Students at the Wilson Magnet High School Foundation Academy, 200 Genesee Street, are raising money to improve health care in Africa—through the use of motorcycles.

In exchange for the opportunity to be exempt from the school dress code on Thursday, April 10, students in grades 7-9 are donating $3 to benefit the non-profit organization Riders for Health. The organization provides motorcycles for doctors in Africa to help them broaden the reach of their health-care services to rural villages.

The fundraiser was the idea of Wilson Foundation 9th grade student Aja Love, who proposed it to the school’s administrative and School Based Planning teams, which approved the project.

 “Our goal is to raise $2,900 to purchase a Yamaha AG100 motorcycle for an African health-care worker, allowing them to reach thousand of people with regular health care,” said Aja, who worked with biology teacher Stephanie Monk-George to develop the idea. She determined that if 80% of the school’s 1,000 students participate, they will have raised $2,400 toward their goal. Students are also offering assistance during lunch periods to teachers and staff in exchange for further donations.

On April 10, students who have donated will wear wristbands identifying them as being exempt from the dress code, which consists of different combinations of red, black, and khaki for each grade level.

Access to regular health care is a serious issue throughout Africa. In Gambia, for example, there is one doctor for every 6,000 people, according to Riders for Health. The organization estimates that with a motorcycle, one doctor can reach up to 20,000 patients.  

More about Riders for Health: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tynto1DUMFg