Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you get the bicycles?From partners in the UK, Europe, US and Canada. Some are centralised organisations such as Re~Cycle and Bikes for the World.
Recently we have been working closely with Bicycles for Humanity
How can I send you my bicycle?
We are not able to collect bicycles through ad hoc donations, unless you happen to be passing through Namibia on holiday. So we suggest you visit Bicycles for Humanity and find out more about how to involve your community in a project to ship a container of bicycles to Namibia. This site also lists centralised collection organisations, around the world, you can check the list to see if there is an organisation near you.
My friends and I want to do a fun ride and fund-raise for BEN Namibia. How can you support us?
We have had tremendous support from individuals wanting to turn their bike tour or community cycling event into a fundraiser, and we can provide you with promotional material and reporting on how the funds raised were allocated, so you can feedback to the participants.
I have bicycle mechanic skills and would like to participate in your projects. Can I become a volunteer?
We welcome volunteers with bike mechanic skills who would like to participate in our projects. If you this is your case, please email us
I like the sound of your organisation and would like to come to Namibia to help out, but have no idea how. Can I become a volunteer?
Although we welcome who would like to get involved in our projects, we request that potential volunteers think carefully about their skills and how they fit with BEN Namibia’s activities. If you feel your skills could be a good match with a BEN Namibia project, please email us
What kind of bicycles to you need in Namibia?
Mountain bikes. The sandy, thorny conditions in rural Namibia mean that only bikes with wide tyres are appropriate for healthcare volunteers. We do however accept donations of high-end road bikes to support Team BEN Namibia and other youth sports cycling development.
Where do you get your spare parts?
We order new parts from suppliers in South Africa, and we receive secondhand ones in the containers from overseas donors.
How do I know BEN Namibia is an accountable organisation?
BEN Namibia is accountable to our Board of Directors, donors, partners, beneficiaries and staff. We provide our stakeholders with reports by project, all of which are available upon request. An accredited auditor (Grant Thornton Neuhaus) inspects our accounts annually.
Do you work with Namibian Government?
We are constantly strengthening our ties with the Namibian Government. We have already been recognised as an important organisation in the national response to HIV/AIDS by the Namibia Network of AIDS Service Organisations (NANASO)
Who funds your work?
Our funds come from diverse donors including development agencies, charities, business sector, faith-based organisations, schools and numerous individual donors. We do not receive any substantial support from any one donor for our running costs, so every donation counts. Click here to see our donors to date.
If I want to donate cash to your organisation, what are you going to do with it?
Unless a donor specifies to which project they would like to donate, BEN Namibia will decide where to allocate it based on our priorities at the time.
Who benefits from BEN Namibia and how are the partners selected?
Usually our direct beneficiaries are volunteers engaged in HIV/AIDS home-based care projects. We also work with orphans and vulnerable children support groups and with organisations focusing on community development at the grassroots level. Our partners are selected in accordance to identified transport needs and to their capacity to design, implement, monitor and evaluate the project with BEN Namibia.
How can my Namibian organisation benefit from BEN Namibia? Do you have an application process?
We do not have a formal application process. Our main focus is HIV/AIDS projects but we are also opened to partners who focus on community development. Whenever we get in touch with a potential partner, we initiate a preliminary assessment in order to understand the project’s transport needs and how BEN Namibia can help address them.
How do you know your work is effective?
BEN Namibia’s methodologies integrate gender analysis, participatory community needs assessments, ownership mechanisms and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems. Through our monitoring and evaluation activities, we have been constantly improving the components of our methodology in order to deliver a more relevant, efficient and effective service.
I am a researcher and would like to conduct field research with your projects. Is it possible?
Yes, it is possible and welcome. We are interested in hearing from postgraduate students—either in an international or Namibian university—who would like to conduct research on our projects. We have opportunities for researchers who would like to come to Namibia or who would prefer us to send data. Please email us
What is the connection between BEN Namibia and BEN Cape Town? BEN Namibia was inspired by BEN Cape Town and shares the same values. However, both are autonomous organisations.
Have you ever won any awards?
Yes, in 2006 we won an award from the Namibian Olympic Committee for community sport development.
Can you support projects in other countries?
Yes we can, mainly by sharing methodologies, systems and providing advice on logistics.