Hike for a Bike
Hi!
Our names are Sage and Jordyn and we are students in a Social Justice class at Seycove Secondary School. In this class, we have been learning about the many social injustices, here and around the world. This month our assignment is to create a real-life, fully functional “Action Plan” to bring this class to a close. This “Action Plan” has to be something that we are passionate about and that utilizes our talents, something that inspires us and brings out the creative activist within us.
In December 2020, as part of our poverty unit, representatives from World Bicycle Relief made a presentation to us, via Zoom. We had the opportunity to participate in a simulation about the effects of poverty. This gave us some basic information about what it is like for girls, just like us, who live in impoverished villages in Africa and struggle with day-to-day chores before going to school.
These ideas inspired us to work with World Bicycle Relief and raise money for some bikes for girls so they can get to school. Our goal is to raise enough money to give three girls in Africa their own bikes. Girls with bikes get better grades and are more likely to graduate from high school. This will change their lives. These Buffalo Bikes are assembled in Africa by Africans, they are designed to be dependable on rough roads and trails.
World Bicycle Relief envisions a world where distance is no longer a barrier to independence. We believe the same thing. Check out this link to learn more about World Bicycle Relief and what they do: https://worldbicyclerelief.org
OUR ACTION PLAN
Our original plan was to have an in-person fundraiser called “Hike for a Bike” on the Hyannis loop in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. Sage and I worked really hard to make it possible, but with COVID-19, it just wasn’t working out. So, here is our new and improved “Hike for a Bike” fundraiser! We challenge anyone who sees this GoFundMe page to find your favourite hike, walk or stroll and.... do it! Join us in spirit this month, January 2021, to raise awareness and help us provide teenage girls living in poor African villages with the basic human right they deserve and the opportunity to have a future. Education is a key component in alleviating poverty which is why World Bicycle Relief is so important. We would love you to take a photo (of you or your surroundings) on your favourite hike and post it on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag, #hikeforabike. This will help our fundraiser and Action Plan reach a larger audience, raise more awareness and funds for World Bicycle Relief. And we will get to see all of the beautiful people who have supported us!
Later this month, we will have “Hike For a Bike” T-shirts (that we designed!) for sale in small, medium, large, and extra large. They will be $20 each and all proceeds will also be going to World Bicycle Relief and Bikes for Girls. If you are interested feel free to direct message us on instagram @jordyneyton or @sageecable.
Any contribution to this GoFundMe will make a huge difference in a young girl’s life, who will get an education and make a difference for her family and her village.
WHERE YOUR DONATIONS GO
Each buffalo bike costs $197 CAD and our goal is to raise enough money to donate three Buffalo Bikes to girls in Africa to make their trek to school easier. By setting up a GoFundMe, selling #HikeForABike t-shirts, and raising awareness on social media, we hope to reach our goal of $600. All the donations will be donated to <give.worldbicyclerelief.org/bikesforgirls>
WHAT IT MEANS TO US
The reason that this fundraiser means so much to us is because we believe that a lot of people in Canada take school for granted. As girls, before school, we don’t have to go to the well for water or gather wood for the fire. We don’t have to walk many kilometres on a rough trail to get to school, and back again. Sage and I recognize the privileges we have and we want to advocate for people who don’t have the same opportunities. The privileges we have give us the chance to help others.
Thank you so much for taking the time to check out our GoFundMe page and for contributing to the cause. If you want to learn more about World Bicycle Relief and the relationship between bikes, education and poverty, feel free to contact us using the emails above or check out the World Bicycle Relief website here: https://worldbicyclerelief.org
To help spread the word and raise awareness, you can share this link to your Facebook or Instagram and email it with your friends and family! Have fun on your hike and don’t forget to #hikeforabike!
Jordyn and Sage