SCOPE Rural Digital School
Project Bicycle Bank: Addressing the Need for Girls' Education in Rural Areas
At YPS|Jalihal, we identified a critical barrier to girls’ education in rural areas: the significant dropout rates after middle school. The reasons included the lack of government-funded high schools, prohibitive distances to schools without adequate public transportation, extreme heat conditions, and unsupportive family and social structures. To tackle these challenges, we developed an innovative solution: providing bicycles to girls to ensure they can continue their education.
Our Goal
To combat these challenges, we aimed to set up a system where girls can receive a bicycle for free in their freshman year of high school and return the bike upon graduation. These bicycles can then be repaired and passed on to incoming freshmen.
Implementation
We established a program where eligible girls receive bicycles for free from 8th grade to 10th grade, with a possible extension until 12th grade. To qualify for a bicycle, the girls must meet the following conditions:
- Utilize the Bicycle for School Commute: The girl must use the bike to travel to and from school.
- Commit to Education: The girl must attend school at least until 10th grade.
Results
Over the past couple of decades since the inception of SCOPE, YPS|Jalihal has supported over 1,200 girls. Here is one of many inspiring stories:
Miss Dipali Ganpati Yadav resides in Karewadi and comes from a poor farming family. After completing her primary schooling, her parents were hesitant to send her to secondary school as she would need to stay in a hostel at Umadi or Jath. Upon learning about the educational facilities at Yerala and the bicycle support program, she was selected for bicycle support. Dipali now happily attends a school 6 km away from her village. Her teachers report that she is performing well academically. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn in a digital school, thanks to the bicycle support.
Conclusion
The bicycle support program at YPS|Jalihal has significantly impacted the lives of many young girls, providing them with the means to continue their education and pursue their dreams. By addressing the critical issues of transportation and access to education, we are helping to create a brighter future for the girls in our community.