| File: Wbr logo.jpg | |
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Founder | F.K. Day |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Location |
|
Area served | 8 countries |
| Website | www.worldbicyclerelief.org |
World Bicycle Relief is a non-profit organization based in Chicago, IL that specializes in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle distribution programs to aid poverty re lief and disaster recovery initiatives in developing countries around the world. Their programs focus primarily on education, economic development, and healthcare.
Background
editWorld Bicycle Relief was created in 2005 by SRAM co-founder and Executive Vice President F.K. Day following the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.[1] After facing repeated rejections of bike donations from lage relief organizations, Day flew to Sri Lanka to propose his idea to local relief efforts.[2] World Bicycle Relief then partnered with World Vision and a local manufacturer to desing, produce, and distribute custom bicycles to fit the needs and terrain of the recipients, a format that they would later use with other projects.[2]
Projects
editBEEP
editLaunched in June of 2009, the Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP) is an educational initiative in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Education, community-based organizations and several international NGOs. Its goal is to provide 50,000 bicycles to school children (70% girls) and teachers in rural ditricts in Zambia in order to improve access to education by cutting down travel time. [3]
Project Zambia
editProject CHAI
editProject Tsunami
editMicrofinance Initiatives
editReferences
edit- ^ Fitch, Stephanie (21 April 2010). "Can This Bicycle Save Lives in Africa?". Forbes. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ a b Howard, Hilary (21 April 2010). "How to Help the Young Superheros". New York Times. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ Day, F.K. (20 January 2010). "Remembering the Tsunami, 55,000 Bike Later". Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 July 2011.