Access to education remains a barrier for many South African children in rural areas, with limited transport being one of the hurdles to overcome, says the organisation. 

The Sweetbike Community Project falls under the Serenity Hills Skills Upliftment Center established by international donors and Swiss entrepreneurs, the Wenger family in 2015. Sam Wenger, now the development director for Serenity Hills, ensures this community initiative remains an integral part of the eco-focussed estate near Margate on the KZN South Coast.

Ayanda Masengemi, associate director at Serenity Hills who oversees the Sweetbike project, says, "Of the utmost importance is assisting the pupils in getting to school on time so they can enjoy full attendance and excel in the final phase of high school. We want to see a high pass rate, and we are so privileged to be a part of facilitating their success."

The Sweetbike initiative was implemented in 2018 as a result of the dire need for a low-cost and accessible mode of transportation for schoolchildren within rural areas, the organisation says. Countless pupils were forced to drop out of school due to the high costs of public transportation and the long distances other learners have to walk to access public Schools.

According to the community project, to create a regular supply of quality bicycles, second-hand bicycles are donated, largely by residents in Europe and shipped to South Africa. They are then refurbished at the Sweetbike Workshop, which forms part of the Skills Center at Serenity Hills, employing and upskilling people from the local communities.

Once the bikes are refurbished, they are donated to children attending rural schools covering the entire Municipal district of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality. 

The latest donation was made to Mlonde High School in Lamonti, says the organisation. This brings the total number of bikes donated to remote schools in the region to approximately 2 300 modes of transport. Students also receive helmets to safeguard themselves.

The bicycle beneficiaries are selected according to:

  • distance from the schools
  • family background
  • financial considerations, and
  • the individual’s behaviour track record at school.

To maintain the safety of the bicycles, the students received lockers and the school prints serial numbers on each one and monitors the upkeep by each recipient.

Commenting on the future of the Sweetbike project, Masengemi says, "We are planning to expand the project to supply pupils with bicycles in the Eastern Cape. We also wish to expand our community outreach efforts and add initiatives that will benefit the local community and show our deep commitment to their advancement and prosperity."

The Sweetbike NPO concludes that this is one example of the commitment of Serenity Hills developers to community upliftment and sustainable solutions. Such projects are creating a lot of interest in estates around South Africa, with buyers appreciating the importance of:

  • supporting local communities
  • maintaining positive relations, and
  • identifying sustainable solutions to socio-economic conditions.  

For more information, visit wwwsweetbike.ch. 

*Image courtesy of Canva