Education Ghana Project #67354

Give a Bike,Change a Life: Help Kids get to School

by Friends of Adaklu

Project Report | Sep 14, 2026
Bicycle Program Update from Friends of Adaklu

By Christina Randazzo | Friends of Adaklu Volunteer

We would like to begin with a Special Thank You to the RaiseKind donors who generously supported Friends of Adaklu’s Pedal to Excellence Program. Your kindness is helping make reliable transportation possible for students who travel long distances to school.

We will soon be purchasing new bicycles with your donations. Once the bicycles are purchased and distributed to students, we look forward to sharing photos so you can see the impact of your generosity.

Program Update from FOA Program & Policy Advisor, Robert Tornu:

Students who walk long distances to and from school often arrive tired and may have less energy to participate in extracurricular and after school activities. These activities are important because they help students build confidence, motivation, creativity, and skills that support their success in school. This is one of the reasons Friends of Adaklu provides bicycles to students who travel long distances to school. By making their journey easier, bicycles help students have more time and energy to learn, participate, and grow.

Over the past several years, Friends of Adaklu has developed After School Enrichment Programs that give students additional opportunities to learn outside the classroom. Students receive extra help in academic subjects, strengthen lessons taught during the school day, and take part in activities that encourage creativity and new skills.

At Nunya Village, about 45 students from eight communities, including Tsriefe, Goefe, Abuadi, Helekpe, Dawanu, Golokope, Tokor, and Kordiabe, participate in arts and crafts activities. Students learn traditional and creative skills such as bead design, kente weaving, door and sleeping mat making, music, drumming, and dancing. These activities give students an opportunity to develop their creativity while building an appreciation for Ghanaian culture and traditional crafts.

In Adaklu Dawanu, about 50 students participate each week in after school Math, Science, and English activities. Students from Dawanu, Golokope, and Kpedzi learn through lessons, games, and other engaging activities that make learning both educational and fun.

Bicycles have played an important role in helping students participate in these programs. For students who travel long distances, having a bicycle makes the journey to and from school easier and less tiring, reducing both the physical and mental stress of traveling each day. Students have more time and energy to stay for after school activities while still returning home at a reasonable time. With an easier journey, they are better prepared to focus, learn, and participate. By reducing the challenges of traveling long distances, bicycles are helping students take full advantage of opportunities to learn, create, build confidence, and grow.

Our goal is to continue giving students access to both academic and extracurricular opportunities that help them learn, grow, and reach their full potential. With the right opportunities and encouragement, students can build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to create a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

If you have any questions or would like further information about our programs, please contact Christina at christina@friendsofadaklu.org.

Thank you for supporting Pedal to Excellence and helping make these opportunities possible for students in Adaklu!

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May 17, 2026
Bicycle Program Update from Teacher Irene

By Irene | Adaklu Dawanu SA Basic School Teacher

Update on the Pedal to Excellence Bicycle Program at Adaklu Dawanu S/A Basic School
Written by Teacher Irene

Program Update: Recent donations were used to purchase repair supplies for 28 student bicycles in the Adaklu Dawanu community that were in need of repair.

Improved Punctuality: All 28 student participants now arrive at school early and are often among the first students on campus.

Increased Attendance: The program has become a powerful incentive for school attendance. One student who had previously stopped attending school because of the long walking distance is now attending every day.

Time Saved and More Energy for Learning: Students are cutting their travel time by more than half each day. Instead of arriving tired and exhausted, they now arrive with greater energy, focus, and readiness to learn.

Student Spotlight: From Exhaustion to Excellence

The true success of the bicycle program can be seen in the lives of the students themselves.

Before receiving bicycles, several students walked nearly 4 kilometers to school each day. Many arrived late and struggled to stay focused by midday because of exhaustion.

Today, those same students are among the earliest to arrive at school. Fatigue has been replaced with confidence, pride, and motivation. This transformation from physical exhaustion to mental readiness is being seen across the entire group of student riders.

Sustainability and Student Leadership

The students of Adaklu Dawanu have fully embraced this program and are taking pride in caring for their bicycles.

Students perform weekly tire and brake inspections, helping build responsibility and basic mechanical skills.

One student, Phanuel, has developed strong bicycle repair skills and now helps service and maintain his classmates’ bicycles whenever repairs are needed.

The bicycles have become more than transportation. They are now a symbol of education, determination, and hope throughout the community.

The Road Ahead

While the program has already made a life-changing impact, many students in Dawanu and nearby communities still walk long distances to school every day and urgently need bicycles of their own.

We also hope to provide safety kits and helmets to help protect students while traveling on busy roads.

Friends of Adaklu will continue working with donors, supporters, and community partners to expand this important program and help more children reach school safely.

These students are not just riding bicycles. They are riding toward education, opportunity, and a brighter future.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR RAISEKIND SUPPORTERS!

Links:

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Jan 29, 2026
Update: Bicycles Are Driving Learning in Adaklu

By Christina Randazzo | Friends of Adaklu Volunteer

How Bicycles Are Powering Education & Digital Literacy in Adaklu

Every week at the Good Life Centre, students gather to build essential computer and technology skills that will shape their futures. But for many of these students, the biggest challenge was not learning to use a computer. It was getting to class at all. Some were walking nearly an hour round trip, arriving exhausted or missing lessons entirely.

To remove this barrier, Friends of Adaklu provided bicycles to three groups of students who live farthest from the center. What followed has been nothing short of transformational.

Attendance That Changed Everything

With reliable transportation, students now arrive on time, consistently, and ready to learn. Attendance has increased, absences have dropped, and lateness has become rare. Students share that they feel more confident and motivated because they know they can get to class safely and dependably.

More Energy. Better Learning. Bigger Gains.

Less time on the road means more energy in the classroom. Students are now focused, engaged, and able to complete assignments and hands on practice during each session. Before receiving bicycles, some students needed extra classes just to keep up. Today, they are learning alongside their peers and fully participating in every lesson.

A Ripple Effect Through the Community

Parents and guardians have expressed heartfelt gratitude for the bicycle program. Knowing their children no longer have to walk long distances for after school programs brings peace of mind. Students often ride together, building friendships and teamwork along the way. Bicycles also offer families an affordable, environmentally friendly transportation option that benefits daily life beyond school.

Challenges We Continue to Tackle

Like all meaningful programs, this one comes with challenges. Some bicycles need maintenance, which can be difficult for students to afford. Dusty and uneven roads also pose safety and health concerns, even though every bicycle was distributed with a helmet. These realities remind us that ongoing support is essential.

Pedaling Forward Together

The bicycle initiative has had a powerful and lasting impact on our Digital Literacy Program. Students are attending regularly, learning more effectively, and feeling supported by their community. With continued donor support, we can maintain the bicycles, provide safety equipment, and ensure students keep moving forward.

Thank you for helping our students arrive ready to learn, dream, and build a brighter future.

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