Cycle to school with your safety vest

More than 123,000 students from rural areas, previously delayed hours to reach their schools, now do it in less time with this social program that successfully promotes the Ministry of Education in 24 regions.

The student Yahaira Reategui walked an hour and a half to attend classes at school. She is 12 and lives in the town Pinto Recodo, in the province of Lamas, San Martin region in the center. His life took a 180 degree turn when he arrived in his village the Solidarity Routes program: Rural bicycles and safety vest. Since then, the travel time was reduced to 30 minutes.

Now comes earlier, it does not miss classes and have more time to study, even to take a few laps before you start your day at school. Just as she, 123.040 students have benefited from this rural program that emerged in the VRAEM with the delivery of 2,000 bicycles. Not only they had to travel distances that students were shortened, but also motivated to continue attending classes. According to 2013 statistics INEI, a dropout rate in rural high of 8.5% between ages 13 and 19 years it is estimated.

School Management

This percentage increases in women and in areas of the Forest. Precisely, Yahaira lives in this region. Despite his young age, she has clearly not want to be another number that sad statistic. She has already chosen their profession and plans to be an environmental engineer.

“Of the 26 regions of the country, the program reaches 24. Lima and Callao are not counted because it is a purely rural program,” explains Javier Palacios, head of the Directorate General of Quality Management School.

In Cajamarca add 11,554 bikes delivered, it is the region with the greatest number. They followed Huanuco, with 10,595n and Huancavelica, with 9,895. In addition to the bicycle, each student receives a helmet, reflective tape and a maintenance kit in case you need any repairs. Another interesting point of the program is that bicycles are delivered on loan to schools targeted by UGELs, but principals and parents decide what children need these vehicles.

In the Ayacucho region, Solidarias routes are powerful. It operates with resounding success in the town center Sachabamba, Ayahuanco district, province of Huanta. Victor live there and Jefferson high school students from a public school. They no longer reach their school with dusty shoes. The bicycle has become a vital tool in their lives. “I come like studying, after doing my exercises and have fun with my friends,” says Victor, while Jefferson points out, shy smile, she loves the races that make their way to school.

Responsibility

Preference is given to those living in remote areas. “We take note that the road is not high traffic area, mining intervention, lofty, nor has precipices” emphasizes Palacios. He adds that this year will only receive bicycles high school students.

The idea is that each student be responsible for one and then return it to the school at the end of the school year, thus becoming a chain of solidarity with pedals. These days, in the hall of the Ministry of Education portraits of students who have benefited from this social program are displayed.

Data

Solidarias routes come this year to 123.040 students, affecting nearly 10% of school rural population of Peru, considered by almost a million and through school.

Bicycles bought 60,000 and 50,000 private providers to microentrepreneurs.

The distances between homes and schools children may mean 1 to 3 hours away. In 2015 the number of bicycle and reflective vest delivery compared to other years quadrupled. This work will continue.