BEN’s 50 bicycle project in Missionvale, Eastern Cape
The BEN team spent a week at the Missionvale Care Centre, located in the township of Missionvale, Port Elizabeth. Learners and healthcare workers from the community each received a bike as part of an exciting project that was funded by the Grassroots Youth Development Programme.
This programme is an initiative of the Innowind Grassridge Wind Farm and it saw 50 recipients receive sturdy and robust single speed bicycles during the month of October. Each beneficiary also received a helmet as well as toolsets, pumps and locks.
Most of the recipients had never ridden a bicycle before, which meant that as well as being taught basic bicycle and road safety, the BEN team also instructed them on how to ride and balance on their bicycle.
The excitement and enthusiasm was overwhelming and BEN is certain that these bicycles will make a world of difference to the beneficiaries. The learners from this area will use their bikes to get to school. These bicycles will also allow the healthcare workers to see more patients than they would if they were going by foot.
BEN will be visiting Missionvale in the year to come to assess the project and, with funding, be able to arrange for follow up repair or maintenance that may be necessary.
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