Recycled Bicycles Change Lives of Poor Students in Central Vietnam

Scores of bicycles are thrown away or lie unused in warehouses in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, whereas many local students have no access to any kind of transport due to poverty. Hue Facebook (HFB), a local charity, has launched a project called “Bicycles of Love,” which sends bicycles they collect from philanthropists to students in need. In late July this year, HFB members collected 50 bicycles and restored them before sending them on to poor students with good academic results in Phong Dien District. Hoang Thi Diep, a fourth-grade student at Phong Thu Elementary School in Phong Dien District, was among the beneficiaries of the project. Diep is the youngest child of a poor farming family. Diep said she found it hard to sleep the day before she was awarded a new bicycle. “This bicycle is my life-long dream,” the young girl shared. To collect these bicycles, HFB members called on locals to donate their unused or old bicycles to the project. Van Cong Binh, deputy chairman of the Phong Dien People’s Committee, greatly appreciates the importance of the project. “This project not only brings happiness to them [the poor students], but also encourages them to overcome difficulties for a better life. We hope the project will be expanded to other localities and other beneficiaries,” Binh said. “The project will not end at 50 bicycles. We hope we will get more bicycles for the second phase. Poor laborers will be another group of beneficiaries,” said Nguyen Cong Son, the leader of “Bicycles of Love.” (http://tuoitrenews.vn/ Sept 1)