New Jersey - For some, riding a bike is something done for exercise or as a hobby, but for children living in the remote areas of Morocco, a bike is a chance for a better future.
New Jersey – For some, riding a bike is something done for exercise or as a hobby, but for children living in the remote areas of Morocco, a bike is a chance for a better future.
The Chaouia Association, a non-profit organization in Morocco, reached out to U.S.-based group Morocco Foundation to help collect donations to purchase 20 bikes for children needing to travel to and from school. The Chaouia Association sponsors various projects in the village of Lakhlaif and its surrounding areas in the Settat-Khouribga region.
In the villages, children have to walk long distances of about four miles to attend school, causing them to miss days or not show up at all.
“Based on other associations we have contact with, they confirm that a lot of kids drop out of school because they don’t have the means to access the school,” said Morocco Foundation member Mohamed Bennani. “A lot of them live far away and can’t afford to walk the long distance or buy a bike.”
Bennani says it’s a simple, fun, and effective way for students to concentrate on homework without the stress of walking for miles to reach their destination
The Morocco Foundation’s campaign on fundraising website Rally.org has already raised more than half of the $2, 5000 goal needed to buy the bikes.
The foundation has begun purchasing the bikes from La Vie Sportive in Casablanca for $100 a piece. Each bike comes with a back seat, light, splash guard, lock and helmet.
© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
