Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Over 1,000 students from nine community schools in Madhesh Province received bicycles under the International Bicycle Project, supported by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD).
According to a statement issued by the CFRD, 504 students from five schools in Bara district and 496 students from four schools in Parsa district have benefited from the project which aims to address the challenges of access to education for children in rural areas.
Deputy Mayor of Birgunj Municipality Imtiyaz Alam, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Counselor of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China Wang Xin, Member Secretary of Social Welfare Council Manoj Bhatta and Country Director of CFRD Nepal Office Zhou Zhiqiang attended the handover ceremony of 200 bicycles at Shree Narisingh Secondary School at Pipramath in Birgunj-14 on Monday.
Officials from the local government, partner NGO Health Concern, school staffs and SMC members, media personnel and beneficiary children were also present on the occasion, according to the statement.
Speaking on the occasion, CFRD Country Director Zhiqiang said that the CRDF and Hello Inc have cooperated since 2021 to jointly launch the International Love Bicycle Project. “By the end of 2024, a total of 6,024 love bicycles have been donated to Laos and Cambodia. Nepal is the third country where the International Love Bicycle Project has been implemented through the donation of 1,000 love bicycles in Madhesh province in 2024 and will receive an additional 1,000 donations in 2025, she added.
She added that CFRD has contributed significantly in Nepal benefiting over 740,000 people through total investment of $13.22 million.
Also speaking on the occasion, Deputy Mayor Alam praised the initiative and thanked contributing institutions and individuals for the substantial donation on behalf of the municipality and the local people. “The support will enable students to attend classes more regularly and on time, improving academic performance and overall learning outcomes,” he added.
Deputy Chief of Mission Wang said that the support would be highly beneficial to support children to shorten their travel time to school and also promote the concept of green and low-carbon travel. “I hope that children will carry love and hope, striving to make good progress in study and realize their dream of career development and serve their country,” he added.
Likewise, Zhou Jian, head of Hello Ride’s public relations, stated that the event is not just a simple material donation but a part of their corporate social responsibility with practical actions. “This support not only carries love and care but also symbolizes our pursuit of a better life and our persistence in public welfare,” he added.
