Here in Ottawa we recently got involved with the newest chapter of
the Canada-wide group "Bicycles for Humanity" (http://www.bicycles-
for-humanity.org/Ottawa/index.php).
We helped with their first shipment of bikes to Namibia back in
October. They create what they call "Bicycle Empowerment
Centres" (BEC), where they buy, not rent, the sipping container, then
stuff it full of bikes, parts, and tools (and soccer gear for the
kids). The container gets shipped to the port city, then trucked to
the village, where it is opened up, windows are cut into the sides of
the container, and it becomes the BEC. Local people are exclusively
involved with all the details once it reaches their country.
This is great for us, because they happily take not only our overflow
of mtn. bikes, but also tires (especially the really knobby ones most
people don't want or need on paved streets), and whatever small or
big parts we can send along. Now, instead of creating yet another
bin for derailers or whatever we can just set the overflow aside and
save it all for the next trip.
BfH does not ask people to give money when they donate their bikes,
as they seek corporate funds to cover all expenses. I would imagine
they'd be happy to offer you advice on this matter.
Mark Rehder - Director http://re-cycles.ca
On 6-Dec-07, at 2:03 PM, rachael spiewak wrote:
hi, everyone. thanks so much for your input on the last thread.. i
got a lot out of it.this time i've got questions about doing projects in africa. i've
been asked to come along as a consultant on a project designed to
train five local people to be HIV case workers in a place near
Kigali, Rwanda ( www.jcause.org). the folks there say that in
order to do their work, they need bicycles. that's where i come
in. my job is to get bicycles while we're over there, help fix
them up, teach bike repair, etc. i also have to get messenger bags
or backpacks so they can haul around meds and paper work, patch
kits, multitools, and other on-the-road repair items. it would
also be good if there was a repair shop, or at least a set of basic
tools.i know that working bikes, david peckham/village bicycle project,
and others do big bike distribution projects in places around
africa, so i intend to make those connections. but i thought i
would check to see if there's any other knowledge among the
collective that y'all could share with me... especially contacts
with companies who might part with a relatively small in kind
donation, things i ought to bring, and tales of adventure.thanks!
-- Rachael Spiewak, MSW Executive Director Sopo Bicycle Cooperative www.sopobikes.org
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