The Real Heroes of Paarl – Qhubeka Charity
I think we underestimate and do not give these guys enough credit on their positive contribution they have in the Paarl community, especially for the youth.
Qhubeka Charity have for the past 6 consecutive weeks been handing out bicycles to various schools in Paarl. Of the schools are Klein Nederburg Sekonder, Paulus Joubert, New Orleans High and I am sure there are a few more. More than 2000 bicycles have been handed over to school kids, as well as safety classes and induction on road safety have been provided.
The yellow and black bicycles you see in the streets of Paarl, are all bicycles donated to the school kids of Paarl.
So who is Qhubeka Charity? – (most of this information is from their website, but for convenience I will include it below).
“Qhubeka, a Non-Profit Company, was founded in 2005. We chose the name, which means “to progress”, “to move forward”, because bicycles help people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. This means they can get where they need to go and do things that are difficult without transport, like fetching supplies, travelling to school or work, visiting a clinic, or providing emergency help after a disaster. A bicycle is a tool that helps people move forward.”
Qhubeka programmes operate on a learn-to-earn or work-to-earn basis, with all recipients committing to complete a comprehensive first-aid and road safety course by accredited training providers. Qhubeka has distributed more than 80 000bicycles via its community programmes in South Africa since its inception in 2005.
One of local farms in Paarl, Nederburg Wine Farm is home to Qhubeka’s first bicycle assembly plant in the Western Cape where a group of previously unemployed women are in charge of assembling each bicycle.
The impact these bicycles have on the youth, saving them time to do the things that kids should be doing is invaluable, and initiatives like this play a vital role in the future of our youth of Paarl and South Africa.
Qhubeka Charity – You are the real heroes of Paarl!!