Empowering Education in Rural Gambia

In rural Gambia, getting to school can mean walking many kilometres every day along dirt tracks, bush paths and muddy roads. The journey is long, tiring and often unsafe — especially for girls. Fatigue leads to late arrivals, missed days and reduced concentration in class.

The Cycle-to-School programme, a partnership between Wonder Years Centre of Excellence (WYCE) in The Gambia and Re-Cycle in the UK, is changing that.

By providing bicycles, helmets and high-visibility gear, we help students reach school faster, safer and with more energy to learn.

The Challenge

Many students in remote villages walk several kilometres each way to school. Routes become particularly difficult in the rainy season, and safety is a real concern after dark. Long walks leave children exhausted before the school day even begins, affecting attendance, concentration and academic performance.

Parents worry about their children’s safety and wellbeing. In villages such as Kerr Demba, some students travel up to 8 km each way under challenging conditions.

How the Programme Works

Launched in 2017, the programme is a collaboration between WYCE and Re-Cycle. All bicycles are donated in the UK, refurbished, and shipped to The Gambia.

Students are selected based on travel distance, family circumstances and academic potential. Each recipient receives:

  • A bicycle
  • A helmet
  • A high-visibility waistcoat
  • Basic bike maintenance and road safety training

WYCE tracks attendance and grades term by term to measure the impact.

In October 2025, the programme reached a milestone at Bakalarr Upper & Senior Secondary School, distributing 70 bicycles — the largest single-school allocation to date.

Student Stories

Eggeh

Eggeh, a Grade 11 student from Kerr Demba, also faces an 8 km journey. As a young woman travelling long distances, safety is a particular concern, especially in low light or during the rainy season.

Her bicycle has made the journey faster, safer and less tiring, helping her attend and participate more fully in school.

Borry

Borry lives around 8 km from school in Mamuda. Before receiving his bicycle, the long journey was a daily struggle.

After getting his bike, his attendance improved dramatically — from 15 days absent in Term 1 to zero days absent in Term 3. His results in subjects such as Maths and Science also improved.

The Impact So Far

Since 2017, the Cycle-to-School programme has supported:

662

Students

19

schools

Journey times have been cut by up to 75%. Students arrive on time with more energy, attendance improves, and safety is significantly increased — particularly for girls.

Every bicycle is sustainably sourced through Re-Cycle’s UK donation network.

Help Fund the Next Project

Each Cycle-to-School project costs approximately £3,000 to deliver. This covers the safety equipment, training and local logistics needed to make a lasting difference.

Can you help us fund the next one?

Your support will help more students in rural Gambia reach school safely and continue their education.

Donate to Support Cycle-to-School