Girls hail bicycle support

Girls from Mlomba Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Lilongwe have commended World Bicycle Relief for supporting them with bicycles to ease their mobility challenges to school.

They expressed the sentiments on Wednesday when education authorities and World Bicycle Relief officials visited the school to monitor the impact of the donation made in 2021.

One of the students, Jinesi Chinseswa, said she used to walk 10 kilometres (km) to school.

“I would get to school late, usually after the first period and mostly tired. That made it difficult for me to concentrate in class. I am happy to be one of the beneficiaries,” she said.

In an interview, Central West Education Division manager Joseph Nkhata said the bicycles have helped girls to reach school on time.

“Girls’ performance at Mlomba has improved,” he said.

World Bicycle Relief programmes manager Aggie Kolla said they distributed over 3 000 bicycles in CDSSs in the Central Region.

She said the programme rolled out in the country in 2017 and so far they have distributed over 20 000 bicycles nationwide.

Deputy Minister of Education Monica Chang’anamuno the donation will motivate girls to work hard in class.