Vani loves the natural sciences and natural spaces with trees and flowers. She is fourteen years old and studies in the 9^th grade at Golla Government High School.

Her school is almost five miles away from her home.

“One of the main problems that girls face when going and coming back from the school is the journey,” says Vani. “When we have to walk so many kilometers on our own, we feel unsafe. Anyone can come close to us and say bad things.”

To help her with the commute, RDT presented Vani with a bicycle. Now she can travel to and from school quickly and safely.

This has given her parents some much-needed peace-of-mind. “When my daughter goes to the school with the bicycle I feel better,” says Radhamma, Vani’s mother. “Before I worried a bit. Having bicycles for the girls it is a very positive thing.”

By staying in school and studying hard, Vani is setting a great example for her younger sister, Vyshali, and younger brother, Eswar. They are in the fourth and sixth grade respectively.

Vani knows a good education is important to achieving her dream of becoming a police officer. “It may be difficult being a policewoman, but I don’t care what they tell me,” says Vani. “In the first year of school I decided that I wanted to be a police officer and I am going to be.”

Vani may have many obstacles to overcome as she works to achieve her dreams, but the first major barrier—access to education—has already been broken down with the gift of a bicycle.