Bicycle Empowerment Centres

BEN Namibia began its bicycle distribution programme by importing second hand, donated bicycles from overseas partners, refurbishing them in our Windhoek warehouse and distributing them to our partners throughout Namibia. We soon realised, however, that our partners needed better access to tools, spare parts and the skills to keep their bicycles maintained. Distributing small quantities of bicycles in a vast country like Namibia is also expensive and time-consuming.

Through a partnership with a Canadian organisation, Bicycles for Humanity, we have developed a new bicycle distribution model, the Bicycle Empowerment Centre (BEC). A BEC is a shipping container loaded with around 300 bicycles, spare parts and tools.

BECs are delivered to the community based organisations that BEN Namibia works with and run as bicycle workshops. We delivered the first BEC in December 2006 in the village of Okathitu, and the second in February 2007 in Tsumeb. Two more have been delivered to Oshakati, and one to Hakahana in Katutura, Windhoek

Bicycles for Humanity helps its chapters in developed countries to organise bicycle collections and to raise money for the shipping. Each chapter is connected to a particular project, so that they know exactly where their container and bicycles will end up, and BEN Namibia provides feedback and reports on each project

In February 2008, three more BECs were opened in Okalongo, Ondangwa and Rundu. BEN Namibia hopes to deliver another 15 during 2008.