A new initiative, Bike for Future, backed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and implemented by Plan International Rwanda, is helping girls gain vocational skills, launch small businesses, and compete in sport.
Launched in January 2024, the project is part of the wider Sport, Education and Livelihoods in Africa programme, which supports 28 initiatives across 14 countries.
In Rwanda, the focus is on using cycling to improve employability among girls and young women, particularly those facing barriers to education and work.
Through the programme, participants receive training in trades like bicycle mechanics, welding, tailoring, and electrical work, along with toolkits and financial literacy support to help them start their own businesses.
Two all-girls cycling teams have also been formed, giving young athletes the chance to train, compete, and aim for national and international events.
For 16-year-old Amina, the programme has been a turning point. Once unable to pursue her dream of becoming a professional cyclist, she now competes at the national level and hopes to represent Rwanda at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
'Girls need spaces to showcase their potential. Winning challenging cycling competitions has made me stronger, more hardworking and determined,' said Amina.
'I dream of representing my country in international competitions to inspire more girls to follow their dreams.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, one in four young people globally is not in education, employment, or training. The IOC's Olympism365 strategy addresses this challenge by mobilising sport to foster youth education, job creation, and social engagement.
Bike for Future is one of more than 550 IOC-supported initiatives worldwide designed to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Beyond Rwanda, the IOC is also backing similar programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean.
One such model, Campeonas 2.4, operates in Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina. It combines football training for more than 400 girls with education on gender equality, digital literacy, including technology and AI skills, and vocational guidance, particularly in indigenous and rural communities. These interventions encompass health education with a focus on sexual and reproductive rights, preparing participants for broader societal participation.
The successes of Bike for Future, Campeonas 2.4, and other community-based sport initiatives will be showcased at the invitation-only Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, taking place from 3 to 5 June in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The summit will bring together representatives from the Olympic Movement, UN agencies, development finance institutions, and civil society to share best practices and secure commitments towards leveraging sport as a powerful developmental tool.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
