Olivia is cycling her way to a brighter future
Olivia is a determined young woman with dreams as vast as the open road. At just 20, she is not only honing her skills in bicycle mechanics, but has also set her sights on the upcoming World Cycling Championship, due to take place in Rwanda in September, 2025.
Orphaned at 14, Olivia found herself shouldering the responsibility of caring for her 4 younger siblings, including her little sister Joyce who is now 18. Adding to her challenges, Olivia became a teenage mother at just 15.
“I had to drop out of school to take care of the baby, I didn’t know what kind of future we would have,” she shares.
Chasing the dream
Olivia, who now lives with their elderly grandmother, joined the Bike for Future project which uses sport as a lever for education and access to employment. Here, she together with other girls receive access to technical and management training, scholarships, materials and advice to help them start a business, such as a bicycle shop or repair shop.
Today, Olivia is training to be a bicycle mechanic. “I am focused on mastering bicycle mechanics and want to become a professional cyclist,” she tells us. Her sister Joyce is also taking part in the project and is equally passionate about everything to do with bicycles.
“Cycling has united us and provided us with a sense of belonging,” says Joyce who also dropped out of school early for financial reasons. “Armed with vocational skills, we are better equipped to navigate life’s uncertainties and face the challenges of being orphaned.”
The girls are learning bicycle mechanics at the Bike for Future workshop, where they learn how to make and repair bicycles, which they sell to the local community. “The opportunity to acquire specialised skills is invaluable. It equips me with the tools to build a better future for myself and my family,” says Olivia.
Using sport for empowerment
The Bike for Future cycling team is made up of 15 girls who meet for practical training sessions twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday. The girls are currently preparing for the World Cycling Championship which is due to take place in Rwanda in September, 2025. They plan to use this platform to advocate for girls’ and women’s rights to decide their own futures.
“We want to challenge gender norms in sport and break down gender stereotypes by raising awareness in the community about the potential of girls. We want to show everyone that girls are equal to boys,” says Olivia who credits the project with teaching her about her rights.
Through cycling, girls are sharpening their team spirit, self-esteem, self-confidence and leadership skills. These are all essential skills that they can use in all circumstances, social or professional. “I want to become a professional cyclist,” says Olivia. “This project has given me the belief that I am capable of achieving my future goals. I have a new sense of purpose and hope.”
“Cycling has united us and provided us with a sense of belonging,”
Joyce
“Armed with vocational skills, we are better equipped to navigate life’s uncertainties and face the challenges of being orphaned.”
The Bike for Future project is being implemented Rwanda’s Gatsibo and Bugesera districts by our local partner Learn Work Develop with the support of Plan International. The project aims to empower girls and young women through the sports for change approach, challenge gender stereotypes with community support, and secure private sector commitment to engage youth in their respective sectors.
During its first cohort, the project has welcomed 30 girls as part of the Bike for Future cycling team. The young women are also engaged in vocational skills training, choosing from learning skills including welding, bicycle mechanics, tailoring and information, communication and technology.
Categories: Skills and work, Youth empowerment
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