100 Bikes for 100 Girls

Hello Everyone,

Three volunteers and I traveled over to Vietnam to work with our staff and students, in our music, art and girl’s tutoring program in July.  While we were there, we attended two of our bike givings and were able to visit with some of the most recent girls receiving your bikes. 

We’d like to introduce you to Oanh, who is 11 years old and just starting 5^th grade this fall. Oanh and her family are from the ethnic group called Raglay, which is one of the 53 minority groups that live in Vietnam, with a population of about 150,000. Oanh and her family live in a village that are mostly Raglay families. After she received her bike at the school, she took us to her home to meet both her mom and dad. They are both so proud of Oanh, and were so proud of her for doing well in school, and receiving a bicycle. Oanh’s mom is 40 years old and her sweet dad is 44. We were very happy to meet them and brought them a gift of food, cooking oil and rice for their family. Oanh also has two older brothers, one is 14 and the other is 18. Both her mom and dad work very hard as farmers for a local land owner and make a small amount of money. As you can see from the photos, they have very little in terms of a house or land, and the bike meant so much to them.

We have many similar stories we could share with you all. Thank you for donating to our Bikes for Girls program, it’s so important to so many girls in Vietnam and of course having your support as a small non-profit.

Thank you again,

Sara

Links:

• Please visit our website.

Did you know that in the United States, Mother’s Day started with three women who were instrumental in establishing the tradition of Mother’s Day: Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis. And did you know that these great women being honored as mothers were activists who fought for children’s welfare, health, and peace?

Often when we distribute the bikes that you have given, mothers show up to see their daughters receive their bikes. They are proud, and feel honored and of course they are there for their daughters, it’s a lovely sight.

This message is to all the mothers who have donated to give a girl a bicycle in Vietnam. You are activists like Julia, Ann, and Anna, and we thank you for voicing your support for children’s welfare, girl’s education, safety, and empowerment. Thanks to you all, 100’s of girls in Vietnam have received your bikes and helmets. Be proud; we are!

Have a Happy Mother’s Day!

Sara, Sophie, and Phoebe

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