TY students put their best foot forward for African communities

Transition year students in Tipperary have taken the innovation world by storm following their hugely successful “Bicycles agus Bróga” campaign.

TY students in St. Anne’s Secondary School have collected over 700 pairs of shoes and 70 bikes to send to developing communities in Zambia and Gambia since January.

Project co-ordinator Siobhan Ryan says the reaction from the public has been amazing.

“We’ve had people from across Tipperary and further a field who have heard about the project donate their old shoes and bikes. The public have been absolutely fantastic so far. They don’t mind giving away items they don’t use anymore.”

The project team aimed to collect 20 bicycles and 100 pairs of shoes, however that goal has long been surpassed as the collection now stands at over seven times the original objective.

We have 700+ shoes and 70 bikes! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us.

— Bicycles agus Bróga (@BikesandBroga) March 14, 2014

Bicycles agus Bróga is the brainchild of 25 students inspired by their teacher. Siobhan Ryan spent several summers working in Kaoma Cheshire Orphanage in the Western Province of Zambia.

During Siobhan’s time in Kaoma with Holycross native Sr. Mary Maloney, Ms Ryan saw the difference a pair of shoes can make to the life of a child or adult.

“A child can’t enter the school if they don’t have any shoes so a gesture as small as donating a pair of shoes you no longer wear can have a massive affect in the lives of those 6,000km away.

“Not only that but it also helps to keep girls in the education system for longer, helping to avoid being married off at a young age. They then have the chance to get a good education, get a job and have a better future.”

The two main aims of our YSI project is:
1) To enable children to get an education 2) For adults to be able to provide for their families

— Bicycles agus Bróga (@BikesandBroga) March 4, 2014

One of the most preventable measures for many diseases and injuries in Zambia are shoes. They limit the possibility of snake bites, parasitic diseases and foot trauma. Despite this, many adults and children are forced to walk barefoot for several miles every day just to collect water or go to work.

“Many wouldn’t have the money for medication if they do get an injury so it goes untreated. Needless to say the impact on someone’s livelihood can be drastically altered,” says Ms Ryan.

The 70 bicycles the students have collected so far will be used in transporting goods to markets, travelling to work and they will even function as ambulances.

“I’ve seen people being taken to hospitals on a bike because there are no ambulances. I’ve seen people carrying mountains of food, wares and products all to be sold at a market often up to 10km away. The addition of a bike to a family or even a community will have an incredible impact. Something so small can make a huge difference in these people’s lives,” says Ms Ryan.

The project, which is being run in conjunction with Loughan House Detention Centre and Eniskillen Rotary Club, has also provided prisoners in Loughan House with a new skill. Inmates carry out maintenance and repairs on the bicycles as part of their rehabilitation. The renovated bikes will be delivered to disadvantaged communities in Zambia and Gambia later this summer.

The students have taken their social development project to the Young Social Innovator’s competition. They presented their idea to over 200 people in the Lime Tree Theatre in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

Team leaders Michele McLaughin and Laura Corby say they are amazed at the reaction from the public.

“Everyday more and more people are bringing shoes and bikes to the school. The generosity of the public has been fantastic,” says Laura.

"We were inspired by our teacher, Ms Ryan, who has been doing incredible work in Zambia for the past few years and we wanted to get involved and help in whatever way we could,” she adds.

“We do projects all the time but to know that you’re also making a difference in someone’s life is completely different. A school uniform for these children is just a pair of shoes but many can’t even step inside the door without footwear. By donating old shoes children can get an education which gives them the best start in life,” says Michelle.