Who knew that an old Highlands bike could end up in a small community in Namibia.
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Bicycles for Change is ready to ship yet another container of bikes to Africa that will have a positive social and economic impact on many people.
Since 2010, the Wingecarribee Shire Council have been a valued partner and supporter of Bicycles for Change.
They have a storage hub at the Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) site in Moss Vale.
At this site Council staff receive and sort bikes that the Bicycles for Change volunteers later, prepare and pack into the shipping containers ready for shipping to Namibia, Africa.
Wingecarribee Shire Council business services coordinator Chris Murphy said he was very proud to support Bicycles for Change.
“Bicycles for Change’s Hans and his team do a wonderful job of diverting these bikes from waste streams and repurposing them for use in under privileged areas such and Namibia,” he said.
Mr Murphy said Wingecarribee Shire Council looked forward to continuing their relationship with the team.
There are plans to install shade and shelter so the team can work throughout all the seasons in the Southern Highlands.
“Bicycles for Change is immensely grateful for the on-going support of the Wingecarribee Shire Council and for the generous financial contribution from Resource Recovery Australia,” Bicycles fro Change president Venetia Scott said.
“We are now able to ship our fifth container from Moss Vale to our partner charity in Namibia, who are in urgent need of more bikes.
Bicycles are a powerful development tool and the 450 bikes we’ll send over in the new year will make a big impact on the people and communities associated with the bike shops, and that is all thanks to the amazing support we receive from the Southern Highlands community.”
Once in Namibia the bikes are used to create social enterprise bike shops that provide employment, affordable transportation and support local charities that provide healthcare, education and training services to local communities.
There are 35 shops now in operation across Namibia.
Compared to walking, bikes give people a big jump in productivity.
