Ride for Africycle 2008

From July 18th to July 26th of 2008, a group of young men will bicycle around Lake Ontario raising money for Africycle.  Africycle is a charitable organization bringing people together to improve access to bicycles in Africa.

Africycle

Based in Uxbridge, Ontario, Africycle brings communities together to pursue the common goal of providing people in Malawi access to quality used bicycles.  Many Malawians experience difficulty accessing quality bicycles, due to economic constraints and the limited availability of affordable, reliable bicycles in the local market.  Africycle believes that by providing bicycles it can be a catalyst for sustainable and effective development in Malawian communities.  To accomplish this mission, Africycle follows a defined plan of action which consists of two parts on opposite ends of the planet: The ‘Recycle-a-Bike’ program in Canada and a bicycle repair shop and distribution center in Malawi.  Their vision statement is:

“Africycle will mobilize Canadians to exploit the potential of the bicycle as a catalyst to create economic and community development that empowers Africans to improve their quality of life.”

Africycle will use the profits generated from the bike sales to contribute to community development projects. The first project is a school for orphans and disabled children. The money will be used to employ the teachers and provide the necessary supplies and curriculum for the school. The school will also provide a meal once a day to these children. We will also provide the school with children’s bikes to be used for enjoyment or travel.

Africycle’s goal is to eventually expand into more community development projects such as drilled wells to help provide safe drinking water, food storage buildings to provide widows with an opportunity to generate more income, fish farms to provide more protein, more schools and eventually even health clinics. The opportunities are endless and can all be provided through the involvement of this bike shop with the communities.

A major factor in these projects is allowing the locals who are in need take ownership and control over the projects which allows the project to flourish and ensure it is maintained.

Ride for Africycle

Through our bicycle trip around Lake Ontario this summer, we hope to raise over $15’000 for Africycle.  The trip, starting in Port Hope, will be approximately 1000 kilometres in length.  We hope to gather sponsors that will support us per kilometre.  An individual might sponsor us at five cents a kilometre, which would amount to a $50 donation.  A corporation might sponsor us at five dollars a kilometre, which would amount to a $5000 donation.  Information concerning donations can be found at our website at www.rideforafricycle.com.  Please consider this opportunity and ride with us towards hope.

Sincerely,

Team Ride For Africycle.