Some 25 students from St Mathias Secondary School in Busia County, have all reasons to smile after the Growth Against Poverty (GAP) organization donated to them 25 bicycles worth over Sh. 500,000 under the Pedal Power Project.
The Project is funded by well-wishers from the United States of America in partnership with other well-wishers, who sacrifice to ensure needy and promising students, have an easy time travelling to and from school.
Speaking during the flagging-off ceremony at St Mathias Boys Secondary School, the founder and the Executive Director of Growth Against Poverty Kenya, Hellen Mukanda, stated that the project was started with an aim of ensuring students in day schools can travel faster to school hence promoting quality education.
She noted that disciplined students and those staying far from the school are the main beneficiaries of the bicycles, citing that it will greatly help improve their performance.
“Discipline and distance, is one of the criteria that was used for choosing students who benefit from this programme, I am also proud of the entire St Mathias fraternity and the parents for ensuring that students are well behaved and adhere to school rules, regretting that in the recent past students have been setting schools a blaze,” she said.
The Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Busia County, Kipchumba Ruto, who was in attendance said that the bicycles were given to the most disciplined students and urged them to use the opportunity to reciprocate by excelling in their studies.
“Discipline and academic excellence go hand in hand and so we expect you students not to disappoint us but to work smart in your class work,” Ruto said.
Ruto acknowledged that the bicycles will help ease movement of students who trek over 10km daily, to concentrate on their studies, which in turn will help improve their academic performance and their future lives.
He also lauded the initiative for supporting the government achieve its ‘Big Four’ agenda of social development goal of accessing quality education for every child.
“The exercise will also go a long way to supplement the ‘Agenda 4’ of the government’s social development goal of accessing quality education to every child,” he added.
Jonathan Sakwa and Joseph Otwayi, who are among the 25 beneficiaries of the program in the second roll-out stated that they were happy for the initiative as it saves time, boost education, and also motivates the rest to work hard.
The students were, however, cautioned to be extra careful and to use the bicycles for their intended purposes.
By Frodah Namayi and Patience Agiso
