Archive for October, 2009

An update from Tanzania

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

A year ago, Kona Basic Needs donated 120 AfricaBikes to the Great Ruaha River Water Management project run by WWF Tanzania. To follow up with the cause, Petro Masolwa of the WWF updated us on the project as well as the state of the donated bikes. Here is what Petro had to say:

“The bikes are still tough and going strong. The bikes are being used by our water managers and with the use of the bikes these managers have been able to help calm down conflicts over water use and take disciplinary action on the offenders on a timely basis due to the quick access to the Village Government offices on the bikes.”

If you’re interested in joining the second handover of AfricaBikes in Tanzania, which will aim to take place the last week of November/first week of December, please email: biketownafrica@gmail.com with the headline ‘Interested in Bike Town Tanzania.’

Thanks Petro.

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Kona AfricaBike expands program intiatives to Vietnam

Friday, October 16th, 2009

As a result of a recent partnership with Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthrophy, Kona AfricaBikes has the opportunity to expand its program beyond the cause of HIV/AIDS healthcare workers in Africa.  Next month Roadmonkey will lead a two-week “adventure philanthropy” expedition through the  Central Highlands of Vietnam with the goal, in part, being to provide ethnic minority students (and teachers) at the Kon Ray School with AfricaBikes.

A 10-person Roadmonkey team will cycle for more than 300 miles from Dangan into the Central Highlands where they will spend four days building an organic farm at the Kon Ray School to help create sustainable revenue for the school. Roadmonkey’s non-profit partner for the farm building project, the East Meets West Foundation along with Kon Ray teachers, government officials and community residents will help assemble the Kona AfricaBikes and plant 250 trees.

“Kona’s AfricaBikes will help these kids get to school safely and reliably,” says Paul Von Ziebauer, a former New York Times reporter and Iraq correspndent as well as the found of Roadmonkey.

Read coverage about the trip on Bicycleretailer.com and USAToday.com

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AfricaBike featured in Oct issue of Outside

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Outside: AfricaBike

Yes, the hard-working AfricaBike’s are donated each year to home healthcare workers, but they also make one hell of a commuter bike too. See what Outside magazine has to say HERE.

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In Pictures: BikeTown Africa Orange Farm, South Africa

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make this a memorable handover.

And, many thanks to Scott Perkins for all the images….

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2 days and 269 bikes later

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

I can think of a lot things I could fit into 48 hours, but building and testing 269 bikes seems about as possible as Chicago hosting the 2016 Olympics. However, with the help of the good people at Maverick Cycles and volunteers Scotty Perkins, Carol Williamson, and Gretchen Pendleton, 269 Kona AfricaBikes were  given to 30 communities around Orange Farm, South Africa. Read the full story HERE.

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