World Bicycle Relief and the Power of Bicycles

Founded in 2005, in response to a Tsunami in the Indian ocean that devastated already impoverished nations, the mission of this organization is "to provide access to independence and livelihood through The Power of Bicycles."

2 years after Project Tsunami was born the results speak for themselves:

• 88% of recipients depend on bicycles for livelihood activities.
• Bicycles can save a household up to 30% of its annual income for transportation costs.
• The bicycle program provided critical, appropriate transportation enabling households to resume important livelihood, education and service activities.

The organization believes simple, sustainable transportation, such as the bicycle, can play an important role in disaster assistance and poverty relief.

Bicycles do this by providing access to healthcare, education and economic development, empowering individuals, their families, and their communities, in ways they may never have dreamed possible.

And how is this Mission accomplished?

By ...

Partnering with relief organizations to provide quality bicycles to people who need them

Working with bicycle suppliers to improve quality and technology, and enhance distribution with local sourcing and assembly where possible

Documenting the impact of bicycles in humanitarian relief situations, communicating results, improving programs and increasing awareness

Serving as a resource in support of bicycle-related microlending opportunities

Most importantly, through bicycles, we improve the quality of life for men, women and children in developing nations.

Through stories, photos, and videos, the website does a powerful job of explaining the importance of the mission, and sharing its many successes.

When compared to the lives, and incomes of people in the Developed World, the benefits that folks in the Third World gain may not seem like much, but to them can mean the difference between life, and death, and can lead to far better livelihoods than many could normally have hoped to have.

The videos, especially, are short, but informative, and inspiring, glimpses into the lives of some of those impacted by the many projects of World Bicycle Relief.

The list of Corporate, and Foundation Sponsors goes beyond just Cycling outfits, as does the list of those helping in the various projects.

Speaking of Projects there is an ongoing one featured on the website, called Project Zambia:

World Bicycle Relief has partnered with a USAID-funded, World Vision-led coalition of relief organizations to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Zambia. We will provide 23,000 bicycles to community home-based care volunteers, disease prevention educators and vulnerable households. We are also training and equipping more than 400 bicycle mechanics in the field. The program will reach more than 500,000 adults, orphans and vulnerable children.

Project Tsunami, the effort that got this Non-Profit Charity going, in 2004...

provided 24,300 bicycle to carefully selected men, women and children in greatest need. The selection process included basic economic and commercial needs, distance to work, and distance to schools. Bikes were a catalyst that helped these people rebuild their communities, find work, and in the case of children, stay in school.

For Project Tsunami, World Bicycle Relief worked with World Vision Sri Lanka and Lumala Bicycle Company.

Reading the details behind this impressive effort, and the much smaller one in suppport of the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) makes for fascinating reading, as do the archived copes of newsletters, and you will come away sure of the value of the similar effort under way with Project Zambia.

Interested people can donate money, or Bicycles to the cause, and can pitch in in other ways by joining the team.

The Website for World Bicycle Relief is here, and can be found in my sidebar, under International Advocacy.

Since 2006 Chris Strout has been writing the Share the Power Blog, of World Bicycle Relief.

On Twitter World Bicycle Relief can be found here.
On Facebook they can be found here, and here.

Speaking of Donations...

There is an important effort underway, from Noon (CST) today, through Noon (CST) Friday, called The DOUBLEbikeMATCH Campaign.

What is The DOUBLEbikeMATCH Campaign?

The following was sent to me by Joe Doyle, of Stalelife, the Agency managing the campaign:

Help provide bicycles to Africa

As you’re gathering gifts for family and loved ones this year, please consider giving to the DOUBLEbikeMATCH campaign.

An angel donor will double all funds that WorldBicycle Relief can collected in 48 hours.

They hope to raise capital for 100 bikes (200 with the match) – enough to help over 4,000 people.

The campaign ends Friday at noon (CST), so head on over and check it out.

The site asks for any amount, and no matter what you give it will be matched dollar-for-dollar!

The campaign is also on Twitter.

Tell your friends.

WBR has already placed close to 50,000bikes across the world in just four years!

They are hoping to raise $13,400.