In 2022, Absa, in collaboration with Qhubeka and Wildeklawer Academy, initiated a remarkable bicycle project in Barkly West, aimed at enhancing the educational experience and opportunities for students from three local schools: Boresetse Secondary School, Vaalrivier High School and Barkly West High School.

This initiative was designed to provide bicycles to students as a means to improve academic performance by ensuring they have a reliable and timely mode of transportation to and from school. The project not only focuses on improving punctuality and attendance but also on fostering a sense of independence and responsibility among the learners.

In its first year, the project saw the distribution of 300 bicycles, complete with helmets, to students across the three schools. The following year, just under 200 bicycles were distributed and this year, 170 bicycles will be handed out. The primary recipients of these bicycles are students in grades 9 and 10 who have not yet benefited from the program.

The distribution of this year’s bicycles is scheduled to take place on 14 August, 2024, at 14:00, at Vaalrivier High School’s rugby field. This initiative continues to make a significant impact on the lives of these students, providing them with not just a mode of transportation, but a tool for empowerment and academic success.