The Trees for Bikes project has so far delivered about 3,000 bicycles in the Esikhawini and Dube areas of Richards Bay, creating the ‘tree-preneur' kids. In return for planting 100 indigenous trees, each child can earn a bicycle. The costs are covered by donations. In the process, the transportation needs of children are met and awareness of the environment encouraged.

Qhubeka, a non-profit organisation, was started in 2005 by Axiz, an IT infrastructure distributor, and is supported by the Wildlands Conservation Trust, Richards Bay Coal Terminal and BHP Billiton.

Axiz Marketing Manager Aldean Prior explained that over 500,000 school children in South Africa, mostly in rural areas, walked more than two hours to school every day. She said many lived 10 kilometres or more from school, which translated into a walk of up to four hours. Using a bicycle, this could be reduced by half. “To enable these children to join the mainstream economy, it is essential to improve their access to education and address rudimentary issues such as their means of transport to and from school.”