From July 31st through August 11th, International Programs Director David Branigan visited the youth Earn-A-Bike project in Nevis, West Indies. David assessed the strengths and the needs of the program and built relationships with the local project organizers, the youth from five communities, and the government agencies involved in directly supporting the ongoing development of the program. David recognized tremendous potential for the expansion of the Earn-A-Bike program in Nevis within the next 2-3 years.


(Photos by David Branigan.)

Nevis Earn-A-Bike was first developed in early 2007 as a start-up project of Bikes Not Bombs, and since then it has provided Earn-A-Bike training to nearly 400 youth from 10 communities around the island. In early 2009, two local organizers of the program, Donford Wilkinson and Godfrey Todd, visited BNB in Boston and participated in the Adult Instructor Training. Donford then continued to organize the youth throughout Nevis and worked to build a network of youth clubs that received Earn-A-Bike training. In May of this year, Bikes Not Bombs shipped our second container to Nevis Earn-A-Bike, providing the bikes, parts and tools needed to supply two more years of Earn-A-Bike programming.

Currently, Donford is working closely with the Department of Social Services as well as with the Community Development Officers to expand and strengthen the network of youth clubs, to increase the number of trained adult and youth volunteers, and to grow the program so that Earn-A-Bike sessions can run concurrently in different communities around the island. Donford is also working to develop an income stream for Nevis Earn-A-Bike through youth-led fundraising and the sale of a portion of the bikes they receive.

BNB plans to continue providing ongoing technical assistance to Nevis Earn-A-Bike. We will also offer targeted support within the next two years to help build a Youth Instructor program, modeled after the success of our program in Boston which has brought youth program graduates up into leadership jobs.