21 May Ulidia ‘Help Break the Cycle of Poverty’
Established ten years ago, The Adsum Foundation are a Belfast based charity investing in people and communities in the developing world, with a focus on Madagascar. Engaging pupils in Northern Ireland with their peers in Madagascar has been part of their work over the past few years alongside Eco-Schools Northern Ireland.
Since 2015, Adsum have overseen a twinning project between Ulidia Integrated College in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland and Lycee Pole in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar. As the friendship between these two schools continues, Ulidia Integrated College are taking another step towards making a tangible difference in Madagascar.
Last year, through the fundraising efforts of Year 10 pupils, Adsum were able to drill a borehole well for Ambalamanenjana village and primary school in the highlands of rural Madagascar. This year pupils at Ulidia are taking up the challenge of helping to break the cycle of poverty in Madagascar, through the gift of bikes.
Water, education and basic healthcare are sparse, particularly in rural communities in Madagascar. Marketplaces, workplaces and other income opportunities can be significant distances away from home. Weather conditions can make these journeys more burdensome, whether in scorching heat or through the rainy season. Adsum’s Bike Aid Madagascar project was thus set up to provide locals with a means to reach these essential places in a timely manner.
Ulidia Integrated College are acting as an ambassador for Bike Aid by running a ReCYCLE campaign this term to promote the need for bikes, as well as being a local collection point for people to drop off bikes.
Members of the wider community are being asked to bring old bicycles to Ulidia Integrated College on 25th May and 5th June to be recycled. Bicycles of all sizes and conditions are welcomed; older bicycles can be used for parts to upcycle bicycles.
Both Uidia Integrated College and Adsum Foundation are asking all members of the local community to get behind Ulidia and support the ReCYCLE campaign.
“It’s exciting to be able to build upon our relationship with Ulidia and the local community in this way. The continued success of our bike project is a direct result of the huge impact previously donated bikes have had on rural communities in Madagascar. Bikes can easily gather dust at home so for pupils, staff, parents and their wider connections to have a straightforward and tangible way to make a difference in Madagascar is what the power of collaboration is all about.”
“This is an exciting project for Ulidia to have taken on: The project will reduce waste in our local community and also enable the Carrickfergus community to further support the Madagascar community. Bicycles donated to the campaign will be serviced and shipped to Madagascar where they will provide important and appropriate transportation solutions.”
For more information on the Bike Aid project:
www.adsumfoundation.org/bikes
028 9044 6361
For more information on Ulidia Integrated College:
www.ulidiacollege.com
028 93358500