In Africa, a Bicycle Can Make all the Difference 

Our Bicycles and Repair Training Makes the Difference for Tens of Thousands of Africans

As of March 2012:

  • 55,000 donated used bikes shipped to Africa since 1999
  • 11,000 students taught bike repair skills in Ghana and Sierra Leone
  • 19,000 bike tools distributed in  14 African countries

 

VBP has Volunteer Opportunities!

The Village Bicycle Project is seeking a short-term volunteer (4-6 months) to develop and implement a bicycle repair course for women in Ghana.  Job description link here

We are also looking for a metal worker to design, build and demonstrate a method for producing cargo carriers.

Please Contact us if you are interested.

 

Bikes provide power and opportunity, allowing people to lift themselves from poverty.  Riding a bike is four times faster than walking, the only choice for millions of Africans. People with bikes get to schools, markets, farms and health care in one-fourth the time, improving their lives and economic futures.

Our successful program supplies bikes, spare parts and tools. We also train owners in basic bike maintenance and repair. We work with bicycle mechanics in their villages to improve their tools, their skills; their ability to repair and maintain their customers' bikes.We empower whole communities by including women and girls in bicycle education. These components work together to nurture the use of bikes. Improved mobility is a key to reducing poverty. In Africa, a bicycle can take a person from poverty to prosperity.

Village Bicycle Project relies on hundreds of volunteers worldwide, with very limited administrative expenses. Over 12,000 volunteer hours are donated each year across the USA, Canada, England, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

 

More Bicycles Arrive in Sierra Leone
(Thank you Mike's Bikes!)

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VBP’s Learn to Ride program for school girls is expanding, with Peace Corps Volunteers at two schools starting programs in their schools.  One of them sent this report after the first week: 
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Learn to Ride finds a Home in Ghana!

"We have teamed up with Vida Cycling Program (VCP), a Ghanaian non-profit founded by female bicycling advocate Vida Vivie.  VBP volunteer Kathryn Wykes has been working with VCP teaching girls to ride, borrowing from our Sierra Leone program. Read Kathyrn's report HERE.

Cargo Racks Add Utility to VBP Bikes

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Last summer VBP initiated a pilot program to mass-produce cargo racks
in Ghana, (such as the one pictured) at a price affordable in the local
neighborhoods.  
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Study: VBP One Day Workshops Evaluated

Liz Bageant, the VBP Women's Program coordinator, spent the last year engaged in formal research of the effectiveness of the VBP One Day Repair Workshop. The study looks at:

 • Who recieved our  bikes and who is actually using them
 • Our effectiveness of targeting women 

MORE...