Donate used bikes to help 'break the cycle' of poverty

Pictured are Sandra Patterson, Head of Geography, Ulidia Integrated College; Gavin Lonergan, Director; Adsum Foundation; Sue Christie, Deputy Chair; Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful; Kyna Ku, Chairperson; Ulidia Eco Team, and Ulidia Eco Team members.

Established ten years ago, The Adsum Foundation are a Belfast based charity investing in people and communities in the developing world, with a focus on Madagascar.

Engaging pupils in Northern Ireland with their peers in Madagascar has been part of their work over the past few years alongside Eco-Schools Northern Ireland.

Since 2015, Adsum have overseen a twinning project between Ulidia Integrated College in Carrickfergus and Lycee Pole in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar.

As the friendship between these two schools continues, Ulidia are taking another step towards making a tangible difference in Madagascar.

Last year, through the fundraising efforts of Year 10 pupils, Adsum were able to drill a borehole well for Ambalamanenjana village and primary school in the highlands of rural Madagascar.

This year pupils at Ulidia are taking up the challenge of helping to break the cycle of poverty in Madagascar, through the gift of bikes.

Water, education and basic healthcare are sparse, particularly in rural communities in Madagascar. Marketplaces, workplaces and other income opportunities can be significant distances away from home. Weather conditions can make these journeys more burdensome, whether in scorching heat or through the rainy season.

Adsum’s Bike Aid Madagascar project was set up to provide locals with a means to reach these essential places in a timely manner.

Ulidia are acting as an ambassador for Bike Aid by running a ReCYCLE campaign this term to promote the need for bikes, as well as being a local collection point for people to drop off bikes.

Members of the wider community are being asked to bring old bicycles to Ulidia Integrated College on May 25 and June 5 to be recycled.

“This is an exciting project for Ulidia to have taken on," said Sandra Patterson, Head of Geography at Ulidia.

"The project will reduce waste in our local community and also enable the Carrickfergus community to further support the Madagascar community. Bicycles donated to the campaign will be serviced and shipped to Madagascar where they will provide important and appropriate transportation solutions.”