Empowering Students Through Access to Education
WYCE Gambia working in partnership with Re-Cycle
In rural Gambia, access to education is one of the most significant challenges students face. For many, attending school requires walking long distances, often in dangerous conditions. The Cycle-to-School programme, a collaboration between Wonder Years Centre of Excellence (WYCE) and Re-Cycle, aims to change that by providing students with bicycles, making their journey to school faster, safer, and more sustainable.
Introduction
The Cycle-to-School programme was introduced at Jappineh School in Central Gambia in 2023 to address the issue of long and often hazardous commutes.
Twenty-five students were chosen to receive bicycles, along with helmets and access to a local mechanic trained by WYCE to ensure their bikes remain in good condition. This support allows the students to maintain a regular and safe commute, improving their attendance and performance at school.
The Challenge
In rural Gambia, the vast distances between homes and schools make daily travel difficult for many students. For some, the journey can take up to two hours each way, forcing them to travel through sparsely populated bushland, sometimes in the dark.
The Solution
The Cycle-to-School programme addresses these challenges by providing bicycles to students with the longest, most dangerous commutes. This intervention significantly reduces travel time, cutting it by as much as 75% for the students involved. The students selected for the programme travel an average of 7 km each way to school.
Impact & Results
Measuring the success of the Cycle-to-School programme has its challenges, particularly due to limited infrastructure in rural Gambia. However, WYCE’s programme coordinator, Ebrimarreh Marreh, has been able to track the impact through exam results and attendance records. Since receiving their bicycles in term two, the 25 students in the programme have shown a remarkable improvement in their academic performance.
The Cycle-to-School programme has already made a significant difference in the lives of the students at Jappineh School, but there is much more to be done.
By supporting Re-Cycle you are supporting this project and so many more.
