How One Bike Helped Raymundo Find His Stride
At the heart of the Bahati Foundation is a simple but powerful belief: one bike can change a life.
And for Raymundo, an eighth-grade student at a school in Compton, California, that life-changing moment began when he joined our B Smart Student Cycle Club.
Before joining the program, Raymundo had never owned a bicycle. He struggled with low confidence, limited physical activity, and inconsistent school attendance. His teachers described him as shy, often disengaged, and reluctant to participate in group activities. When the Bahati Foundation launched its cycling program at Emerson in the fall of 2023, Raymundo was among the first to sign up—curious but cautious.
Over the next 12 weeks, Raymundo learned far more than how to ride. He mastered bike handling, maintenance, safety, and group riding etiquette. Even more impressive, he stepped up to lead, becoming President of the Student Cycling Club. Rain or shine, Raymundo showed up ready to ride—and ready to grow.
As the program progressed, teachers and staff began to notice a real transformation. His classroom attendance improved. His attitude shifted. He began speaking up, engaging more with his peers and participating fully in school life.
The program culminated in a community ride to a CicLAvia open streets event in Downtown Los Angeles. Raymundo rode 7–10 miles that day—confident, proud, and beaming.
“This is the farthest I’ve ever been from home on my own two wheels.”
At the end of the program, Raymundo received a certificate of completion and a brand-new helmet. His smile said it all: he was no longer the shy student who first signed up—he was a leader, a cyclist, and a young man ready to take on the world.
Today, Raymundo is thriving in high school and is a member of the junior varsity football and basketball teams. His parents credit the Bahati Foundation's program with helping him "find his stride"—both literally and figuratively.
Why It Matters
At the Bahati Foundation, we do more than teach kids how to ride. We give them the tools to build confidence, resilience, leadership, and independence. Raymundo’s story is just one of many, but it reminds us why access and encouragement are so critical to a young person’s journey.
One bike. One opportunity. A lifetime of impact.