A FATHER’S SUPPORT
Luisa Ramos is somewhat of an anomaly. She’s 16, married, living at home and still attending school. Read on to learn why.
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Maximo is a certified motorcycle mechanic with a strong reputation in the Uraba region of Colombia, South America. He and his wife closed their shop in town. They moved their family to a rural location, where they have much less overhead and more freedom to work on their own terms.
Deeply invested in his new community, Maximo stepped up as a leader and joined the Supervisory Committee for the Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP) at his daughter Luisa’s school. Maximo thinks the Buffalo Bicycle is beautiful. He also regards the goal to provide students with access to education as very important. He believes in the BEEP model, which holds students accountable for attendance in order to keep their bicycles. “It’s useful in helping the children keep up their end of the deal, he says, the rules are very important.”
THE WAY TO SCHOOL
The route that children travel to school in this area is lined with banana plantations as far as the eye can see. Generally, children ride a free bus to school which seats about 40 passengers. However, during harvest seasons (4-5 times a year), there’s an influx of field hands who travel this same route each day and rely on the same bus. If the bus driver looks the other way, the passenger count can easily reach 100.
Luisa Ramos attends school from 6:30am to 12:30pm. Yet during harvest periods, she has to wait until 9:30pm to board the very crowded, very late bus for her ride home.
Luisa thinks the bicycle is a much safer option. Though, in the beginning, her friends were not in agreement. In fact, they were uncertain and initially backed out of the bicycle program at their school. While she humbly claims no leadership, Luisa does understand mobility on two wheels due to her father’s profession. Her peers listened to the school’s headmaster, but it was Luisa, who ultimately convinced them to accept the program and stay in school. Why is Luisa so committed to education?
FATHERS BELIEVING IN DAUGHTERS
Like many young women can do, Luisa fell in love – with a soldier. They got married. Many girls leave school once they marry, but not Luisa. She knew her father believed in her. Maximo told his daughter of his dream for her to go to university and finish her studies. When he learned of Luisa’s marriage, clever man that he is, Maximo gave his approval on one condition: she would continue her commitment to completing her education. Luisa’s husband moved into their home, and Luisa is now in the process of selecting a path in graphic design, nursing or medicine. She says, “I can count on my father for his support in whatever I choose.”
