January 2009 Update

KOFORIDUA, GHANA: ABILITY BIKES

See David Branigan's blog and photos

The Ability Bike shop is up and running! This project sponsored by Bikes Not Bombs and Emmanuel’s Educational Foundation and Sports Academy (EEFSA) was begun in early 2008 and has faced many financial challenges throughout the year. The success story has been documented by David Branigan, the BNB trainer in his blog - the story of 6 physically challenged individuals becoming Ghana’s first cooperatively owned and operated bike enterprise. David, the Ability Bikes staff, and EEFSA were all intensively engaged in clearing the customs and raising the needed funds to pay fees and trucking on the second donated 40’ container of bicycle aid from Bikes Not Bombs and a solidarity committee based in Brattelboro VT. The clearing process, finalized on Jan 23rd was made much more difficult by the recent change in government and changing administrative posts. With this second container, Ability Bikes is now assured financial security for the first half of 2009 as they proceed to becoming an officially registered cooperative enterprise in April 2009.

ARUSHA, TANZANIA: GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR AFRICA'S VIJANA CENTER

After a long and arduous process the Vijana Vocational Training Center's administrative director Boniface Kimboka was able to clear the customs on our container that was shipped back in October! This was the second container BNB shipped to this project. After BNB International Programs Director, Carl Kurz, made his visit in late Sept, he and Boniface have been in constant email contact and are looking forward to shipping two containers of bicycle aid in 2009. Vijana is going through an expansion of its vocational services; expanding the welding skills program and adding courses in computer repair and the bike progam. These additions will also provide sellable items for the school to generate more income – items like door and window frames, craft items and furniture made from bike parts, and more repair services for bikes and computers. This is great news for the more than 200 orphans that attend the school.

NEVIS, ST. KITTS: NEVIS BIKES NOT BOMBS

Two individuals from the expanding Nevis Bikes Not Bombs Earn-A-Bike program will be coming to Boston in March to participate in a skills development workshop. To make this program even more effective a BNB trainer will be traveling to Nevis to witness first-hand the conditions on the ground for Earn-A-Bike programs and view the proposed sites and engage in discussions around expansion of this successful program to more communities on the island.

BNB will commit to a bike aid shipment in 2009 and will be working closely with Nevis BNB to procure tools and items needed for their expansion. Program manager Kristina Stoney reports, “Don and Bass have worked hard and beautifully on the Earn-A-Bike program here, liaising with Ms. Maynard for regular meetings, creating more support in communities and running classes for New Castle and Gingerland areas.“

This travel exchange is being funded by John Rowse, one of the founders of the Boston Building Materials Cooperative (BBMC), as a memorial to Don Malloy, a long term employee of the BBMC who was also an avid cyclist and BNB supporter. Don was killed in and auto accident while volunteering in an effort to rebuild houses destroyed by hurricane Katrina in Mobile, Alabama. Being able to carry out this project in honor of Don adds deeper meaning to this important act of international solidarity.