Bicycles bring joy, healthier habits and new opportunities to Angaur schoolchildren

By: L. N. Reklai ANGAUR, Palau (Oct. 24, 2026) — “You don’t know how many years I have been dreaming of a bike and finally my dream has come true,” one Angaur Elementary School student wrote in a thank-you letter after receiving a donated bicycle Saturday, Oct. 24. The student was among 21 recipients of bicycles donated by private sponsors in Palau and abroad to students, teachers and a cook at Angaur Elementary School. The donation brought excitement to the island’s nine elementary school students and nine students taking high school classes online. The school also has five teachers and one cook. For the students, the bicycles represent more than a gift. They offer a way to get to school faster, run errands for their families, enjoy outdoor activities and spend less time on their phones. The bicycles arrived at the school a week before the handover and were stored in a classroom.

Every day, students peered through the classroom windows, eagerly waiting to see the bicycles they would soon receive. On Saturday, the students gathered outside the classroom before being called inside one by one to collect a bicycle with their name on it. Their excitement was evident in the smiles and expressions of amazement as each child received a bicycle. Boys and girls of different ages appeared to find the bicycles they had hoped for. One young student, Aliang, smiled when asked whether she knew how to ride a bicycle. She said she did not know how yet, but she would learn. Another student, Skky, received a light purple bicycle and said she loved it. A high school student said the bicycle would help him get to school on time and allow him to run errands. The students also wrote heartfelt thank-you letters to their sponsors, expressing appreciation for the gifts and explaining what the…