Pupils of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) secondary school in Makali, Konike Chiefdom in northern Sierra Leone, gathered at their school compound. 

They were accompanied by their parents, who sang a welcome song to the guests as Programme for Children (PFC) and Schools for Salone (SfS), in partnership with the Village Bicycle Project (VBP), distributed 100 bicycles. PFC is a long-time SfS partner that oversees the schools in Tonkolili, Bo, and Western Area Districts.

“The initiative is to reduce the pupils’ commuting time and get them to school early,” said George K. Fawundu, PFC Program Manager.  

Teachers also benefited from the distribution.

From Makali, SfS and VPB went to Maforeka and Robis, where they distributed 50 bikes at each school  to both pupils and teachers.

Students Walk Long Distances to Get to School 

Some pupils of the SDA school live about three miles away from the school. This six-mile round trip is a challenging distance for any child to commute to school. In previous years, some have had to drop out due to their inability to commute daily to school. 

The principal of SDA, Joseph Brima Tholley, described the bicycle distribution as “a great gesture” and “a relief to parents and children.”

School authorities say commuting through distances puts girls, in particular, at risk. 

Isatu Bangura used to walk three miles to school, something she found very tiring and time-consuming. With her new bicycle, she hopes things will get better.

“This bike will help me get to school early,” said Bangura. “It will also improve my overall experience.”

Mohamed Fofanah, who lives four miles away and has been coming to school late, said the bicycle will improve his punctuality.

Adama Sesay is one of the parents whose children benefited from the project. She expressed excitement, stating that what she used to spend on covering transportation costs would now be spent elsewhere. 

The Impact of Free Education  

The Free Quality School Education program led to increased enrolment in public schools. There has been a corresponding increase in infrastructure and facilities, but schools are still crowded.  

An estimated one million children are now in school. SfS has been supporting education in the country through teacher training and providing them with school materials. SDA’s principal, Tholley appreciates SfS’s relentless support, particularly in helping them with essential materials they can’t afford.

Watch Schools for Salone’s visit to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) secondary school in Makali HERE.

About Village Bicycle Project

The Village Bicycle Project is being implemented by Programme for Children (PFC) in Tonkolili  with PFC’s Programme Manager, Mannah, overseeing all school related activities in Tonkolili and Bo. 

The project aims to transform communities by strengthening bicycle culture. Their programs combine subsidized bicycles with maintainers training for new owners. They give bike mechanics detailed training, standard bike tools, and spare parts.

This all-round approach guarantees dependability, affordability, and sustainability during transportation. Women and girls are the primary beneficiaries of the bicycles, ensuring inclusion.

VBP programs make cycling an attractive choice for entire communities, as improved mobility enables growth in productivity with better access to jobs, schools, and healthcare, not to mention the environmental and health benefits of cycling. 

In term 1, approximately 240 bicycles were distributed across schools in Koinadugu and Falaba, and more bikes are set to reach SfS school communities in term 2. 

About Schools for Salone

Schools for Salone was founded two decades ago. The organization has since become a beacon of hope in addressing educational inequalities in Sierra Leone. In partnership with five Sierra Leone organisations, SfS has built 44 schools and provided thousands of children with access to education.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, 8,500 pupils returned to Schools for Salone-supported institutions amidst several challenges.