Yesterday June 29th, we went to a village in the Chongwe District, 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) east of Lusaka. The group assembled 16 of the 100 bicycles. The bicycles were given to students selected at a ceremony held at a local government school. The local bicycle committee – elders, community leaders, and school staff – selected the students based upon need and commute for each family to school.
There were so many emotions going through my head today as we gave away bicycles we built for a community who is very vulnerable. In this community, school children walk up to 20 to 22 kilometers (about 13-14 miles) to attend school. This makes me feel very grateful for the bus services available and a mother that drives me from place to place.
Yesterday when we were build the bikes in groups, I didn’t really think about the impact I was making until today’s ceremony. During the ceremony one of the students in the community said “[this] not only a piece of metal, but time…. time to get to school, time to learn, time to get home safely, and time to spend with their families.” This made me reflect upon how I value my education, and if I did not attend the SEED School Of Washington, D.C. If I were in their situation, how important would my education be to me? How important would my own success be to me, and how it could impact my future? How much time would I put into my homework, and how much time would I take to study?
During the ceremony, I felt very welcomed by the community with songs and prayer. I am ecstatic about this wonderful opportunity given to me. One thing that I learned today, that will stick with me for the rest of my life is “If you educate a girl, then you educate a country”. When I get back to the United States, I will be sure to let every girl in my community, family, and school know that they hold some type of power to change the world. There were so many students in the community in which we gave out the bikes that said they wanted to be doctors, lawyers, and teachers. If you educate these girls, and boys then change will come to not only from their families but from Zambia.
-Ty’Ronn