BEN & PPA Launch School Safety Programme

BEN and our partners the Pedal Power Association (PPA) recently launched the exciting new schools cycling safety initiative which sees children from schools across the Western Cape being taught the fundamentals of being safe on the road while cycling.

The new Safe Cycling booklet, a joint project by BEN and PPA, introduces primary school children to cartoon mascots Bicycle Ben and Pedal Patty, who teach bicycle safety through fun and simple illustrations. The programme is aimed at Grade 3 to Grade 6 learners and hopes to make a huge impact in their lives, by teaching them the rules of the road, appropriate hand signals, as well as how to remain safe by wearing visible clothing and always wearing a helmet correctly.

The launch was held at Bergsig Primary in Bonteheuwel during September, where over 100 children at the school received a safe cycling booklet and were taken through the basics by ambassador Liezel van der Westhuizen.  Learners were then invited to go through a practical course, where they had the opportunity to showcase what they had learnt.

10 children from the school’s cycling club also received a bicycle through BEN on the day, from our donor partners Bicycles For Humanity, in Perth Australia. BEN will be distributing 90 more bicycles through 9 more schools across the province in this manner. Mr Graham Hector, a teacher at Bergsig Primary also received mechanical training through BEN, which means that the donated bicycles will remain in good working order for many years to come.

We are thankful to our donor partners and funders who allowed us to carry out projects and training such as this, as well as the Pedal Power Association for launching this Safe Schools project long with us. We look forward to rolling it out to many more schools in the future.

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