Bicycles for Learning Project

In all countries, a good education is the key to long-term success in life.

In Vietnam, many students in rural and regional areas travel over 10 kilometres, each way, to reach their secondary schools. They travel over tracks only suitable for walking, bicycles or motorbikes.

Students from poor families cannot afford a bicycle, and so must walk. They can spend over five hours walking each day, which is too much for many students. So, they leave school.

Westside, in co-operation with the schools in the Da Nang region and the Vietnamese Department of Education and Training, has a program which donates bicycles to children from poor families so they can continue their education. To be eligible for a bicycle, a child must also perform well academically, and have excellent school attendance.

Outside of school hours, the bicycle is also used by the child’s family to help them earn a living. For example, they can take food for sale in a market.

So, the gift of a bicycle helps an entire family, not just the child.

In 2020-21, Westside donated over 170 bicycles, at a cost of $100/bicycle.

In 2021-22 Westside provided funding for the purchase and delivery of more than 330 bicycles to the selected students. Of these, individual donors funded 15 bicycles. Ten bicycles were funded by money raised by Milton Brisbane State School students. Their support and compassion is greatly appreciated.  

In 2022-23, Westside donated 270 bicycles to 270 disadvantaged students from 23 secondary schools in 30 locations in the Da Nang region. Of these bicycles, 22 were donated by Milton Brisbane State School students. Their support and compassion is greatly appreciated.

In 2023-24, Westside will be providing almost 400 bicycles to disadvantaged students of Junior High Schools in the rural and mountainous areas of the Da Nang region. But the need is there for many more.