Bicycle empowerment center
An initiative established by local partner NGOs in Zanzibar, Daraja Foundation and Kawa Training Center, and aims to empower young adults, create educational opportunities, respect our environment and support schools and communities throughout Zanzibar. Donated bicycles are received from Bicycles 4 Humanity in Canada and are used towards our aims. Since our empowerment center opened, we have been able to give the gift of mobility through bike donations to communities, provide education on bike mechanics to students, support small businesses and create employment.
accomplishments |
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▪︎ Bicycles were received in February and March and bicycles were divided and transported in April Construction started in June to build our center. The center itself is an extension of the container on site. We added doors along the side of the container, created a cement platform for the workshop, built a secure storage area, added a tool rack and attached a tin roof for shade.
▪︎ In July, ZBEC began to serve as a base for bike mechanic training. Kawa Training Center students learn how to fix bikes as part of a course and they prepare a number of bikes for community donations which we facilitate and donate together with the Ministry of Education. ▪︎ Since the courses started, students have prepared over 40 bicycles for donation. ZBEC was then able to give the gift of mobility through bike donations to communities. |
▪︎ Our first community donation of 20 bicycles was a success at Uzi Primary and Secondary School with the Ministry of Education in Zanzibar, we have donated an additional 15 bikes to women in Chukwani, Cheju, Kibele areas and 5 to More Africa. This project and donation was in combination with an outreach program, to show women in the rural area opportunities in tourism.
▪︎At this time our bike mechanical students are preparing 20 bikes for the bike2school project. With this project we want to promote cycling as an alternative transport to school. ▪︎ Bike sale revenue goes back into the program. It's what has helped us run the center, continue to build it, repair more bikes and deliver them to communities in need. A portion of funds has already gone back to our NGOs to help us sustain our individual programs as well. |
zanzibar bicycle empowerment center
ZBEC goals
a. Continued Education and Training
Our aim is to build on and improve our current methods as well as expand our reach in education, training and employment opportunities in the tourism and environmental sector by using the Zanzibar Bicycle Empowerment Center as a base for learning quality bicycle mechanics, bicycle tourism, business and environmental awareness.
b. Economic Growth
We would like to pay closer attention this year to the positive impact that ZBEC can have small-business initiatives, specifically Bluebikes and Flo Bikes. In 2021 we intend to support these businesses in their growth by giving bicycles to them from future shipments, providing a space to repair bikes, increasing access to community networks and training students that can potentially be employed by these businesses in the bear future.
ZBEC will support Bluebikes in expanding to 4 strategic locations on the island and offer bicycle rentals, mechanical services and cycling tours. ZBEC will support Flo Bikes in initiating an e-bike business, by providing a space to transform a regular bike into an electronic bike.
c. Health Promotion Cycling Campaign (Bike2School Campaign)
This year we would like to initiate our cycling campaign across the island, have a greater presence in schools and host more cycling events and competitions to bring awareness to the importance bicycles on Zanzibar. Cycling campaigns will be in partnerships with local schools at the end of each 3 month-course and will take place over 1 week. Students will run the campaign and will teach about road safety, small repairs and healthy living. We also have a goal to produce a promotional film after the first Bike2school Bonanza, which we hope will lead to an island wide campaign about the benefits of cycling.
Our aim is to build on and improve our current methods as well as expand our reach in education, training and employment opportunities in the tourism and environmental sector by using the Zanzibar Bicycle Empowerment Center as a base for learning quality bicycle mechanics, bicycle tourism, business and environmental awareness.
b. Economic Growth
We would like to pay closer attention this year to the positive impact that ZBEC can have small-business initiatives, specifically Bluebikes and Flo Bikes. In 2021 we intend to support these businesses in their growth by giving bicycles to them from future shipments, providing a space to repair bikes, increasing access to community networks and training students that can potentially be employed by these businesses in the bear future.
ZBEC will support Bluebikes in expanding to 4 strategic locations on the island and offer bicycle rentals, mechanical services and cycling tours. ZBEC will support Flo Bikes in initiating an e-bike business, by providing a space to transform a regular bike into an electronic bike.
c. Health Promotion Cycling Campaign (Bike2School Campaign)
This year we would like to initiate our cycling campaign across the island, have a greater presence in schools and host more cycling events and competitions to bring awareness to the importance bicycles on Zanzibar. Cycling campaigns will be in partnerships with local schools at the end of each 3 month-course and will take place over 1 week. Students will run the campaign and will teach about road safety, small repairs and healthy living. We also have a goal to produce a promotional film after the first Bike2school Bonanza, which we hope will lead to an island wide campaign about the benefits of cycling.