Hundreds of secondary school students in Meatu District are benefiting from a bicycle programme aimed at reducing the distance they travel to school and improving punctuality and attendance.
The Friedkin Conservation Fund (FCF), in partnership with Mwiba Holdings Ltd, has provided 400 bicycles to students from Ming’ongwa, Butuli, Bulyandulu and Mwangudo villages, who attend Busangwa, Paji and Mwangudo secondary schools.
The programme, which started in 2023, targets students living far from school, including those travelling through areas where encounters with wildlife can be a concern.
Speaking at the Meatu District NGO Forum on Thursday, September 17, FCF Beekeeping Projects Officer Baraka Mabula said the initiative was designed not only to ease students’ daily journeys but also to support education outcomes in the district.
“This project helps students, particularly those who live far from school, but it is also intended to contribute to improved academic performance in the district,” Mr Mabula said.
The bicycles have been distributed to 400 students—188 boys and 212 girls—with the programme including regular maintenance to keep them operational.
Under the arrangement, students return the bicycles to their schools after completing Form Four, allowing the schools to allocate them to new students.
The model is intended to make the programme sustainable by ensuring the same bicycles continue benefiting successive groups of students rather than remaining with individual beneficiaries after graduation.
Beyond the bicycle programme, FCF also provides scholarships for students pursuing university and college education as well as Form Five and Six studies.
Mr Mabula said 82 students—50 boys and 32 girls—had received scholarships under the Friedkin Scholarship Award programme by 2026.
Acting Meatu District Executive Director Protas Dibogo commended Mwiba Holdings and Friedkin for supporting education and other community development initiatives.
“The Meatu District Council will continue supporting our investors and civil society organisations so that you can achieve your objectives,” he said.
Kisesa MP Musa Godfrey Mbuga also praised the organisations for their contribution, while calling for the bicycle and scholarship programmes to be expanded to reach more students.
Mwiba Holdings Ltd began its tourism investment in the Mwiba Makao Game Controlled Area after the company was established in 2008.
From January 2024, the company expanded its tourism operations into the Maswa Game Reserve after securing a 20-year agreement with the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) to conduct tourism activities.
FCF is a registered charitable organisation that implements community development initiatives on behalf of Mwiba Holdings in communities surrounding the Maswa Game Reserve.
The bicycle programme comes as communities and development partners increasingly seek practical ways of addressing barriers that can affect access to secondary education, particularly for students living in remote areas.
