Goals

Problem statement:

Two public schools function in the town of Lagodekhi. The distance between the schools isn’t too big, but the town itself is constructed in such a way that some pupils who go to public school #3 need much more time to get to this school than to the other school. This is why we have decided to plan this project for school #3. Majority of the pupils go to school on foot, whereas from far away children and teenagers come by transport. However, in the morning hours the central roads leading to school are so overcrowded that it is not convenient at all to move by a private car or school bus, when it is possible to move faster and more conveniently by the type of transport which is much more ecologically safe and useful for health - bicycle.But the pupils cannot go to school by bicycle due to one reason. There is no bicycle parking space at school where they would be able to park their bicycles in a sunny as well as rainy weather.
Before preparing the presented ideas, I spoke with the pupils of public school #3 - from the second through the twelfth grades inclusive. My goal was to find out how important and necessary it is for them to create a relevant environment at school. Currently there are 416 pupils in this school. 50 of them were interviewed on the basis of random sampling. According to the pupils, they would really enjoy riding bicycles to school and it would also contribute to establishing a healthy lifestyle. However, since there is no environment safe enough to park bicycles, they restrain from using them. Moreover, I discovered 8 children in the school, who go to school by bicycle despite lack of the relevant conditions. But they park their bicycles either in the yards of neighboring families they know, or in the lower part of the staircase of the school first floor, which can contain only two bicycles. Unfortunately, no one can leave a bicycle in the yard due to fear of damage or stealing.

How will your initiative achieve/contribute to this change?

In order to contribute to establishing a healthy lifestyle among pupils, to make the process of going to school pleasant and joyful, we need to arrange a parking space for bicycles in the school yard which occupies quite a large area. The parking space will be intended for at least 50 places and will be protected from the sun as well as rain. The school administration is actively interested in solving this issue. Pupils often address the school administration with the request to create a parking space. The pupils’ parents also express their readiness and think that they can let their children outside of home by bicycle, which will save their time and also will contribute to the healthy lifestyle of their children. At the same time their property - bicycle, will be protected from being damaged. If needed, consent letter of the parents as well as the school administration will be presented to the fund. The construction intended for the bicycle parking will be arranged on posts installed on the base and a simple construction of tube-squares will be welded and then covered with a metal-tile roof. The bicycles placed in it will be attached with a parking brake cable and a lock. The bicycle parking place will be flattened with a concrete cover.

What will happen to your initiative and to the purchases?

As a result, in the yard of Lagodekhi school #3, on the territory of 65 square meters wide, a covered construction of a simple bicycle parking will be arranged, which will be used by 50 pupils of the school. Gender balance will be kept among the beneficiaries, which will be ensured by the school administration every day. In order to encourage the pupils and promote a healthy lifestyle, in case the project is funded, after the completion of the activities, a cycling marathon will be organized for the pupils of school #3. Tamar Mumladze, the author of the idea, will take the responsibility for successful implementation of the project; she is obliged to create a parking space in the yard of school #3, justified and described by the project - with a simple iron construction and a roof. After its completion the created infrastructure, on the basis of Receipt and Delivery Act will be transferred to the administration of school #3, which will take the responsibility for its maintenance. For example, to paint the iron construction from time to time, etc. During the preparation of the project I had an active communication with the school administration. Consequently, if needed, the consent letter of the school administration will be presented about allocation of the appropriate space and maintenance of the arranged infrastructure.

How will initiative provide equal opportunity for men and women?

The school where the implementation of the project is planned, is situated in the town of Lagodekhi, on Chavcahavdze street #49. It is LEPL public school #3 of Lagodekhi, which currently has 416 pupils, including 219 girls and 197 boys. 30 % of the pupils represent ethnic minorities (Armenians, Russians, Azeris). The implemented project will equally benefit girls as well as boys, because a bicycle is a very popular means of transportation in Lagodekhi, and it is equally available to children and teenagers of both genders.  The school administration will actively ensure equal accessibility, will constantly watch the process of occupation and usage of the parking.