KLM and her employees have always shown social responsibility. In 2009 KLM celebrates her 90th birthday and is therefore sponsoring a charity. KLM is raising funds with a range of activities under the umbrella of Cycling Blue for Kenya. The Cycling Blue for Kenya project is executed by Cycling out of poverty in cooperation with our local organisation Uvumbuzi. This project comprises 3 components:
Besides a workshop and a curriculum, Cycling out of poverty and Uvumbuzi will also start up a Cycle to school project, building upon the experiences with these proejcts in Uganda. Families of children walking more than 10 km to school can apply for a bicycle on micro credit from the SACCO (Saving And Credit COoperation): Victoria Boda Boda Association.
The distance school children have to walk to school in Africa and particulary in Kisumu, is very large. And since many children also help out with domestic tasks (such as collecting water and firewood) is their daily travel time to school a constraint. This often results in a high drop-out rate. And this is a shame, since a eduction is an opportunity for employment. In this project students and their parents get access to a bicycle on micro credit. Selection of the beneficiaries is based on the distance students have to walk to school, and the reputation of the family in repaying their credits.
1 June 2009
In July the Cycling Blue for Kenya project is starting. This project contains 3 elements: a workshop, training centre and a Cycle to school project. As a kick off of this project, Cycling out of poverty and Uvumbuzi visited the project location and explored local partnerships in Kisumu. Click on the film for the kick off of the Cycle to school project. For more films, go to the "film page"
27 August 2009
KLM supports a project of Cycling out of poverty in Kenya: the Cycling Blue for Kenya project. KLM CEO Peter Hartman visited Kenya and had a photo taken with two students from Kisumu, whose families will be able to access a bicycle via microfinance under the Cycling Blue for Kenya project. The photo shows from left to right: David Omondi student, Richard Oteko manager of the Victoria Boda Boda Association who is coordinating the Cycle to School project, Peter Hartman CEO of KLM, Edmund Murage project coordinator of Cycling out of poverty, Effy Awuor student.
3 October 2009
On Saturday 3 October, the first 20 bicycles in the Cycle to school project in Kisumu were handed over to the students. The project is executed by the Victoria Boda Boda Sacco, an organisation offering a number of micro credit and saving programmes to the 16.000 bicycle taxi riders and their families in Kisumu. Cycle to school is a new micro credit programme, whereby families with school going children are eligible for a bicycle on credit, on the condition that the children use it to go to school. It is aimed that the children reach school less tired, and are able to improve their school results and also won’t drop out school (especially girls). The first bicycles were handed over to students from the Lions and Joel Omino Secondary School. This project is made possible with support from KLM and Wings of Support.
14 November 2009
On Saterday 7 november, 20 more students in Kisumu Kenya received their brand new bicycle from our partner organisation Victoria Boda Boda Sacco. The students attend Joel Omino Secondary School, Lions High or Kisumu Boys Secondary School. This group was the second group of this new bicycle credit programme of the Sacco. This programme offers bicycles on credit for families with school going children. After saving for 3 months they can receive a new bicycle, which they pay off in installments. It is agreed that during school days, the students use the bicycle to go to school. Cycling out of poverty, supported by KLM and Wings of support, is providing the seed money for the Sacco, and after a year the programme is intended to be sustainable from the revolving funds.
10 April 2010
A Cycling to School project started in Kisumu Kenya in October 2009. In this project bicycles are given out on credit to families with school going children. The rational is that many students in Africa have to walk long distances avery day to get to school. After a walk of more than 10 km children are exhausted in class which influences their performance. Furthermore, expecially girls are dropping out because due to the time consuming walk to school, they don't have enough time to take care of the domestic chores. The students say they now reach school quicker and less exhausted. Even though they have fallen down some times, they are happy with the bicycle. The students were very open in sharing the benefits and challenges of the bicycle in this project. Please have a look at the video below in which the first group of students in this programme tell about their experiences with the bicycle.
Your donations, big and small, are really appreciated. You may want to go out and collect money yourself. Money raised or your donation can be paid in to bank account: KLM Corporate Schiphol ‘Kenya’, account number 58.69.93.568.
It's possible to support us quick, easy and safe via KLm by clicking on the "aircares" button. you can support us by donating money or air-cares. This donation facility is hosted by KLM.
By donating 1.000 euro, you can adopt a school of which a number of students will receive a bicycle during the following years. 1.000 euros make it possible to give out 10 bicycles. The revolving fund of the bicycles will be used in the same school to give out new bicyles to other students. Make your donation Cycling out of poverty, mentioning Cycle to school Kisumu
Introduction Cycling to school project, June 2009 |
Preparations launch of Cycling to school project, August 2009 |
Launch of Cycling to school project, October 2009 |
Second group of students in Cycling to school project, November 2009 |
Evaluation Cycling to school project, February 2010 |