With the Bike for Children project, our aim is to have a lasting impact on the lives of children in Arnhem (a suburb of Amsterdam, Netherlands).
Over the next 5 years, we will provide at least one bicycle to 100 children in precarious situations, in collaboration with the National Fund Kinderhulp and its Arnhem intermediary, Stichting Leergeld. With Kinderhulp and the Decathlon Foundation. Decathlon Arnhem will be there for them in terms of repairs, buy-back if they need a bigger bike in the future, to introduce them to other types of sports by organizing an urban sports event and self defense lessons for the girls four times a year. The project also plans to help them reintegrate into the workforce and introduce them to the world of Decathlon. For example, they could become future interns, working for us and getting involved with our teammates to regularly check what we can do to make a bigger impact.
Mario, Social Impact Manager at Decathlon Amsterdam Growing up in the Netherlands means growing up with a bicycle. We're a very small country, but with lots of people and even more bikes. I myself grew up with a bicycle, and I never felt it was a privilege. I never thought about the fact that cycling gave me freedom, independence, self-confidence and happiness. When I learned that one in twelve children in the Netherlands, and even one in eight in Arnhem, do not grow up with a bicycle, I was immediately touched. Many parties in the Netherlands are already working on a solution to this problem, but I'm sure we can play a part too. In Arnhem, the project is co-created with Sportbedrijf Arnhem, which will provide children with cycling lessons to enable them to get around safely. Stichting Leergeld takes care of communication and administration with parents at local level and, at national level, the Nationaal Fonds Kinderhulp. In May, together with our employees and customers, we took part in the "bike for children" action. This fund-raising action enabled us to see that the community is very keen to help these children. With the help of the Decathlon Foundation, we can reach even more children. In 2021 and at least the next 5 years, our goal is to help at least 100 children in Arnhem, not only to have a bike, but also to help them discover all the benefits and fun a bike can bring to your life ."
Niek, running department manager "I'm not going to tell you that I'm taking part in this project because I grew up in poverty, that's not true. We weren't rich, but we had what we needed. Enough to go to a good school, enough to eat healthily, enough to go on vacation and enough to play sport. I'm involved in this project because I'm grateful for the opportunities I had as a child, and my personal motivation is to give those opportunities to children who are less fortunate. During my internship with the Arnhem municipality, I saw the sad stories of their neighborhoods, and because of my deep connection to my hometown of Arnhem, I'm more than happy that, thanks to this project, we can make a (small) difference for these children."
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