One hundred and eighty children and youth in Bugesera District will benefit in a cycling initiative dubbed “Power To Pedals” that was officially launched on November 30 in Bugesera District. The one-year initiative is designed to equip children and youth aged between 11 to 20 in Bugesera district. Of those girls constitute 60 per cent with tools to build a brighter future and it is run as a collaboration between the Royal Dutch Cycling Union (KNWU), the Netherlands Embassy in Rwanda, Right To Play, Bugesera Cycling Team and the Bugesera District authorities, with potential for cycling to make a difference in impact, especially for women. ALSO READ: Rwandan young women cyclists chasing 2025 World Championship dream The primary focus of Power To Pedals is to promote cycling as a tool for empowerment and development, particularly in areas like the Bugesera District, where it has the potential to transform women’s lives because of its nature (plain terrain) and most women use bicycles in their day to day activities. However, a major role within Power To Pedals is reserved for the Bugesera Cycling Team (BCT). Through their cycling activities across the country, the team raises awareness on critical issues such as gender equality, resilience, and the fight against drug abuse. The initiative doesn’t just aim to promote women’s cycling in general. Instead, it emphasizes regions where cycling can make a meaningful difference for women. Rwanda is one such place, especially as it prepares to host the World Cycling Championships in September 2025, the first time the event will take place on the African continent. During the launch event, participants engaged in a cycling clinic led by Dutch cycling legends, including Olympic gold medalist Anna van der Breggen, alongside the Bugesera Cycling Team (BCT). Held at the “Field of Dreams” in Ntarama Sector, the clinic offered hands-on training and demonstrated the power of cycling as a sport for development. Van der Breggen, is a professional cyclist with a decorated career including Gold in the women's road race at the 2016 Rio Olympics, four-time Giro d'Italia Femminile winner and two-time UCI Road World Champion (2018, 2020). She also competed professionally from 2009 to 2021 for teams including Rabo–Liv and SD Worx. Being her first time in the country, she affirmed that “cycling has the potential to change lives, and I’m thrilled to witness this project inspire a new generation of Rwandan cyclists, particularly young girls.” ALSO READ: Rwanda hires top European firms to organise 2025 UCI Road World Champs We are committed to strengthen the capacity of the Bugesera Cycling Team, who will implement cycling sports for development initiatives. We will provide technical training on sports for development to the team. We expect more girls to have access to regular cycling activities, said Amadou Cissé, the Country Director of Right To Play Rwanda. He noted: Through the project, we believe we will be able to increase knowledge of community leaders and parents on gender barriers and stereotypes and how to fight against them. For this project to be a success, he emphasised, we expect extensive collaboration with stakeholders which includes, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Rwanda Cycling Federation, Bugesera District and Ntarama Sector.” Mayor Richard Mutabazi of Bugesera District explained that women in Bugesera often use bicycles in their daily activities, which sets them apart as they don’t rely entirely on their husbands. This demonstrates their potential and inspired the idea of professional cycling, eventually leading to the creation of the “Bugesera Cycling Team’. “Additionally, the Gasore Serge Foundation, through its “Field of Dreams” initiative, will play an important role in supporting the “Power To Pedals” program, through providing a dedicated space for training (pump track, road, mechanics), equipped with essential resources, while also encouraging participants to focus on their education.” “We are fully preparing them to become future responsible Rwandans and competitive cyclists, not just locally but internationally. We also welcome children from outside Bugesera. Within a year, we aim to graduate them as skilled individuals ready to excel and eventually become professionals who can proudly represent Rwanda anywhere, anytime,” he said. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s top five female cyclists The Netherlands ambassador to Rwanda Joan Wiegman, lauded the initiative emphasizing the importance of the World Cycling Championships taking place in Africa, in Rwanda, for the first time, and the positive effect this project can have. “By involving girls and women in this project, Power To Pedals can contribute to building their self-confidence, self-esteem as well as their position in society,” Wiegman said. She added: “Sport is about so much more than competition and sporting achievements. It is also about the importance of good health and nutrition, respectful interaction with others, inclusion, the importance of functioning in a team and developing your own talents in daily life. Sport can be a positive factor for economic development, and cycling contributes to sustainability. I am really looking forward to the World Championship and am truly proud of this new partnership and our support for Power To Pedals.” Aline Uwera, 19 and senior six student, shared her perspective that “being part of this project will give me a sense of purpose and the confidence to inspire other girls in my community to dream big.” The launch day also highlighted community involvement, as participants alongside the ombudsman office delegation, they joined local residents in Umuganda (community work) in Mareba Sector. Together, they planted 24,000 agroforestry trees to promote environmental sustainability and raise awareness about anti-corruption efforts, marking the start of the nationwide campaign against corruption.
