In addition to building homes we strive to improve the quality of life by supporting a school for disadvantaged students who might otherwise not get an education. The school is in one of the colonias situated on a small plot of land, maybe 15 meters by 15 meters, and is a protected oasis of learning, safety and fun for the local children. It is a magical place and we look forward to every visit.
One of our volunteers and board member, Doug Hoffman, is also one of the founders of the San Diego Bicycle Collective and has been bringing bicycles for the children at the school and surrounding areas. His goal is to provide a bicycle for every one of our students. On most Fridays you can find him at the school working with Nacho, one of our Mexican crew, helping to teach an English class.
This past Friday two more bikes were distributed to the students and now every child who attends the optional Friday English class has a bike of their own. The morning ended with a few “carreras de bicicletas” (bicycle races) around a dirt road track near the school. It was a perfect way to end the school day with a little speed and much laughter as a new winner was crowned after each race. 🙂
These bicycles mean a lot to the students and provide a means of transportation to the school each day as well as a healthy outlet for exploring their world and getting in some exercise.
