FIRST PHASE OF ASSEMBLIES ALMOST COMPLETE:
6,600 BICYCLES AND TRAINING 150 MECHANICS!
The past couple of months have been very exciting for World Bicycle Relief in Zambia: completing our second and third assembly operations, opening the fourth assembly, and training our first three woman mechanics. This all happened in the space of a couple of weeks, and by mid-September, Project Zambia will have delivered more than 6,600 bicycles and trained 150 field mechanics!

First, our assembly in Ndola, in the Northern Copperbelt region, opened in early June and quickly began delivering bicycles to the field. Using lessons learned in Lusaka, and working with project partners RAPIDS and Tata Industries, the Ndola operation ran smoothly while ramping delivery up to more than 350 bikes per week.

Soon after, our Ndola assembly was complete, and our third operation opened in Chipata. By the end of that operation, more than 4,800 bicycles were in the field, and the fourth location in Livingstone became operational. When finished on September 19, Livingstone will provide another 1,800 bicycles.

At each location, the mechanics training program is going very well, including training our first three women at the Chipata hub. Mechanics participate in a five-day training program, with three days of maintenance training and two days of life skill/business training. Every mechanic is provided a manual that shows mechanical drawings of the bicycle in great detail, and blue coveralls that help identify each of them as a skilled tradesperson. This training will go a long way toward improving the quality of the bicycle assembly in Zambia, and provides each trainee with the tools and knowledge to offer their skills as a bicycle repair entrepreneur. In all, 400 field mechanics will be trained as part of this program.

The work we're doing has attracted some attention here at home, and President F.K. Day was interviewed for Chicago National Public Radio station WBEZ, and its program Eight Forty-Eight. Check out the exciting discussion online at:
http://www.wbez.org/Program_848_Segment.aspx?segmentID=12777  


FIRST LADY VISITS ZAMBIA, RAPIDS
 First Lady Laura Bush visited four African countries in June to raise awareness of poverty and disease, and its links to HIV/AIDS and malaria. One of the countries she visited was Zambia, and the group she came to see was our partners, RAPIDS!

Apparently, it was quite a whirlwind of activity, with the First Lady speaking about  the malaria epidemic and the impact of public/private partnerships. RAPIDS - Reaching AIDS Affected People with Integrated Development and Support - is leading the way in combating disease in this manner. Mrs. Bush even took time to load RAPIDS care kits onto the back of World Bicycle Relief bicycles! Included in the kits were insecticide-treated bed nets, which are being distributed thanks to the bicycles. It was a fantastic oppor tunity to show the importance of mobility in the fight against poverty and disease, and to highlight the Power of Bicycles.

The trip got extensive coverage in the media both at home and abroad, and was part of the impetus behind a CNN International piece for its World Report show. World Bicycle Relief bicycles featured very prominently in the piece, which can be viewed on-line (piece begins at 3:30 into the show):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/09/03/wr.a.health.volunteers.cnn


STORIES FROM ZAMBIA: FRANK AND NEBO
June 2007  |  Words and photos by Leah Missbach Day

Frank (left) and Nebo (right) live in George Compound, a small crowded urban community on the fringes of Lusaka, Zambia's largest city.

Nebo is a volunteer caregiver who makes door-to-door rounds visiting 15 patients per day. With the power of his new bicycle, Nebo has chosen to take on caregiving as his full-time livelihood. "It helps us to go further, faster," he says. His ever-present, dazzling yellow hat is perfect metaphor for his delightful care-giving manner. 

In March of this year, Nebo learned that his fellow community member, Frank, was no longer able to work as a taxi driver due to rapid weight and energy loss. An emergency ambulance ride to the clinic on the crossbar of Nebo's bicycle gave access to testing, which found Frank positive: he has AIDS. Because of the clinic visit, he was prescribed ARV drugs.

Only three short months later, Frank is putting on weight and an occasional smile due to Nebo's regular, upbeat care and medication monitoring. Frank plans to find full time work as a driver when he is fully recovered.

'allsevens' RIDES PAST GOAL, RAISES $30,000+
When they said they wanted allsevens to be "more than just a ride," it's doubtful Nigel Taylor, Chris Davey, Mark Neuman and Bert Berla had any idea just what they were getting themselves into.

Calling themselves 'allsevens,' the quartet, along with their support crew, arrived in London at the end of their 777-mile quest, in time for the start of the Tour de France on 07/07/07. Along the way, they visited 7 countries in 7 days, visiting 7 Tour start cities, and managed to more than double their original goal, collecting more than $32,000 on behalf of World Bicycle Relief, and another $9,000 for U.K. charity Jole Rider: in all, the four are responsible for putting more than 270 bicycles into Africa!

Here at home, they built some incredi ble buzz in their home of St. Louis and across the country, working with local shops and national corporations to raise awareness and sponsorship of their journey. Chris, of Bath, England, did the same across the Pond, including a bit on BBC radio. And the buzz didn't stop when their ride did, as Bert was recently named one of the Top 20 "Sexy and Successful" people in St. Louis by Alive Magazine , with a nomination that focused on his support of World Bicycle Relief!

To read more about their adventures, including some amazing photos and great stories, be sure visitwww.allsevens.blogspot.com. Thank you to allsevens, their shop friends and their corporate sponsors for such a wonderful gift to World Bicycle Relief!

And to find out more about how you can be a member of the World Bicycle Relief team and start your own fundraising efforts, visit our web site, www.worldbicyclerelief.org.


WHY BICYCLES?
By Michael Hoffman, World Bicycle Relief volunteer

International aid organizations such as the American Red Cross have traditionally collected funds that are put towards health and relief efforts in Africa. But there are other aid organizations that also lend a hand in the ongoing mission to help people living in countries plagued by violence, poverty and disease.

World Bicycle Relief takes a different approach to help support Africa - instead of simply sending money, the organization receives funds to help source and assemble bikes for relief workers, disease prevention educators and vulnerable households. Why bicycles?  Riding a bike as opposed to walking is faster and requires less effort for the rider, which translates to being able to travel a longer distance in a shorter amount of time while carrying more supplies.

Zambia is an example of one African nation facing a dire battle against diseases that have ravaged the nation, especially HIV/AIDS. With just an average life expectancy of 40, and more than half of the population under 16 years old, more than 1 million people in the country have HIV/AIDS. To help Zambia, World Bicycle Relief is working to provide bicycles that can be used to reach rural villages. Many of the smaller and more rural villages need support that simply is unable to reach them quickly - a mode of transportation besides walking is needed.

As members and supporters of the bike industry, we can all find ways to help people who are living in less fortunate circumstances. Citizens of African nations can greatly benefit with just a little bit of creativity and monetary donations.

September 12: Raúl Niño poetry reading, Rogers Park Branch Library, Chicago

September 18: Evanston Bike Club presentation, Evanston, Illinois

September 26: Interbike trade show,
Las Vegas

October 6: Raúl Niño poetry reading and fundraiser, Heartland Cafe, Chicago

October 13: Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championships, Kona, Hawaii
(Go Katie! Learn more at Windy City Sports)

October 20: Paranormal MTB Race, Charlottesville, Virginia

October 27-28: The Mont 24-Hour MTB Race, Majura Pines, Canberra, Australia

November 18: Runners High Ride N' Tie Race, Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Hosting a World Bicycle Relief event? Please let us know! 

The kindergarten class at Blueberry School in Edmonton, Alberta hosted a bike rodeo thanks to United Cycles ... this young man is spreading the message with stickers while waiting for the tooth fairy!

United Cycles in Edmonton doesn't
miss a beat when showing customers
The Power of Bicycles

Edmonton hosted the World Cup Triathlon event, where United Cycles set up support, complete with World Bicycle Relief banner!