Every August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and on Tuesday 9 August 2016, we celebrate National Women’s Day. This year’s celebration is a 60-year commemoration of the events of 9 August 1956, when 20 000 women marched towards the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Tshwane, to protest pass laws that restricted the movements of black women across the country.
These brave women, led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, led a peaceful protest. Singing, “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo, uza kufa!” which means, “When you strike a woman, you strike a rock. You will be crushed”, they left bundles of signed petitions outside the prime minister’s office, and then stood in absolute silence for 30 minutes.
Today, women (and men) of all races enjoy freedom of movement throughout South Africa, but many still lack access to mobility.
Girls and women are often particularly affected – consider that 53% of the world’s out-of-school children are girls and two thirds of the illiterate people in the world are women (according to Opportunity International). By mobilising girls and women with bicycles, Qhubeka hopes to help them to improve their school attendance and grades, as well as their prospects of accessing economic opportunities.
When you help us to mobilise a girl or woman with a bicycle, you also help to:
- Fight poverty
- Keep girls in school
- Improve access to healthcare and economic opportunity
- Give hope to a traditionally marginalised group of people
Support our Bicycle Education Empowerment Programme (BEEP), which helps to mobilise more girls (and boys and teachers) with bicycles. Donate now.
Modjadji, who recieved a bicycle today wants to be a fashion designer when she finishes school. She hopes her new bicycle will help her attend school more often which will allow her to achieve her dreams.