Anticipation is building as the bicycles land in Namibia. (This photo was taken at the opening of another bicycle workshop recently)
The container of Huron County bicycles arrived in Walvis Bay’s port on 1 April.
Once it clears customs, it will be sent to the village of Okatana, an 8 hour drive north of Windhoek.
The container will be transformed into a bicycle workshop. Bicycles will be refurbished and sold to assist a support group for People Living with HIV/AIDS, run by Catholic AIDS Action. The money generated will also pay for the salary of 5 people who will run the business. They will receive skills training in bicycle mechanics and small business management, giving them much needed employment.
Other bicycles will be donated to needy people in the community. At least 10 road bicycles will be given to secondary school children who are part of a competitive cycling program at Physically Active Youth.
It is expected the bicycle workshop will be open in June 2009. I will be traveling to Okatana in the next few weeks to put names and faces to the people who will benefit from this project.
Stay tuned.
