduate. Students are 'loaned' the bicycles and are only permitted to use them to get to and from school. Once they graduate they then 'earn' the bicycle and may use it to get to town and to and from work. Joe Israel was one of the first bike recipients and his donated bike helped him complete high school in 2012, despite a lengthy commute each day. After graduation, Joe entered a work program established through Bikes for the Philippines where he learned a trade in baking.
	Sherwin and Ron Narbay For Ron and Sherwin a bicycle is the difference between graduating and dropping out. Students in Baclayon, a remote community on the island of Bohol Philippines, travel many miles each day to get back and forth to school. There is only one high school in the entire region, so the travel time can be tremendous. These long distances to school burden students and their entire family, as children are needed to help around the house with younger siblings, chores and family buisnesses. Continue reading Ron and Sherwin's story on our blog.
	Joan Marie Igcas When Joan received her bike through the Bikes for Education program of Bikes for the Philippines she had no idea how to ride it. Fortunately Bikes for the Philippines worked hand in hand with the school system of Baclayon and created a program that utilizes donated bikes to help keep kids enrolled in school. As part of the school curriculum, new bike owners are taught how to ride a bike if necessary and they are also required to learn bike safety and bike maintenance. We met Joan in 2012 on a visit to Baclayon. You can see for yourself how well she learned to ride a bike for the first time thanks to this program.
	Jake Palijado For 13-year-old Jake Palijado, the bicycle gives hope. Jake had a short walk to school in his village of Baclayon through eighth grade. But when he started high school, Jake had to hike more than three hilly miles for over an hour in tropical heat and humidity. Jake arrived at school drained and unmotivated. Jake learned to ride through this program and is now more confident and arriving to school on time with motivation and enthusiasm. He has lost weight since he started riding and his teachers say his school work improved immediately.

Video:

A short documentary from Tec Concepcion on the beginnings of Bikes for the Philippines and the labor of love from the people behind this cause.

• Bikes for the Philippines on Ako Ang Simula  Host Karen Davila introduces Bikes for the Philippines and Ron and Sherwin Narbary, two brothers who received bikes through the program.
• Bikes for the Philippines on Buhay Pinoy  Joel Uichico describes how Bikes for the Philippines began and the partnership between Bikes for the World