Catholic Development Office, also known as Caritas Gambia, has donated bicycles to students in The Gambia.

The bicycles, it was gathered, were donated by Rotary Ireland, to enable Gambian students, especially girls, to access education.

Caritas Gambia, which is a development unit of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul, has since 2018 provided more than 1,300 bicycles to support students in the West African nation.

The nonprofit is mandated to coordinate the economic, social and development work of the diocese with a view to attaining a more humane and just society.

‘Children are the future of every nation and the provision of bicycles to needy but deserving students contributes to making a difference’, Caritas Gambia Director Francis Mendy said.

‘Educated children have a greater chance of reaching their potential, breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, and helping their community prosper’, he added.

Mendy said children were often denied their basic right to education by factors beyond their control.

‘The biggest barrier to education for those students living in rural areas may be the distance to get to school’, he said.

‘With a bicycle, students’ attendance increases and children’s commute time can be reduced by up to 75 percent.

‘This translates into an increase in academic performance. In the short term, bicycles help children attend school regularly and arrive better rested’.

Source: Foroyaa

Photo source: Caritas Gambia