By CASEY NEILL
SPOKES in the Wheel is giving Dandenong’s Sudanese community a new lease on life.
Jack Nugent has been involved with the Engineers Without Borders project since it started in 2012.
He helps to collect bikes, repair them, and distribute them to children alongside a road safety message.
“It’s all about long-term sustainable stuff. It’s giving a hand-up, teaching them to help themselves,” he said.
Mr Nugent was in his final year of a mechanical engineering degree at Monash University when he signed up.
“I was looking for something local to get involved with,” he said.
“It tied in with engineering, and I have a strong passion for mountain biking.
“It tied all my passions all in one.”
Spokes in the Wheel volunteers spend four Saturdays in a row with a group of kids aged six to 12 years old.
They teach bike safety around helmets and brakes, and basic bike repair skills.
“At the end of the four week session, we give away the bikes,” Mr Nugent said.
“Most of the students will receive a bike at the end of those sessions.
“We try to keep it under wraps.
“But some of them are aware that they’re going to get the bikes, and they eye off the best ones.”
He said many participants were from big families, but didn’t have cars.
“It can keep them a bit isolated,” he said.
“Even getting to school or getting down to Saturday school can be really difficult.
“The aim of the project is to, basically, give the Sudanese community access to low-cost sustainable transport.
“It means that they can visit their friends more often, or get involved with sports on the weekends, get to and from school more easily.”
Mr Nugent said it wasn’t just about seeing the kids have fun.
“It’s also about promoting healthy living,” he said.
“It’s good to see that the kids are really adopting it.
“They’re out there, they’re engaging with each other and engaging with the volunteers.
“Often the South Sudanese community can be a bit isolated. They tend to stick to themselves sometimes.”
Mr Nugent also spends each Saturday tutoring in Dandenong with Spokes in the Wheel’s partner organisation.
“They might not get that much one-on-one attention,” he said.
“English might not be the main language spoken at home.
“There’s no targets or goals, it’s just, basically, boosting their confidence and giving them some one-on-one attention.”
Spokes in the Wheel holds bike drives but always needs more donations.
“Each year we work with about 60 to 90 students. We aim to give away about 50 to 60 bicycles each year,” Mr Nugent said.
“Not all of the students get one because we don’t have enough bikes coming in.
“There’s a lot of old bikes out there sitting around in good condition just not being used.
“Kids grow up, bikes sit there.
“We’re trying to find those bikes and get them back into circulation.”
Visit www.ewb.org.au/explore/initiatives/spokes for more information or email spokesinthewheel@gmail.com to donate a bike.
