Got an Old Cycle? Join Us in Giving Wheels to the Dreams of 100 Needy Students

For those who come from privileged backgrounds, the daily commute to school and back home is never much of a worry. From private vehicles to exclusive school buses, most of us have travelled in a level of comfort that continues to remain a dream for countless children across India.

Not every child in India has this privilege. There are thousands of kids who travel many kilometres every day to reach their schools while switching between different modes of transport. And then there are those who can’t afford even a cycle and instead walk for hours.

Understanding the predicament of countless children from underprivileged sections of society, one Bengaluru organisation launched a unique initiative in 2015, that now provides not only ease of access to school but also freedom of mobility to students.

Freedom Pedals is a first-of-its-kind initiative by Anvaya Foundation, a non-profit organisation where used cycles are sourced, repaired and then donated to kids from government schools and orphanages within the city limits.

It all began when Sampath Ramanujam, the founder of Anvaya Foundation, came across a young girl playing with an old cycle that didn’t have a bell, brake or even a seat, during a family trip to Kaiwara.

“Shaila probably had been six or seven at that time. Sitting on the carrier seat, she had been playing with the dilapidated cycle. That incident left a lasting impact which eventually led to this idea. Many of us have cycles that we have either outgrown or can’t use anymore owing to lack of space. Instead of rusting away to waste in the corner of one’s house, why not make these better for those who could actually have a use for them,” he says to The Better India.

To support the cause by donating a cycle you can either reach out to [email protected] or call Sampath at 9663033699.

An avid cyclist, Sampath also works as a general secretary for housing apartments across Mahadevapura. Putting these positions together, he decided to circulate Shaila’s picture across his known circle of friends and acquaintances, calling for those who wished to contribute to the cause in some way or the other.

Not only did the idea find support, Sampath even managed to source out four cycles that were duly repaired and made fit for use. “The first cycle was obviously donated to the little girl, who paved the way for ‘Freedom Pedals’,” he adds.

Freedom Pedals slowly caught momentum with more people, in the form of convenors and donators, coming on board to support the initiative.

From 38 cycles in the second year to a total of 220 cycles last year, Freedom Pedals has been giving children from underprivileged fractions of Bengaluru not just a mode of transport of their own but also a reason to smile.

To help this cause reach wider circles and help fulfil more dreams, The Better India is teaming up with Anvaya Foundation to source out 100 cycles that will reach needy children across Bengaluru. You can also join us and be part of this amazing initiative that will help these kids commute to their schools without any more travel worries.

To support the cause by donating a cycle you can either reach out to [email protected] or call Sampath at 9663033699.

(Edited By Vinayak Hegde)

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