World Bicycle Relief Expands its Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program into Malawi

CHICAGO - July 5, 2016 - PRLog -- World Bicycle Relief announces the expansion of its Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP) into Malawi and has launched a campaign during the month of July to raise funds to provide 2,000 bicycles to students in eight schools in Malawi.  World Bicycle Relief has identified a significant need in Malawi for reliable transportation for students and has made BEEP Malawi a critical priority for 2016.

World Bicycle Relief's program addresses the challenge of distance experienced by school-going children in rural, developing areas by supplying strong, quality bicycles to students in order to address this area of need. In many rural parts of Malawi, where BEEP is being implemented, school children spend four hours a day walking to and from school. And, girl students often face the threat of sexual assault during their long walk. With access to a bicycle, students travel to school on average in 75% less time and arrive safely with energy to learn.

The goal of BEEP Malawi is to improve the quality of life for targeted children, households and communities through the Power of Bicycles. According to the World Bank, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world with 70% of its population living on less than $2 per day. World Vision Malawi reports that over half of the children in Malawi do not complete primary school and 50% of the girls are married before they turn 18. The key objectives of BEEP Malawi focus on helping students arrive safely to school, increasing school attendance and improving academic performance of vulnerable school children and improving retention of girls in primary and secondary school.

"Having successfully implemented BEEP in 10 countries, World Bicycle Relief brings this program to Malawi with the expectation that it will have a similarly positive effect on students there," says F.K. Day, Founder and CEO of World Bicycle Relief. "Data from World Vision Malawi shows that 51% of the Malawi population are children and 57% of these children do not complete primary school. We've met students in Malawi who are determined to remain in school despite the difficult and even dangerous journeys they must take to get there. A Buffalo Bicycle can provide a path forward for these students and help them realize their full potential and work in fields like medicine, law enforcement, engineering, and more."

In rural areas in Africa, children travel extensive distances to reach school, often departing more than two hours before the start of school in order to arrive on time. This distance results in increased tardiness, absenteeism, exhaustion, and for many, particularly girls, the complete withdrawal from the educational system. Research shows that education is an essential element in the fight to end the cycle of disease and poverty in developing countries. While the scope of this problem is broad, one way to immediately increase school attendance and children's well being is to provide access to safe, reliable transportation.

Building upon the success of the first BEEP program in Zambia in 2009, World Bicycle Relief has distributed over 60,000 bicycles to students and teachers through BEEP in 10 countries. World Bicycle Relief initially developed BEEP in Zambia along with the Zambian Ministry of Education to address the challenge of distance experienced by school-going children in rural areas. World Bicycle Relief will use the same comprehensive approach in similar rural communities in Malawi.

World Bicycle Relief is raising funds through the month of July to help launch BEEP Malawi with a goal of funding 2,000 bicycles. All donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $75,000 thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor.

To learn more and support the campaign, visit: http://malawi.worldbicyclerelief.org

About World Bicycle Relief:

Founded in 2005, World Bicycle Relief mobilizes people through The Power of Bicycles®. World Bicycle Relief accomplishes its mission by distributing specially designed, high quality bicycles through philanthropic and social enterprise programs. These purpose designed bikes are built to withstand the challenging terrain and conditions in rural, developing areas. Entrepreneurs use the bicycles 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 field mechanics to service the bicycles.  To date, World Bicycle Relief has delivered over 299,000 bicycles and trained over 1,000 field mechanics in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.

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

World Bicycle Relief Media Contact:

Brooke Slezak

brooke@brookeslezak.com

press@worldbicyclerelief.org

  Mobile: 917.689.6024