Simple ideas + action, save lives. World Bicyclye Relief (WBR) is an idea that embodies this concept. WBR was founded and started by one man, F.K. Day. F.K. was completely moved by the tragedy of the Tsunami that hit Thailand and Sri Lanka in December 2004. Based on the images of sorrow and loss he saw on television, he traveled there with his wife, a professional photographer, to see what they could do to help out. F.K. runs a high end bike parts company called Shram and his initial idea was to donate bikes to children in the region. However, when he and his wife travelled to Thailand and started interviewing local people, they learned that adults were the ones in much greater need of bikes. In fact, bikes were vitally necessary for a family to transport, goods, food, and medicine and to improve their economic stability. Although originally thinking they would provide a few hundred bikes, they discovered that nearly ten thousand bikes were needed. F.K. used his connections with bicycle companies and makers around the globe to make and donate bikes by the thousands to Asia. World Vision, with whom he had partnered, then approached F.K. about doing a similar project in Africa. Upon learning that, in Africa, the same number of people that died in the Tsunami die every 10 days from HIV/AIDS and other various diseases, F.K. knew Africa would be his next venture.
F.K. started his work in Zamia where WBR is now headquartered. WBR delivers its bikes to health care workers throughout the nine provinces of Zambia. The bikes enable health care workers to carry medical supples and medicine to Zambians in need of medical care. The bikes allow health care workers, who are all volunteers, to see many more patients than they possibly could on foot. Health care workers, who sign a two year contract to use the bicycles, can also use them for their own economic development and well-being.
Today we learned first hand the importance of bikes to the African community. In the morning, we visited the TATA factory to see how the bicyles are made and assembled. These are no ordinary bicycles. In F.K.’s words, they are ’60 lbs of love’. These bikes are made of steel. They have a sturdy steel frame, one gear, thick tires, and a rack on the back that can hold up to 200 lbs. All the bicycles are made by hand by mechanics who are not paid but do receive training, a set of tools, a pair of overalls and a free bike. With these skills and tools, the mechanics have a useful trade and can support themselves by earning money to repair bikes in their local communities. The workers build approximately 45 bikes in a day.
Building a bike is no easy task as we learned later in the afternoon when we had the opportunity to build the bikes ourselves.
It was a bit daunting from the beginning. Laid out on the ground in front of us were the bike frames and all the parts that needed to be assembled: pedals, handle bars, fenders, kick stands, wheels, a bicyle seat, and many, many types of bolts and screws. In groups of three and four, we began assembling the bikes. It was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. Luckily for us, five of the mechanics from the factory assisted us. With their help and encouragement, each group assembled 3 bicycles. We tested them out afterwards and can safely say that they all worked! It was a great feeling of accomplishment and all of us agreed that it was very labor intensive. It took anywhere from 1 to 1 ½ hours for us to assemble each bicycle. We certainly had a much greater appreciation for the mechanics who manage to make a minimum of 45 a day.
On Monday, we will personally deliver and ceremoniously present our 30 bikes to Monze, a rural community in southern Zambia. I have no doubt that our batch of ’60 lbs of Love’ will be used to save lives.
P.S. It cost $109.00 to donate a bicycle.