By Sara Nerone | Founder
Dear Friends,
After living and spending a great deal of time over the years in Vietnam, and of course creating our Bikes for Girls program thanks to all of you, my daughter’s and I started to realize that we can’t obviously just give new bikes to girls and then not provide any follow up with tune-ups and repairs. So, over the past year we have been piloting a small program in Vietnam where we go to schools in poor, rural areas and repair student’s bicycles who are in need, spending up to a week or more at each school. Although we decided to include boys in this program as well, the girls who receive our bikes can bring their bikes to school to have them repaired as needed. We call this the “Love your Bike” program!
While in Vietnam, leading a volunteer trip during the month of July, we finally got to see our program in full swing. Although school was out, a local Red Cross office invited 60 poor children from a small, rural, village to bring their bikes to us for repair, and over the course of three days, along with our volunteers, and our bike mechanic, we repaired all 60. The kids rode their bikes in, some without seats, only a few with working brakes, some with no brakes at all, and even some without chains, and rode home on a safe, working bicycle.
Also, while we were in Vietnam we held four bike givings and gave 80 girls new bikes. No matter how many times we attend our bike giving ceremonies, they are still so wonderful. As you may already know, we give 20 bicycles out at a time so that we can make sure that we learn about each girl, and make sure that the bike that they are receiving is adjusted properly for them. At the end of each bike giving we also provide a quick bike maintenance training to the girls so that they know exactly how to store their bikes, how to clean their bikes, and make sure that they know how to adjust and pump up the tires. We also discuss safety with them and how to properly wear their helmets.
So far this year, because of you, 240 girls have already received new bicycles, pumps, tubes and helmets!
Please help us to continue to give more bikes to girls in need, consider sharing our story and/or give the gift of a bicycle to a girl in the name of a friend or family member on their birthday, during the holidays, or just for love.
Thank you everyone! Happy soon to fall!
Sara
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