Following the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to raise money and awareness around the world for a variety of causes.
The good people at World Bicycle Relief are celebrating the day by aiming to raise enough to fund 1,400 Buffalo Bikes to empower students in rural Africa. World Bicycle Relief will also match all donations to double the impact on the day.
What is World Bicycle Relief?
World Bicycle Relief was founded in 2005 by F. K. Day (a founder of SRAM) and Leah Missbach Day following the Boxing Day tsunami. With SRAM’s backing and support from cycling industry leaders, World Bicycle Relief distributed more than 24,000 bicycles to displaced survivors, enabling access to healthcare, education and livelihoods, as well as reconnecting entire communities.
In sub-Saharan Africa 34 million children are missing out on education due to distance, safety and the cultural expectations of girls
Named Buffalo Bikes, the bikes are simple, sturdy and easy to repair, and have a rated rear cargo capacity of 100kg. The bikes are designed to cope with the rigours of riding over surfaces where infrastructure simply doesn’t exist.
Following the positive impact of the bikes in response to the tsunami, the charity then offered 23,000 bicycles to help combat the AIDS epidemic in Zambia during 2006, which allowed healthcare professionals to access significantly more patients than they would have by simply walking.
Today, World Bicycle Relief has distributed close to 400,000 bicycles to developing areas around the world. The Buffalo Bike has provided a simple solution to enable students, health professionals, small businesses and others to improve education, patient numbers and output respectively, all of which gives the opportunity for individuals to empower themselves out of poverty.
World Bicycle Relief’s studies have shown that one bicycle can positively impact the lives of up to five individuals and, for $147 per bicycle, we think this offers incredible value.
Together we rise
In sub-Saharan Africa 34 million children are missing out on education due to distance, safety and the cultural expectations of girls. Removing these barriers using a bicycle may sound too good to be true, but has been a proven solution for thousands — mobilising them and helping them to achieve the future they desire.
To help World Bicycle Relief hit its target of 1,400 bicycles today, and learn more about the incredible work the organisation is doing, visit worldbicyclerelief.org