Cycling for Ghana: Dr. Binder fights for better school education!

Cycling for Ghana: Dr. Binder fights for better school education!

Cycling for a good cause – Dr. Marta Binder from Warendorf is passionate about supporting schools in Ghana. She has been collecting donations since 2013 and has already collected an impressive sum of 370,000 euros. Her goal for 2023: to reach 400,000 euros through her tireless bike tours. This is no easy task, as she plans to cover at least 1,000 kilometers more on her bike by the end of the year - that equates to an impressive total of over 50,000 kilometers, of which she has already covered 4,600 kilometers this year.

The donations collected flow into microloans for private schools in Ghana, often referred to as microschools. These special schools are aimed at lower-income families who can often only pay what they can afford. Since government-supported schools in Ghana are very overcrowded and large classes with more than 50 students are not uncommon, financing through microcredits is an important help. In one particularly unfortunate case, one school did not even have chalk for lessons for three months.

A personal drive

Dr. After the tragic loss of her son Jan in 2011, Binder is motivated to continue the projects he supports. Jan worked for the Opportunity International foundation, which supports school projects in Africa. This foundation brings an important commitment to the region by providing microcredits to schools and thus improving living conditions. Although school attendance is compulsory in Ghana, the reality in public schools often leaves much to be desired; Many classes are in poor condition and hardly offer the necessary resources.

On her travels to Ghana, Dr. Marta Binder experience the progress live. On her second visit she noticed positive changes in an excellent school supported by her initiative. Every year it also presents the Jan Binder Award, which is given to schools with exemplary conditions. The prize amounts vary between 500 and 1,500 euros and, among other things, support school gardens in which children learn to grow vegetables and separate waste.

Three accidents, but no giving up

The challenges that Anita Binder had to overcome also included three serious accidents. Luckily for her, she didn't suffer any broken bones, but she strongly recommends that all cyclists wear a helmet. Safety should always be your top priority, especially on long journeys in unfamiliar terrain.

The support for initiatives like those of Dr. Binder is central to improving education and quality of life in Ghana. Organizations such as the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation work closely with such projects and promote microcredit as an effective way to combat poverty and empower women in rural areas. This support has proven crucial and lays the foundation for a better future.

As the European Investment Bank shows, sustainable development projects are essential to achieve long-term success. With the right support and a strong community, positive development can be promoted in many regions of Africa.