World Bicycle Relief
Bikes have been a consistent passion of mine, but bikes are so much more. They are the time machines that allow children to get to and from distant schools, and still have time to study. They are the load carriers for parents working hard to take their produce to markets in order to care for their families. They are the water bearers for communities that have yet to gain access to improved sanitation in their homes. They are the means by which healthcare workers can spread their knowledge, expertise and care, to otherwise inaccessible villages. They are all this and more.
As every cyclist knows the perfect number of bikes is n+1, but one more is not enough. Each and every bike can be life-changing. This is why we support World Bicycle Relief who provide Buffalo Bikes to children and families. The cost of delivering one fit-for-purpose, specially-designed Buffalo Bike is currently £125, which equates to about AU$220 or a little over RM650. WBR also create and maintain the infrastructure necessary to ensure the benefits of their bikes are both long term and sustainable. £50 is enough to provide a full set of mechanics tools, and £25 will purchase a new wheelset.
For rural children throughout the world, education is the great equaliser, but distance is a barrier. Bicycles can help students overcome the many challenges they face on their way to school, thereby improving attendance and decreasing travel times. Essentially bicycles become time machines, providing children more time to study, play, help at home and ultimately succeed.
With two wheels, health workers can continue to saves lives. Now more than ever they are hard at work combating COVID-19, working to eliminate malaria, teaching communities about health and nutrition, and visiting more vulnerable homebound patients.
With a bicycle, farmers and entrepreneurs can increase their carrying capacity and move their goods quickly and more easily. All of this allows them to earn more income and improve their families' quality of life.
Investing in women and girls continues to change the world, it was one of the great successes of the Millennium Development Goals, but there is still much to be done. Bicycles can help girls by supporting them to pursue education, access healthcare, and engage in work. Empowered women play a critical role in halting the cycle of poverty.
World Bicycle Relief has been operating for 15+years and has been building a sustainable bicycle infrastructure across the regions where they operate. They do this to ensure that their bicycles and programs create a lasting impact for the people they serve. Bicycles are also among the most environmentally friendly and efficient forms of transport on Earth!
World Bicycle Relief | Room 26913 | PO Box 6945 | LONDON | W1A 6US | +44333 305 5218 | uk@worldbicyclerelief.org | www.worldbicyclerelief.org | UKCharity No: 1141613