The bicycles donated by Rotary Ireland, have since 2018 been mobilised by the charity to enable Gambian students, especially girls to access education.
Established in January 2001, as a development unit of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul, the NGO which is a household name in the country is committed to coordinating economic, social and development works of the Diocese of Banjul.
Francis Dominick Mendy, Director of Caritas Gambia, said the Catholic Diocese is historically credited for providing sustainable education to a cross-section of the Gambian community irrespective of race, creed or social status.
“Children are the future of every nation and the provision of bicycles to these needy, but deserving students contributes to making a difference. When children are educated, they live healthier lives that are more productive. Sustainable Development Goal 4 is about quality education and is among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in September 2015. Therefore, empowering Gambian students with mobility to access quality education is critical in our national drive to achieve this goal.” he said.
Mendy reminded that educated children have a greater chance of reaching their potential, breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, and helping their community prosper.
PDRO Gomez said CARITAS Gambia is charged with the responsibility of coordinating social and relief activities as in line with CARITAS International's development ideals of one human family, which shared one common home.
He indicated that many students in the country are still grappling with dire transportation needs, thereby hindering their education.
"Children in particular struggle with mobility constraints in their quest to access education, health and recreation.”
He noted that across the country thousands of Gambian students and pupils walk to and fro on daily basis in accessing education.
“For these citizens, seemingly ordinary and simple tasks may become difficult and sometimes impossible due to the challenge of distance."
In providing these bicycles, he said, the Catholic Diocese through Caritas is contributing to empowering young people with the opportunity to make choices.
These bicycles, he added, have the potential to enrich the lives of children, households, and entire communities in the end.
He hinted that there are still more than four hundred bicycles that are yet to be distributed.
“We want to partner with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE) for them to help us identify the schools that need such assistance.
