The power of bicycles

There are plenty of bikes for Africa schemes but World Bicycle Relief does things differently. Warren Rossiter travels to Zambia to see at first hand how the humble bicycle can change lives
Warren Rossiter

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Wheels being built at the Lusaka assembly plant

ts 50C, Im riding a 52lb singlespeed over rutted dirt tracks and were a mile above sea level but Im keeping pace with Johan Bruyneel, directeur sportif of Team Radio Shack and mastermind behind Lance Armstrongs Tour wins. My pride at keeping up takes a knock when I realise we are being dropped at a rapid pace by Harriet, a 12-year-old schoolgirl from the Chongwe district of Zambia. This is unlike any cycling holiday Ive ever been on. Im on a trip with World Bicycle Relief (WBR), to see how the charity is changing lives in Zambia. We start with a trip to WBRs assembly plant in downtown Lusaka, where a dedicated team of assemblers and mechanics put together the WBR bike. At first its as if weve travelled back through time. Im more used to seeing factories

assembling carbon fibre superbikes not beefy singlespeed roadsters with coaster brakes, like those that were popular in Britain in the 1950s. There is method to this madness though: its a solid, dependable design, ideal for a bike that will be the owners primary (and often only) mode of transport, regularly carrying multiple passengers and loads of up to 250kg. It needs to be strong and, as WBRs chief mechanic, Baldwin JJ Banda, tells me, We need every part to be easily fixed in the field and the spares need to be available and cheap. Like the rest of Africa, Zambia doesnt have an extensive network of bike shops and what spares are available are likely to be from the last century rather than the 2010 parts bin. From the start it was an unlearning experience, says WBR president and ex-product development

low tech, high stRength

the Buffalo Bike is the brainchild of FK Day, co-founder of SRAM. He explains: Its a great un-learning process; for a bike to be successful in these conditions it needs to be heavy duty and incredibly simple, and parts need to be available to repair even in places where we have no reach or support. The Buffalo weighs 52lb, has traditional cotter pin cranks, a steel frame for strength and ease of repair, a single coaster brake and a tubular rack capable of carrying loads of up to 250kg. Its easy to maintain and extremely tough just what Africa needs from a bike.

head at SRAM, FK Day. I wanted to give them tough, lightweight designs that were bang up to date. We quickly found that modern designs fail rapidly in these conditions, so its about refining this design to be as tough and hardwearing as possible, but also to make it so the bikes can be fixed cheaply and easily. My first task is to collect a set of parts so I can build my own WBR bike, which will be my constant companion for the rest of the week. As I put my bike together I start to appreciate how simple it is and how easily it can be assembled, maintained and repaired. I need just a handful of tools three spanners and a screwdriver. The singlespeed drivetrain and coaster or back pedal brake mean there are no cables to thread or adjust and almost no moving parts. Im pleased at how quickly I build my bike but my satisfaction evaporates as soon as JJ gives it the once over. He puts at least three more turns on each one of my carefully tightened bolts. Youll see why things have to be this tight soon enough, he says. While Im lucky to be putting my bike together in the gardens of the WBR headquarters at a leisurely pace it takes me around an hour from start to finish JJ and his crew work at a faster pace inside the assembly plant, putting together 30-40 bikes a day and, unlike me, building each set of wheels from scratch.

Ride with care

Im introduced to Rumbai, one of the 23,000 Zambian care givers to receive a WBR bike. We meet her early in the

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The power of bicycles

afRica Rides 2011

wBR will Be running three trips to Africa in 2011, one specifically for families (July) and two for adult groups (May and October). The trips include the visits and rides described here but are book-ended with safari lodge stays, where you can experience Zambias stunning national parks and wildlife. If you want a cycling holiday experience like no other, see www. worldbicyclerelief.org or email mkollins@ worldbicyclerelief.org for more information. 2011 dates: 21-29 May 23-31 July 8-16 octoBeR

morning and join her on the 15km ride to her house to meet her family. As we start out, the extent of how tough the days riding is going to be quickly becomes apparent: were only 3km in, the temperature has rocketed to over 40C and Im already running out of water, having drunk nearly all of my supplies. The track were cycling on is rutted and unpredictable, a wheel-eating combination of rocky hardpack and deep sand. But while I fight alternately for grip and pace, Rumbai seemingly floats across the surface, riding at speed and picking every line perfectly. Eventually we arrive at Rumbais home, a collection of mud-brick houses with thatched roofs on a flat outcrop, and are soon surrounded by her large family. She has nine dependent children, four of whom are hers, and five adopted nieces and grandchildren who were orphaned when their parents died of AIDS, and a husband who has recently suffered a stroke. Every day Rumbai has to find the time to feed, bathe and clothe the children as well as tend the land that her husband is no longer capable of farming. This would be more than enough work for anyone, yet Rumbai also volunteers as a care giver in her local community, helping other families affected by HIV. I ask her about the livestock drifting around the houses, and she tells me the goats were given to them by charity World Vision last year. She and her family originally received two animals, from which they bred 10. They sold two of them to buy food and gave away the remaining eight to her

neighbours an act of incredible generosity from a woman who has very little herself. When I ask about the affect HIV has had in Zambia, Im shocked by what Im told. The country is currently experiencing an epidemic, with a national HIV prevalence rate of 15 per cent among adults, age 15 to 49. As I look around its immediately apparent that a whole generation is missing: the villagers are mainly children and old people. Around 45 per cent of Zambias population is under 14, which places a massive burden of care upon those who are capable of working and above Warren supporting them.

community spirit

assembles the WBR bike hell then ride during his week in Zambia

From here we ride to the home of one of Rumbais clients, Beauty, who was diagnosed as HIV positive a year ago. Her husband died the previous year from AIDS, but she says that when she got sick she didnt believe she had the same virus. Instead she thought that a local witch had cursed her bed as punishment for her husbands death. When her illness became so bad that she couldnt stand, she sought the help of local traditional healers but her condition didnt improve. Rumbai was visiting one of Beautys neighbours when she heard about her condition. Rumbai explained to Beauty that she probably had the same condition as her husband, but Beauty still didnt believe it. Eventually Rumbai insisted on taking her to be properly tested, carrying Beauty on her bike to the hospital 35km away, where she was diagnosed as HIV positive. Thanks to Rumbai, Beauty now

Right World Bicycle Relief aims to give children like this a brighter future

Beauty and her care giver, Rumbai

A donation of 75 new bikes for Mwaluminia Basic School

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Johan Bruyneel and Warren try to keep pace with Harriet and her friend

receives regular medical care and medicine to keep her well. Zambia has a community of volunteers who devote their lives to caring for their communities in this way, most of whom have been directly affected by the devastating spread of HIV. Its an incredibly humbling experience to see how dedicated they are. WBR plays its part by providing these volunteers with the transport they need on a two-year, work-to-own contract; the incentive of ownership has increased productivity and resulted in a

97 per cent retention rate over four years two years after the contract ends. While Beauty is telling her story, the villagers gather around us, mainly to see the newcomers but also to listen to Beauty talking about her condition. This can only be a positive thing. It may be a small start but knowledge is being spread through the community and its becoming acceptable to talk about HIV that its still largely a taboo subject in Africa is currently the biggest problem medical aid groups face in the fight against the disease. We say goodbye to Beauty and her family and make our way back to the hotel. The poverty and devastation that HIV has brought to this community is difficult to bear but Im humbled by the compassion and incredible spirit of people like Rumbai, in spite of the hardships they face every day. In my air-conditioned hotel room, which is bigger than the home Rumbai and her nine children share, I sit and cry.

above The home Rumbai shares with her husband and nine children left Bicycle Joe shows off his homemade goat-carrying device for his 120km round trips to market Below Warren hands over a bike to a pupil at Mwaluminia Basic School hell keep it as long as he stays at school

schools out!

The next day we travel to Chongwe District, where WBR is providing the students at Mwaluminia Basic School with another 75 bicycles under its Bicycle Educational Empowerment Project (BEEP) project. First we meet up with Harriet, a 12-year-old student, to accompany her on the 20km journey to her school. After yesterdays emotional rollercoaster, I promise myself that Ill ride at the front with Harriet and her friends to try to get an understanding of her daily routine. Today the heat is truly oppressive, with the temperature touching 50C, and Im soon panting hard, with every breath increasing my thirst. Once again Ive underestimated how much water Ill need. At the halfway point the riders in front of me shout and start to sprint. I follow suit and after 50m of sprinting the riders in front of me peel off at 90 degrees. They have spotted a borehole and are

stopping to get water. Im not sure my constitution is ready for well water so I carry on riding. As we pass over the last climb and look down on Mwaluminia Basic School, Harriet cycles off to collect her books from the classroom and I ride down the hill towards the gathering of schoolchildren, teachers, parents and village elders assembled for the ceremony. Im quickly surrounded by hundreds of people, all chanting Muli bwanji muzungu. Each of them wants to greet me personally and I spend the next 15 minutes shaking hands until the rest of the group arrives. Chief mechanic JJ is here to oversee the bike donation programme and I ask him what theyre saying. They are saying, hello whitey, he says. The experience of hundreds of people welcoming me so warmly is one of the greatest feelings, and after the heartwrenching day spent with Rumbai and the HIV workers, today is as uplifting as yesterday was tough. WBRs involvement in education programmes stems from the dire situation in which most of the children in rural communities live. Our young riding companion Harriets day starts at 3.30am, when she gets up to feed and dress five of her younger siblings, clean up around the settlement, wash the dishes from breakfast and then fetch water from a well 2km away. Only once she has finished these chores can she begin the 20km journey to school. After lessons she returns home to help her father on the farmland, before feeding her siblings and putting them to bed. Her father explains that without the bicycle she would not be able to stay in school, as the six-hour round trip on foot would not give her the time to do her chores at home. He adds that hes worried that she may become prey to harassment or even sexual abuse as she gets older; rape and assault are all too common among the poorest communities. The bicycle means her

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the people Behind wBR

FK DAy
journey is cut to just 90 minutes and she can stay in education. As girls have more duties and responsibilities at home theyre more likely to drop out of school earlier, so the programme has a 70 per cent bias to girls rather than boys. The BEEP programme includes a contract that bestows ownership of the bike to the pupil on condition they stay in school, and the contract has to be signed by the school, the pupil and their parents. Zambian government statistics suggest that only 60 per cent of children who have access to education complete at market. He did this 120km round trip three to four times a week to earn the money to provide for his family. Joe bought his Buffalo bike over a six-month period. It has shortened his journey time to the goat farmer so he can make more trips a week to market. The extra profit allowed him to buy his wife a Buffalo bike, and she now joins him on the goat-buying excursions. Joe and his family have since built three more houses on their land, which he rents to other families. He has also started two more businesses, one growing tomatoes and groundnuts, the
co-foundeR of sRaM with his brother Stan, FK Day went to Sri Lanka in the wake of the devastating tsunami in 2004 to see how SRAM could help in the relief effort. Rather than just giving money, the company decided to donate bicycles to get the decimated population moving again 88 per cent of Sri Lankas population was reliant on bicycles for work. In total, 24,400 bikes were distributed and from this World Bicycle Relief was formed to continue the project in other parts of the world.

It may be the simplest bike Ive ever ridden, but the humble $134 WBR bike is also the most important
their schooling, but the schools that are part of the BEEP programme have seen this figure rise dramatically to around 88 per cent. Its also seen a rise in general attendance, higher grades and, more surprisingly, a reduction in pregnancies. For most recipients, their bicycle becomes their single biggest asset aside from the roof over their heads. other making and repairing clothes and sacks with his recently purchased sewing machines. Joe puts all his success down to his Buffalo bikes. What makes his story even more incredible is that hes 72 years old. When I travelled to Zambia I had little or no idea of what to expect from World Bicycle Reliefs Zambian operation. Philanthropy and charity are all well and good, but what is refreshing about WBRs work is that it doesnt see the work it does as purely charitable giving. Instead it sets out to enable people and try to save them the one asset they all have: time. Giving people transport saves them time and the more time they can save the more they can earn. It may be the simplest bike Ive ever ridden, but the humble $134 WBR bike is also the most important. Every day, it helps people move out of poverty and complete their education. It even saves lives. At Christmas I forgo my usual list of bling upgrades for my pampered road bike; I ask for a couple of Buffalo bikes for Zambia instead. For more information on World Bicycle Relief or to make a donation, visit www.worldbicyclerelief.org

DAve neISWAnDeR

Buy a Buffalo

afteR a chance meeting with FK Day in Washington DC, Dave resigned from his job as a successful international investment banker to help WBR launch the African project. He now lives and works in Zambias capital, Lusaka, and is head of African operations.

BRIAn BeRKHOUT

BRian used to farm in Zimbabwe before relocating to neighbouring Zambia, where he lives and farms. After World Bicycle Relief came to his local town, he decided to get involved himself. He now runs the projects operations back in his home country Zimbabwe.

WBRs work in Africa isnt all about charity though. It has partnered with another charity, Harmos, to create a micro-finance institution that allows anyone to buy a WBR bike (the sale version is called the Buffalo) over a three to six month period. I meet one returning customer of the financiers. Bicycle Joe has bought two Buffalo bikes, one for himself and one for his wife, and the bikes have given him the chance to become an entrepreneur. Before he had a Buffalo, Joe rode a 16in-wheeled kids bike that he found and repaired himself. Hed cycle 20km to buy goats from a goat farmer, two at a time, which he would put into his self-made carrying rack and transport 50km into the city to sell them

BALDWIn JJ BAnDA

JJ RepResented ZaMBia in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and was riding and training with the Kenyan cycling team members when they took a wrong turn and ended up on the M61! Since retiring from racing, JJ works for World Bicycle Relief as chief mechanic, running the assembly plant in Lusaka and training field mechanics all over Zambia.

MIKe KOLLInS

Mike Joined wBR after a 15-year career with Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Mike was interested in helping increase economic development in Africa and after meeting with FK Day and Dave neiswander in 2009, he relocated to Kenya to help set up WBRs expansion into east Africa. He now works for WBR in the US, focusing on expansion strategy and other special projects.

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