How Bikes Make a Difference in Children's Education

For me, teaching my kids to care for others is more important than learning lessons from a book. Finding out about The Cadbury Bicycle Factory's mandate to build and send bicycles to rural Ghana, Africa was a great opportunity for us to get involved in an important cause, and to learn about children's lives far beyond our borders.

Imagine if your kids had to wake up at 5 am to complete an hour of chores, and then head off on a strenuous two-hour walk to school. This is the reality for many children living in Ghanian villages.

Kids in Ghana dream of success, and are eager to have an education. Yet, the long walk detracts time and energy from studies. It seems unfair that the road to success for these children begins with an uphill battle. 

In Ghana, bikes are a much-needed mode of transportation that provide children with access to education. By getting them to school faster, bicycles enable both teachers and students to spend more time and energy on studies, reducing time spent travelling by up to 75 percent—the equivalent of 600 hours per year or 25 extra school days. Bicycles signify much more than a leisurely outdoor activity. 

In Ghana, a bicycle is a vehicle for freedom and success. It can actually change a child's future. 

What has all this to do with chocolate? 

Cadbury has been connected to the land and people of Ghana cocoa bean farms for over 100 years. Committed to improving the lives of farmers and their children at a grassroots level, the company created The Cadbury Bicycle Factory. Now in its fifth year, The Cadbury Bicycle Factory has delivered more than 18,000 bikes to Ghanian cocoa farming villages.

It doesn't end there. Working directly with the Ghanian people and organizations like Village Bicycle Project, volunteers teach both students and teachers how to ride. Owners are trained in basic bike maintenance and repair. The delivery and ongoing maintenance of these bikes help children like Lawrencia and others in rural Ghana make their hopes and dreams of a better education come to life.

We take education for granted in Canada. Our kids have easy access to schooling. We are so privileged that our kids even complain about going to school. Now, that's a luxury! I felt full of admiration while listening to the enthusiasm and seriousness in the voices of Ghanian children talking about school.

We take bicycles for granted in Canada. They are a simple two-wheeled vehicle that represent a fun way to exercise and get around. In Ghana, they represent a road to a better future.

You and your family can make a difference for a child in Ghana. Sending a bike to Ghana through The Cadbury Bicycle Factory is easy. You don't have to spend any money. You don't even have to leave your house.

Get your family involved by teaching them about the value of helping others.