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Qhubeka

Qhubeka Project
From Qhubeka.org: Most of Africa’s rural population have no access to transport and people have to walk long distances to access opportunity, education, healthcare, shops and community services. Rural schoolchildren are particularly badly affected by lack of mobility. In South Africa, of the 16 million school going children, 12 million walk to school. Of these, 500,000 walk more than two hours each way, spending four hours getting to and back from school each day. Bicycles are the most effective and economical method of quickly addressing this problem.

Today, I want to tell you about Qhubeka. Qhubeka is a South-Africa based volunteer organization aim to help rural communities move forward and progress by giving bicycles to children in return for work done to improve their environment and their community.

Qhubeka is an Nguni (Zulu, Xhosa) word that means “to carry on”, “to progress”, “to move forward”.

Qhubeka Project
From Qhubeka.org: Most of Africa’s rural population have no access to transport and people have to walk long distances to access opportunity, education, healthcare, shops and community services. Rural schoolchildren are particularly badly affected by lack of mobility. In South Africa, of the 16 million school going children, 12 million walk to school. Of these, 500,000 walk more than two hours each way, spending four hours getting to and back from school each day. Bicycles are the most effective and economical method of quickly addressing this problem.
  • More than 100,000 bikes distributed since 2004
  • Child’s commute to school reduced by 75%
  • Sports Infrastructure cost per child reduced by 90%
  • Micro-finance loan recipient earnings increased by 500%
  • Healthcare worker OVC visits increased by 400%
Steve Cummings (MTN-Qhubeka) wins Tour de France 2015 stage 14

Related: MTN-Qhubeka continues to make history at the Tour de France 2015

Team MTN-Qhubeka (Powered by Samsung)

Team MTN-Qhubeka
Team MTN-Qhubeka is Africa’s first UCI Professional Continental Team.

MTN Qhubeka (UCI Team Code: MTN) is Africa’s most winning and largest multi-discipline pro cycle race team. The team was founded in 2007, becoming a Continental Team in 2008. The team remained as a UCI Continental Team until the end of the 2012 season, with the team registering its interest for a Professional Continental licence for 2013. In November 2012, the team were registered as a Professional Continental team – Africa’s first – by the Union Cycliste Internationale, for the 2013 season.

The talented athletes in Team MTN race to build exposure for Qhubeka’s rural initiatives and ride to inspire potential new athletes within the community of Qhubeka bike recipients.

MTN Group is a South Africa-based multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African and Middle Eastern countries.

Team MTN-Qhubeka TV Advert
Qhubeka is an Nguni (Zulu, Xhosa) word that means “to carry on”, “to progress”, “to move forward”
Qhubeka projects aim to help rural communities move forward and progress by giving bicycles to children in return for work done to improve their environment and their community.
Team MTN-Qhubeka is Africa’s most winning and largest multi-discipline pro cycle race team. The talented athletes in Team MTN race to build exposure for Qhubeka’s rural initiatives and ride to inspire potential new athletes within the community of Qhubeka bike recipients.

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres
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By M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer, a former road racing cyclist (at the amateur level), and a science enthusiast. Also an animal lover! I write about cycling on this website, cycling-passion.com. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. Please consider supporting me on Patreon.

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