Africa-Press – Kenya. A group of boda boda riders in Ndhiwa have raised Sh350,000 to support the education of their children as schools reopen for the third term.
The Canaan Boda Boda Self-Help Group came up with the idea to spread the burden of looking for school fees.
The riders hail from South Kabuoch ward, Ndhiwa constituency.
The group which started in 2020 as a self-help group wanted to change the perception that they have to seek financial assistance from politicians to support their childrens’ education.
The group chairman Joseph Odhiambo said they came up with the idea because they never wanted their children to stay home with them due lack of fees as schools reopen.
“We wanted to help and relieve each other of the burden of paying school fees alone. The idea has now made us not to beg politicians to pay for our children’s school fees,” Odhiambo said.
The group has 99 members and each contributed at least Sh3,000. Some were solicited from their friends.
Odhiambo said they managed to raise Sh350,000 which will benefit 63 students.
Beneficiaries were drawn from three sublocations of Kawuor, Kobita and Karading in the South Kabuoch ward.
“We chose the beneficiaries based on the level of need,” the chairman said.
The group secretary Lucy Omollo said they want to change the perception that riders are beggars and criminals.
She said the initiative will have an impact on the lives of beneficiaries and communities in South Kabuoch.
“We chose to invest in education because that is where the future of our children lies,” Omollo said.
Kobita sublocation assistant chief Joshua Osuju said the move is likely to eradicate social vices that threaten the education of teenage girls and boys in South Kabuoch.
Some children engage in drug abuse and premature sex which contribute to high teen pregnancies.
“Many children are predisposed to risk of getting into criminal activities when they don’t go to school. The initiative will help the children remain in school,” Osuju said.
Some of the beneficiaries of the programme could not hide their joy after they were given cheques to pay fees.
Melvin Awuor, a student said the money will help her clear the fee balance and concentrate on academic studies.
“My father is a rider and my mother is a peasant farmer and both have been struggling to raise funds to educate me. The funds I have received today will cover part of my school fees,” Awuor said.
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