Axiz, leading IT infrastructure distributor, in a joint initiative with Lexmark, donated 40 bicycles to underprivileged primary school children in the Diepsloot area, on 27 January 2007.
The ceremony took place at the Diepsloot community church, just north of Johannesburg. The initiative is part of Qhubeka, a CSI project, supporting the Diepsloot Youth Bicycle Project.
Dignitaries attending the ceremony included: Whitty Maphakela (department of transport), Isaac Mayela (Ward Counsellor for Diepsloot), Thomas Khadi (PIKI TUP), Mzolisi Mbikwana (Global Community Initiatives), Simon Nash (Cycling SA), and Bheki Sibeko (Qhubeka).
The harsh reality in South Africa is that rural communities lack sustainable self-employment, a primary cause of wide-spread impoverishment. Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg is one of these areas. 70% of its population is unemployed and more than one-third of the population is under the age of 25.
"To enable children to join the mainstream economy, it is essential to improve their access to education, which includes addressing rudimentary issues such as their means of transport to and from school," comments Bheki Sibeko, director, Axiz. "Qhubeka ensures these children grow up to be productive members of society by helping them to earn a bicycle."
The bicycles and helmets were handed-over to selected learners from five local primary schools in Diepsloot. The Diepsloot Bicycle Project volunteers helped train the enthusiastic beneficiaries on how to do basic bicycle maintenance.
The fortunate recipients were chosen having met the set criteria, as agreed upon by Qhubeka with the participating schools, which operates on the basis of need - bicycles were given to the neediest of learners affected by poverty.
"While the aim of the initiative is to encourage upliftment of the disadvantaged, it is important to incorporate elements of social development," comments Sibeko.
In an effort to instil pride in their surroundings in the learners, the children were divided into teams and challenged to help clean a Diepsloot park situated in Zone 6, which is used as an illegal dumping ground. Rubbish bags and rubbish removal was kindly provided by PIKI TUP.
The learners clearly demonstrated Qhubeka's principle of "moving us forward" through their motivation and commitment to transforming their local environment, and are worthy recipients of the bicycles from Qhubeka and Lexmark.
Studies have established that bicycles are often appropriate modes of transport for short distances, with the lowest operating costs of all available transport modes in sub-Saharan Africa. A bicycle carries up to four times its weight, goes twice as far, and travels twice as fast as a person walking is able to do.
"With effect from 2006, the department of transport is looking at providing one million bicycles over a period of 10 years. The purpose is to respond to the challenge of access and mobility particularly in the rural areas," comments Whitty Maphakela, department of transport.
The project is endorsed by the Department of Transport and a number of partners involved in helping Qhubeka provide bicycles to communities' self-sustainable projects.
For sponsorship information or to pledge a donation, please contact Anthony Fitzhenry on (011) 237 7000 or for further information about Qhubeka, visit www.qhubeka.com.
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Axiz
Axiz is an IT infrastructure distributor based in South Africa, with regional offices in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
Qhubeka
The Qhubeka project is a Section 21 not-for-gain organisation which aims to create a means of providing much-needed socio-economic development support to disadvantaged communities in southern Africa. For more information about Qhubeka, visit www.qhubeka.com.
The Diepsloot Youth Bicycle Project
Global Community Initiatives Southern Africa, known as GCISA, was established as an affiliate of GCI International (Vermont, US) in 2003.
The southern African chapter is now up and running with its own board - it is registered in SA as an NPO/PBO - and its first branch has been opened in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg with the Diepsloot Youth Bicycle Project as its first youth project.
The project partner is an American NGO, Bikes Not Bombs (Boston Massachusetts). Two container-loads of used (reasonable quality) bikes, parts and tools have been shipped to South Africa by BNB to start the project. A total of 1 000 bikes have been received in the two shipments, for refurbishment and resale.
The children participating in the project received skills clinics provide by the Diepsloot Youth Bicycle Project.
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