Social Issue

Rimkieta has an extension of about 60 km² in which some 90,000 people live without any form of public transport to get around. Walking long distances to go to school, with temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees for eight months a year, causes fatigue and is a waste of time for children, leading to a high school dropout rate. Women also frequently walk four to six kilometres a day to fetch water, to buy corn or firewood for cooking, or to grind corn.

Our Response

The project facilitates the purchase of 250 bicycles in the Rimkieta region (Ouagadougou) to solve the displacement problem caused by the lack of adequate means of transportation. The Friends of Rimkieta Foundation (FAR) has the policy of not giving away, but “facilitating” the purchase of a bicycle with a subsidy of 50% of its price. The repair and maintenance are also included in the aid.

Expected Social Impact

We understand by “project beneficiaries” the entire family unit, particularly children and women. By providing a bicycle to children, mobility is avoided as a cause of dropping out of school, contributing directly to their education. For adults, the bicycle reduces the time and effort required to carry out their daily tasks and opens new employment opportunities. Having a bicycle allows them to move further and have greater access to the labour market.

Normally two or more people from each family use the bicycle daily, so it is estimated that the beneficiaries of this project are more than 500.