The Davos Challenge: Walk For Education, Goal Achieved

CHICAGO - Jan. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- World Bicycle Relief is pleased to announce that UBS and the World Economic Forum have achieved the goal they set for the Davos Meeting, to donate 2,500 specially designed bicycles to children in rural South Africa to help them get to school and improve learning outcomes. The target was reached through the program, The Davos Challenge: Walk for Education, which asked participants to walk as many steps at the Meeting, as a child may have to walk to get to school in rural South Africa. World Bicycle Relief will deliver the 2,500 bicycles through its Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP).

The first 1,000 participants that signed up for the challenge at the meeting in Davos were given a Fitbit activity tracker to log the distance they walked. Participants' progress was displayed on special screens at the Congress Center in Davos during the course of the Annual Meeting, January 21 – January 23.

The Davos Challenge: Walk for Education was enthusiastically embraced by Davos attendees with participants beating the goal of 3.5 miles. The Davos Challenge allowed some of the world's most influential executives and leaders to experience what millions of children do twice a day to attend school. Exposing participants to the barrier distance plays in children’s access to education in rural developing areas, The Davos Challenge illuminated the critical need for reliable, sustainable transportation and the powerful, yet simple solution of a rugged, specially designed bicycle.

“We are grateful that so many Davos attendees took the challenge to heart and beat the goal set by UBS and the World Economic Forum,” says F.K. Day, President of World Bicycle Relief. “The success of The Davos Challenge: Walk for Education will make a significant impact on the lives of 2,500 school children and their families in South Africa who will be able to get to school much quicker and with more energy to learn. With inspiring and committed partners like UBS and the WEF, together we can make a difference where the need is the greatest.”

Poor transport infrastructure combined with long distances to school mean that many children in Africa are not getting an adequate education and therefore are ill-equipped to fight the cycle of poverty. This cuts into their learning time or even stops them attending school altogether. Providing kids with robust bikes built for rugged country terrain can reduce their travel times by 75%, boosting attendance and educational achievement.

"It was impressive to see Participants` enthusiasm to put on Fitbits and walk the walk for education," says Axel A. Weber, Chairman of the Board of Directors of UBS. "The Davos Challenge brought out both the community and competitive spirit in all of us. We look forward to delivering the bicycles to these children and providing them with better access to education."

The UBS Optimus Foundation has commissioned SRI (formerly known as Stanford Research Institute) to conduct a rigorous study to assess the impact the bikes have on the learning outcomes of children who receive them.

About World Bicycle Relief:

World Bicycle Relief is dedicated to mobilizing people through The Power of Bicycles®. World Bicycle Relief accomplishes its mission by designing, manufacturing and distributing high quality bicycles that withstand the challenging terrain and conditions in rural, developing areas. Entrepreneurs use the bike to increase productivity and profits. Students attend class more regularly and their academic performances improve. And, health care workers visit more patients in less time, providing better, more consistent care. World Bicycle Relief also promotes local economies and long-term sustainability by assembling bicycles locally and training over 1,000 field mechanics.  To date, World Bicycle Relief has delivered over 220,000 bicycles.

For more information, please visit: www.worldbicyclerelief.org/ Follow us @PowerOfBicycles and Like us at facebook.com/worldbicyclerelief

About UBS AG

UBS draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Its business strategy is centered on its pre-eminent global wealth management businesses and its leading universal bank in Switzerland, complemented by its Global Asset Management business and its Investment Bank, with a focus on capital efficiency and businesses that offer a superior structural growth and profitability outlook.

UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 countries, with about 35% of its employees working in the Americas, 36% in Switzerland, 17% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 12% in Asia Pacific. UBS employs about 60,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

About UBS Optimus Foundation

The UBS Optimus Foundation is an expert grant-making foundation established by UBS in 1999. The Foundation works to break down barriers that prevent children from reaching their potential by funding leading organizations to improve the health, education and protection of children.

The UBS Optimus Foundation supports projects in places where children face adversity. UBS covers all the Foundation's administrative costs so that 100 percent of all donations go directly to the projects.

UBS Optimus Foundation – A better future for children.