Bicycles For Girls

We give girls bicycles so that they save time on their daily commute and can continue going to school even when it’s in a different village. We have seen that this ensures that girls complete high school.

Access to education empowers girls to break free from the clutches of early marriage and a life of dependency. This initiative dates back to 2002 when Mann Deshi Foundation started distributing bicycles to young girls with the aim of preventing them from dropping out of school and ensuring continued access to educational institutions.


The main aim has also been to improve safety and mobility for young girls, reduce their dependence on adults to take them to school, promote sustainable alternatives and reduce travel time, so that they could focus fully on learning and other school activities. Mann Deshi aims to empower these girls with ‘Freedom on Wheels’.

OUTCOMES

9,000 bicycles

have been donated since 2002.

150 bicycles

on average are donated to school girls each year.

“I remember the case of a student whose father was too poor to buy her a bicycle and because her home was so far from our school, he wanted her to drop out. But because of the Mann Deshi bicycle she was able to continue. She’s now pursuing a medical degree.”

Chanda Mane, Principal, Gyan Vardhini High School



To learn more about how our programmes make a difference read our Stories of Change.