Working in partnership with several local aid organisations in Zambia, World Bicycle Relief has managed to provide 23,000 specially designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles to healthcare workers treating HIV/AIDS patients. The organisation has also trained local field mechanics to build, maintain and repair bicycles. Their work in Zambia led to World Bicycle Relief's work in micro finance, education, social enterprise and field mechanics training programs across Africa. With over 96,000 bicycles in the field and 750 field mechanics trained, World Bicycle Relief is changing lives across Africa.

World Bicycle Relief's approach

World Bicycle Relief believes that compared to walking, bicycles represent an enormous leap in productivity and access to healthcare, education and economic development opportunities. The simple, sustainable nature of bicycles empowers individuals, their families and their communities. The organisation has played a fundamental role in Zambia in terms of advancing access to education. They have provided many secondary school children who live long distances away from schools with bicycles, thus allowing them access to education.

In order to achieve their mission, World Bicycle Relief abides by the following principles:

Work with suppliers to improve bicycle design while ensuring all changes are culturally appropriate
Enhance distribution with local sourcing, manufacturing or assembly whenever possible
Partners with existing non-governmental organisations and government and community based organisations
Train mechanics in maintenance and repair while strengthening the existing supply of spare parts
Measure and evaluates the impact of bicycles and communicate the results in order to improve programs and increase awareness.

World Bicycle Relief and Buffalo Bicycles

As a supplement to facilitate self sustainability, World Bicycle Relief has come up with Buffalo Bicycles, a commercial brand of bicycles available for sale in Zambia. The organisation has trained over 590 field mechanics in different parts of Zambia in order to provide servicing and spare parts across Zambia.

World Bicycle Relief currently has assembly facilities in Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They have supplied bicycles to people and communities in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Visit the World Bicycle Relief website to find out how you can donate and get involved.