102 bikes for students in Uganda’s refugee settlements

For students living in Uganda’s large refugee settlements, getting to and from school often means walking up to 10km. Sometimes starting as early as 5am, students arrive at school tired and often late. This has a knock-on effect on their performance, leading in turn to poor grades, absenteeism, and high dropout rates.

To address this, Windle International Uganda has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to distribute 102 bicycles to students at Kiryandongo High School and Panyadoli Self Help Secondary School. The bicycles will directly support both refugees and Ugandan nationals living in the settlement; in total, 63 girls and 39 boys received bicycles.

Being able to travel via bicycle will especially benefit girls and young women who can travel more quickly and safely. Of those who received bicycles, 62% were girls who are often exposed to violations when they have to walk long distances to school. The distribution of the bicycles is also aimed at enabling students to reach school on time, improve their attendance and performance.

Sarah Mirondo, UNHCR representative at the Kiiryandongo Field Office, noted during the distribution of the bikes that assessments had shown the huge distances students had to travel were highlighted as a major contributing factor to educational attainment and outcomes - especially for girls. “The bicycles will help to increase access to secondary education and reduce the distance learners have to travel to school. This will reduce protection risks, especially for girls.”

Student Atim is among the beneficiaries.  She says, “Since schools reopened, I have been facing a challenge of coming late to school and going back home late. But now that I have received the bicycle, I know things are going to change.

“It has made our lives simpler. We shall make sure we report to school early and concentrate in our lessons in order to get better results and be responsible citizens.”

Ihata, another beneficiary, said “I am so thankful to UNHCR and Windle International Uganda for the support they have given us in form of bicycles. This will help solve the long distance to school and will especially motivate us the girls to come to school early.”