bicycle project in rwanda .. need your input
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!
Rachel, There's a huge organization in Portland called Bikes to Rwanda. Its sponsored by stumptown coffee roasters, and they do exactly what you speak of. Check out their website, I'm sure they'd be a really helpful resource. http://www.bikestorwanda.com/
hope that helps!
Rachael, Check out Kona Bike - they started an African Bike Town project for HIV/AIDS workers awhile back and it's in numerous countries now. They probably have lots of experience to draw from. http://www.konabiketown.com/
Ross Willard Harrisburg Recycle Bicycle www.recyclebicycle.info
Subject: [TheThinkTank] bicycle project in rwanda .. need your input
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
These folks were next to the Bike Collective Network table at Interbike. They developed the bike as a low cost cargo bike for use in Africa and other developing nations (and realized there was commercial value in the US). However they might have some additional insight.
http://www.yubaride.com/about-yuba.html http://www.yubaride.com/
I just finished building a Tom Ritchey Project Rwanda bike for a friend here in Davis. This a well-built, thoughtfully appointed utility machine that will give years of dependable service for the coffee farmers. Tom is making 200 available in the U.S. to help raise support and awareness. The bikes are signed and numbered (I built number 29) with the profits going towards these purpose-built machines to Rwanda.
Regards,
Robert St.Cyr
General Manager,
ASUCD Bike Barn
Davis.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Morrison
To: The Think Tank
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 12:46 PM
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] bicycle project in rwanda .. need your input
These folks were next to the Bike Collective Network table at Interbike. They developed the bike as a low cost cargo bike for use in Africa and other developing nations (and realized there was commercial value in the US). However they might have some additional insight.
http://www.yubaride.com/about-yuba.html
-- Sincerely,
Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org
On Dec 6, 2007 12:45 PM, Recycle Bicycle of Harrisburg, Pa recyclebicycle@verizon.net wrote:
Rachael,
Check out Kona Bike - they started an African Bike Town project for HIV/AIDS workers awhile back and it's in numerous countries now.
They probably have lots of experience to draw from.
http://www.konabiketown.com/
Ross Willard
Harrisburg Recycle Bicycle
www.recyclebicycle.info
Subject: [TheThinkTank] bicycle project in rwanda .. need your input
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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Rachael-
I second the leads on Kona and Ritchey. The tricky part with those folk is that they don't source locally, so far as I know, but do (to their credit) bring quality, reliable transport to folks there.
projectrwanda.org (I believe).
Peace. pete and the fm community bicycle workshop www.fmbikeworkshop.com
On 12/6/07, rachael spiewak rachael@sopobikes.org 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
Hours of operation: Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o...
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
Hours of operation: Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- bikecollectives.org
participants (7)
-
Jonathan Morrison -
maintenence collective -
Mark Rehder -
Peter Morsch -
rachael spiewak -
Recycle Bicycle of Harrisburg, Pa -
Robert St.Cyr