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Field Mechanic
Mary
Mary, 22, is a field mechanic trained by World Bicycle Relief. She is married with two children. One of the few woman mechanics in her region, Mary finds that she gets more business because cyclists often come to her to see if she truly has the ability to repair their bikes--a test that she always passes with flying colors.
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Student
Beene
Sixteen-year-old Beene of central Zambia received a WBR bicycle in 2011. School attendance used to be difficult for her due to the five-mile walk each way, but now she makes it every day thanks to her bike. Beene lives with her family, and helps care for the children and house while also loaning her bike out to family members.
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Entrepreneur
Purity
In the past, much of the milk from Purity's twice daily deliveries went bad before she reached the Magoye Milk Collection Center, 12 kilometers from her father's farm. With the help of a micro lending program, Purity was able to obtain her WBR bicycle so that she could quickly and reliably transport this perishable product.
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Disaster Relief
World Bicycle Relief was founded in 2005 in response to the tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean. More than 26 thousand bicycles were built on the ground in Sri Lanka and delivered to selected men, women and children. World Bicycle Relief is committed to bringing the Power of Bicycles to bear on disaster assistance and poverty relief.
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Environment
South Africa
Since 2011, World Bicycle Relief has partnered with two leading South African non-profits, Qhubeka and Wildlands Conservation Trust, who purchase WBR Buffalo Bicycles for their “Trees-for-bikes” programs. Students in these programs can earn a bike by planting and nurturing 100 saplings. Students then use their bikes to reach school. Bikes for this program are assembled in WBR's newest facility in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
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Entrepreneur
Joe
Joe went from low-level government employee to his community's most popular goat salesman when he received a microfinance loan for a WBR bike. Now, Joe's wife also has a WBR bike that she uses to transport vegetables to market for sale. Joe's bicycle has made a tremendous impact on his family's business.
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Maintenance
World Bicycle Relief founder F.K. Day leads a field mechanic training session in Zambia.
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Education
Students across Africa still wake at sunrise to tend to chores and farm duties, but with a bicycle, they reach school with energy to learn.
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Student
Abel
Abel, a seventeen-year-old AIDS orphan who cares for his 4 adopted siblings (also orphaned by AIDS) used to travel nearly six hours a day to and from school. His one request? A bicycle. Abel, along with his classmates, had this request granted at a 200-bicycle distribution that took place at his school in Zimbabwe in September, 2010.
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Healthcare Worker
Katendi
Katendi is a volunteer healthcare worker in Zambia who provides HIV testing and counseling. Katendi has lost many family members to the virus, but is thankful that she and her three children are healthy. In addition to using her bicycle as a formal volunteer, Katendi also teaches local youth about healthy living and HIV prevention and travels on her two wheels to visit AIDS patients in the hospital on a regular basis.
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Assembler
Isaac
Isaac has been an assembler for WBR in Zambia since 2008. He and his wife Mary have been married since 1995 and built their first home together in 2003. Since working with WBR, Isaac opened his first bank account and rides his bike to work every day. He states, "A bicycle is easy transport. Bicycles don't need fuel. As long as you keep it well maintained, you will be set."
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Student
Cynthia
Cynthia, a grade eight student at Chilyabale School, went from an hour-and-a-half long walk to school to a less than 40-minute commute upon receiving a WBR bicycle. Cynthia also uses her bike to transport her brother to school, as well as assist with household errands.
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Healthcare
A caregiver with a bicycle can provide better and more frequent health care to more people at a lower cost.
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Assemblers
Kenya
World Bicycle Relief has four assembly teams across Africa. The team in Kenya, based in Kisumu, assembles bicycles for use in Kenya,
Uganda, South Sudan, and Tanzania. Assemblers in Kenya are also responsible for conducting field mechanic training in East Africa.
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Healthcare Worker
Nebo
Nebo (right) received a WBR bike and went from a part-time healthcare volunteer to a full-time caregiver. Using his bicycle, he has helped friends like Frank (left), diagnosed with HIV, to get treatment so that Frank can get back on his feet again. Frank and Nebo's friendship illustrates the unending Power of Bicycles.
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Entrepreneur
Olipa
Olipa switched from fish farming to chicken farming when a drought killed her entire fish crop. Finding it harder to transport live chickens than fish, Olipa took out a small loan and purchased a WBR bicycle. Today, Olipa's business is thriving and she is able to provide for her family.
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Field Mechanic
Greyford
Greyford was trained in 2009 as a field mechanic. He has over 100 clients due to his tenacity as a mechanic and a salesman; he even has his phone number painted on his bicycle so individuals in need of repair can reach him wherever he goes. Since working with WBR, Greyford has purchased two acres of farmland and is working on building a new house.
We are proud to share that since 2005, World Bicycle Relief has provided over 100,000 specially designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles to disaster victims, healthcare workers, students and entrepreneurs in Asia and across Africa. This milestone number represents the dedication of our field staff, corporate partners, field partners, supporters, grassroots fundraisers and everyone who believed that a simple bicycle could make a world of difference in the lives of those who need it most.
100,000 is an impressive number, but the faces and the stories of our recipients are what truly speak to the impact that two wheels can make. Click the images above to relive just a few of the tens of thousands of success stories from the field.
Just the Beginning
Looking back at World Bicycle Relief's beginnings in Sri Lanka after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, it's hard to believe just how far your support has brought us. We now have assembly facillities in Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Our bicycles are serving communities in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. But 100,000 bikes is just the beginning! With your help, we believe we can reach 100,000 more people in no time. Share the gift of life-changing transportation--get involved and help us continue to share The Power of Bicycles!
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