Bikes 4 Africa

Many African children live in remote communities a long way from the nearest school. Without access to reliable transport their only option is to walk many miles each day in searing heat. This often leaves them exhausted when they arrive and affects their ability to concentrate and learn.

The Bikes 4 Africa concept is simple. We collect unwanted bikes, deliver them to Loughan House open prison in Cavan where they are serviced and refurbished. We then collect the bikes and ship them to West Africa where they are donated to a school. The school distributes the bikes to the children they identify as getting the greatest benefit from them.

Often, when the children return from school in the evening, with the addition of a simple attachment the bikes are used by mothers to collect water.

So many people benefit from this scheme - prisoners learning a skill which can lead to a City And Guilds qualification, the children themselves, their parents and teachers.