One bicycle makes the journey to school easier for two siblings
"My concentration is better now. I am less tired, and my results are improving."
Mapupulo, Cabo Delgado - Every day, 17-year-old Binadamo Selemane cycles home from school in Montepuez District. But he does not always make the entire journey on his bicycle.
Along the way, he looks out for his younger sister, Juana, who is walking in the opposite direction, heading to school for her afternoon classes.
"When I see my sister on the road, I give her the bicycle and walk the rest of the way home," he explains.
Binadamo, a Grade 7 student at Escola Básica de Mapupulo, attends classes in the morning, while his 13-year-old sister, Juana Pedro, who is in Grade 6, studies in the afternoon. By sharing the bicycle, both siblings can benefit from a shorter journey to school.
Originally from Mudumbi, the siblings fled their home with their family in 2020 because of the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado. They settled in a community about 10 kilometres from Escola Básica de Mapupulo, where they have continued their education despite the long journey.
Before receiving the bicycle, Binadamo had to wake before dawn to begin the two-hour walk to school. By the time he arrived, he was already tired, making it difficult to concentrate during lessons.
Now he cycles to school in just 30 minutes, saving an hour and a half each morning.
"My concentration is better now. I am less tired, and my results are improving," he says.
The time saved has also allowed him to help more at home and enjoy activities with his friends.
"I have more time to help my mother with cooking and housework, and more time to play football with my friends."
Binadamo also believes that cycling is safer for Juana than walking the long distance to school alone.
At Escola Básica de Mapupulo, which has 2,533 students, long journeys are a daily challenge for many children. Some live as far as 20 kilometres from the school, making it difficult to arrive on time and concentrate during lessons.
UNICEF's Bicycles for Education initiative aims to address these challenges by reducing the time and physical effort students spend travelling to school. This helps promote regular attendance, creates better conditions for learning and gives adolescents more time to study, rest and support their families.
"Before, many students arrived late because they had to walk long distances," says school director Belmiro Yahaier. "Since receiving the bicycles, students are arriving on time, sometimes even early. We have also noticed improvements in their concentration and participation in class."
In May 2026, UNICEF provided 187 bicycles to students, 92 girls and 95 boys, at Escola Básica de Mapupulo and one other Cabo Delgado school as part of a pilot initiative in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique and Mozambikes, with support from the European Union and UNICEF Regular Resources.
For Binadamo, the bicycle has made school easier to reach while giving him more time for his family, friends and studies. But he is particularly happy that his younger sister can benefit too.
"It is good to help my sister because we only have one bicycle, and it is a long walk for her," he says. "We can share it, and it helps both of us."
