August 7/13 13:39 pm - Donate a Bike, Change a Life - Bicycles for Humanity

Posted by Editoress on 08/7/13
 

Send your old bike on a new journey… Bike Drive 2013

Give your old bike a new life .. in Kenya, Africa! Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) will be accepting bike donations at Billings Bridge Shopping Centre during a three day drive from August 9th to 11th, 2013.

A bicycle, one of the simplest transport technologies, is affordable and can be maintained anywhere in the world with minimal tools and spare parts. Yet for the world's poorest people, living on $2 per day, even bicycles are beyond their reach.

Meanwhile, in the western world we discard thousands of bicycles each year. Simply put – unused bicycles in garages or basements can make an incredible difference to those in need of transportation - such bicycles represent a terrific opportunity to change the lives of those less fortunate.

Since 2007, B4H has shipped 7 containers of bikes, more than 2600 bicycles, to rural communities in Namibia and Malawi and established sustainable community-based bike shops, Bicycle Empowerment Centers (BECs), assisting initiatives focused on orphan care, HIV/AIDS outreach, healthcare and women’s empowerment.

This year’s BEC - a 40ft shipping container packed with 400 donated bicycles, spare parts and tools, and converted into a bike shop on site - will be shipped to Kibera, Kenya, one of the poorest areas in the region, to benefit an orphan care organization.

Through a partnership with Wheels of Africa, B4H will establish the BEC to help empower and engage a community in creating sustainable and responsible economic development in Kenya, while enabling greater mobility in the area to students, workers, and healthcare volunteers. The BEC will benefit Kijiji Cha Upendo, “Village of Love” in Swahili – a community based organization that cares for and supports over 140 orphans and vulnerable children with programs aimed at meeting the most basic of needs: food, clothing/supplies and education.

B4H is looking for adult-sized mountain and hybrid bikes in working condition (24” and 26” wheels). As the bikes will be used in communities with mostly dirt roads and paths, bicycles with wider tires are most suitable for the terrain. Donations of bike tools, repair & patch kits, inner tubes, tires seats, and locks (with keys) are also welcome. Donations to help with the transport costs of the bikes are appreciated. Please note that children’s bikes and frames without wheels are not suitable for this project.

Billing Bridge Shopping Centre has graciously offered their facilities as the bike collection site for this year’s campaign. The drive will be led by the Security Team from Billings Bridge Centre and 20 VIC Management, Inc. property managers specializing in shopping centre management, leasing and development. “The Security Team and Billings Bridge Centre are proud to partner with B4H and be of assistance to a grassroots initiative dedicated to facilitating access to resources and services to others in Kenya, Africa. This initiative and these bikes represent a wonderful opportunity to empower others. At Billings Bridge we are thrilled to assist our community – our global community. “ says Stacey Lamb, Security Manager, 20 VIC Management, Inc.

The drive will be held on from Friday August 9th to Sunday August 11th, during the mall’s regular business hours, at the main doors (entrance #5) at 2277 Riverside Drive East (corner of Riverside Drive and Bank Street in Ottawa South). The security team will be on site to accept all donations. In addition, B4H Volunteers will be on site on Saturday August 10th between 10am to 1pm to greet donors and provide information on the initiative.

B4H is grateful for the enthusiastic support from the many individuals and organizations who donate funds, goods, facilities and services and to the volunteers who give their time and energy towards helping improve lives.
About Bicycles for Humanity: Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) is a grass-roots initiative which aims to empower disadvantaged communities in Africa through the provision of sustainable transportation. We send used bikes to improve access to healthcare, education, food, water, and employment. Entirely volunteer run - 100% of all donations go directly toward the transportation of the bikes and in-country project implementation costs.

For more information, visit www.B4HOttawa.org , email info@B4HOttawa.org  or call 613-799-7985

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