Wheels of Change: Bicycles Empower Child Parliamentarians to Defend Children’s Rights in DRC

By Didier Nagifi, Communications Officer

In the outskirts of Kinshasa, where long distances and poor road conditions often discourage community engagement, a simple bicycle can become a powerful tool for social transformation. With this in mind, World Vision DRC distributed 45 bicycles as a Gift In Kind (GIK) to child parliamentarians from its three program areas: Menkao (15 bicycles), Maluku (15 bicycles), and Ngandu (15 bicycles).

Among the recipients were Grace and Liévin, two young leaders from Menkao, each of whom received a bicycle. What they’ve accomplished with it has gone far beyond expectations.

Since receiving her bicycle, Grace has been riding through the narrow streets of Menkao with determination. She visits families, raises awareness about children’s rights, and supports efforts to register births.

 “With this bicycle, I can go further into my community to raise awareness among families. When I help a child get a birth certificate, I feel like I’m changing their life. It makes me proud,” shares Grace, 16, child parliamentarian in Menkao.

Liévin, also a child parliamentarian in Menkao, joined Grace on a special mission: helping a mother in their neighborhood register her child. For him, the bicycle is more than just a means of transportation. 

“This bicycle is more than just transportation. It’s a tool for justice. It allows me to reach forgotten children, give them a voice, and defend their rights,” explains Liévin, 16, child parliamentarian in Menkao.

Mireille, a mother from Menkao, had never been able to register her child at birth—not out of neglect, but due to a lack of information. The arrival of Grace and Liévin on their bicycles changed everything. 

“I hadn’t registered my child at birth because I lacked information. Thanks to the child parliamentarians, I understood the importance of a birth certificate. Today, my child has an identity. I thank World Vision for this support,” says Mireille, a beneficiary mother in Menkao.

These 45 GIK bicycles are not just a means of getting around. They have become strategic tools to enhance the mobility, visibility, and impact of child parliamentarians in their mission to protect children. With them, young leaders like Grace and Liévin can reach remote areas, support families, and help ensure that every child has the fundamental right to legal identity.

Every pedal stroke is a step toward a more just, equitable, and humane future.