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bicycles, Collectors, Guatemala

High Gear Cyclery and Pedals for Progress Team Up to Change Lives

2014fallHighgearGroupHigh Gear Cyclery is pleased to have partnered with Pedals for Progress (P4P), with the first load of 193 kids’ bikes being readied for shipment to Guatemala in mid-June, 2014. There will be a container load of previously loved kids bikes from our NJ customers shipped to be distributed to families in Guatemala.

Bike-shop-quality kids’ bikes are built to last a long time. However, kids grow up fast, and their bikes get set aside when they’ve outgrown them. High Gear began to offset this trend years ago when they started a Trade-up Program. These bikes now can be put to good use and provide value to customers after a child has grown out of his/her bike and can help change the lives of families here in the US and in less developed countries. When customers bring back the bike purchased at High Gear they receive a Trade-up Credit to use toward the purchase of any new bike in the store.

Over the years High Gear Cyclery has donated more than 2,000 used kids bikes to a variety of local charities This is the first time that the used bikes will be shipped overseas to change lives.

2014fallHighGearRoneYeeDave

It was great luck that High Gear has a number of kids bikes and P4P was planning a shipment to a charity named FIDESMA in Guatemala for June. Given the average height of many of the Guatemalans, the 24-inch kid’s bike will become an adult bike to be used by a mother or father who now can get to work to do their job and get home in time to take care of the kids, and support themselves.

Each 16- and 20-inch bicycle will go to a child who will now be able to go to school on a regular basis. With a bicycle comes a life change, ease in getting to school and more time to study or play. There are 16-inch bikes for seven, eight and nine-year-old kids who are going to use them to commute to school. The 20-inch bikes will go to older kids who may use them for a combination of work and school commuting. Of course, as a bike shop, High Gear Cyclery believes that bikes can change anyone’s life. Sometimes we just don’t appreciate just how much impact a bike can have on a life. The stories and success of P4P shine a new light on just how important a bike can be in someone’s life and on a village and an economy.

Albania, bicycles

Update on Our Partner Ecovolis

by Patricia Hamill
Fall 2014 InGear

7Just recently, we received some positive updates from Ened Mato, CEO of Ecovolis in Albania. He announced that there have been 4 successful projects put in motion that were made possible through our partnership with them.

The first project he told us about was the development of an entrepreneurial endeavor called Trasta o Nona (The Sack is the Best). With the 20 sewing machines P4P was able to ship to them, 5 disadvantaged young people gained employment making cloth bags to replace the heavily depended on plastic bags from stores. In three months, 3,000 bags were sold. Even better is the fact that their overhead so far is 0 since the material comes from coffee companies and donated clothing.

The second success story is about a movement called Release Lanes or the Free Bike Lanes Movement that was started by thousands of bicycle enthusiasts in Tirana. They are actively protesting the lack of bike lanes and poor driver awareness that the cyclists must deal with daily. Funding from P4P’s involvement was the catalyst for this activism and all participants readily acknowledge our part in their cause.

As most of you know, not all of the bicycles shipped elsewhere go solely to new owners to use. In some cases, as with Ecovolis, the cycles are sold to the public and then the funds collected are used for improving the lives of the local population. For instance, the first $7,000 (USD) earned from a bicycle sale was directly transformed into something called Ecological Gardens. Five public gardens in Tirana that were languishing from neglect, now have solar panels installed, parking for bicycles, and recycling receptacles. All make these locations cleaner and more relaxing now.

Ened also informed us that some funds collected in April from bike sales was put to use building small freestanding “libraries” in some of the parks and playgrounds in Tirana. Children are able to take a book out of the little library and then return it for another. Lastly, some of the bikes at the time of the sale were reserved for the children’s daycare center Shtwpiza e Ngjyrave (House of Colors) so that the little ones would have more options for playtime.

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As their web site states, Ecovolis was created to be “ . . . a program that will forever change the way people perceive [Tirana], how they experience and perceive transportation, creating a more vibrant city, a place where people want to work and live with a quality and entertaining environment.” In these days of reinventing ourselves and putting concerted effort into recycling all that we can, it’s always gratifying to learn how the donated bicycles and sewing machines from the States become more than used cycles or machines elsewhere. They become clean energy sources, earth friendly bags made by newly employed people, books for children, and even garden plots. It might be time to take a trip to see Tirana’s improvements in person.

bicycles, Ghana

Mr. Mahmudu

by Fuseni Bense
Fall 2014 InGear

Mr. Mahmudu is a native of Kidal from Northern Mali who moved to Ghana due to the conflict in his hometown (Kilda) where he lived before. Because of the extent of the conflict and the threat involved, he tried to move his wife and six kids to southern Mali in order to escape the risk involved in the fighting.

Mr. Mahmudu getting ready for work.
Mr. Mahmudu getting ready for work.

As he moved to Southern Mali, things were not easy for him as well. He later survived suicide attacks which led to the death of one of his daughters with others severely injured. Only one child survived with no wound in the attack.

Later, the incident left him with no choice but to move to Ghana alone in order to earn a living to cater for his wife and kids. When he came to Ghana, he had nothing in hand to start a trade to satisfy his basic needs as well as to take of his wife and kids back in Mali. He later joined a construction firm as a laborer. After a few months as a laborer, he was able to save an amount of GH$50. He then started to sell used shoes, a business he had earlier thought of on his arrival in Ghana.

He then bought from a wholesaler 5 pairs of shoes with which he began his trade. Mr. Mahmudu had to carry the shoes on his head and shoulders and comb around the city for about 30 – 40 Km/day trying to sell them to make a living. He later heard about the tremendous help WEBikes gave to the needy and came there to seek for assistance to own a bike which could help him cover more Kilometers so he can sell more to boost his income.

WEBikes, a Non Governmental Organization, assisted Mr. Mahmudu with a bike at a cost of $10 only. Mr. Mahmudu became more mobile with the help of the bike given to him by WEBikes and P4P and his trade grew. Thanks to WEBikes and P4P, Mr. Mahmudu can now take care of his wife and kids. The kids now attend school in the capital of Mali (Bamako).

bicycles, Moldova, Peace Corps

Moldova Shipment Arrives

by Carol Stadden, Peace Corps Volunteer
InGear Fall 2014

Walking down the street, strangers stop me and ask when the bikes will arrive. They thank me, sometimes with a hug or even a kiss on the hand. Everyone hopes to buy at least one bike and they are eager for them to come. The school basement has been cleared and new locks have been purchased for the doors as we await our “Christmas in June”. Something like this doesn’t happen every day in a small village like Grozesti!

The Diamond Challenge team made headlines in America. Grozesti proudly sent the winning Moldovan team of young entrepreneurs to compete in the National Diamond Challenge competition at the University of Delaware the end of April. Their winning business concept was to open a bicycle repair/rental business using the bikes from P4P to start their venture. Tudor and Tamara got to spend their first day in the US with David, president of P4P! He took them on a scenic tour of High Bridge and to see where the bikes are loaded into crates. David taught them the easiest way to price the bikes once they arrive in Moldova, “Close your eyes and feel the weight of the bike; the lighter it feels, the more expensive it is”. Tudor and Tamara spent the night at David’s home and both said they would never forget his wife’s pancakes! In the morning they were whisked off to Delaware for a tour of the college campus and the following day the team took third place in the competition! Even though they did not win, they gained valuable knowledge about starting a business and they had a trip of a lifetime; it was a dream that came true for them.

Volunteers put pedals back onto the bikes in Moldova.
Volunteers put pedals back onto the bikes in Moldova.

In early May flyers were posted in our village and neighboring villages describing P4P and the shipment of bikes and sewing machines. Raffle tickets were sold to give away one free bike in order to generate funds and more excitement–if that was even possible!

We sold over 1,000 tickets. When the truck pulled up on June 12th, young and old gathered at the school to help unload the crate and to get a good look at its contents. Before the school’s summer break I spoke to each of the senior classes to find my crew of mechanics and sales people. My inventory team arrived and we began the long process of numbering and cataloging each bike. Pricing came later. No one can believe how beautiful the bikes are or that they are “used”.

Children trying out their new bikes
Children trying out their new bikes

My team of 12 mechanics worked like a well oiled machine. We had all the bikes repaired in two days! Tickets were sold in advance and the first five winners were waiting patiently with a stream of onlookers behind them. Each new bike owner was interviewed so in the future we will be able to monitor the usefulness of the P4P program and help P4P determine if it is achieving its mission goals. The entire container of bikes, which seemed enormous when it first arrived, completely disappeared over the weekend.

Everyone left happy. 50 bikes were purchased by an innovative entrepreneur who will rent the bikes to tourists who stay in his network of rental homes (Hai la tara). They are beautiful vacant homes dotted throughout Moldova belonging to grannies on a pension. This money supplements their meager incomes.

I am now working with a young woman who wants to help stem the tide of human trafficking in Moldova by teaching the young girls (and boys) in our village to sew. She will teach classes at the school and open a small shop. Her shop will provide needed jobs making it unnecessary to migrate in order to find work! So this is the summer when Grozesti became “the village where everyone rides a bike”.

Sewing Partners, Tanzania

Community Support Mission, Tanzania #2

Tanz #2As we reported in our Spring 2014 newsletter, P4P sent 41 sewing machines to Dar es Salaam (DSM) in Tanzania in October of 2013. We shipped with the generous support of one of our valued supporters, Clif Bar Family Foundation. Our partner in Tanzania, Community Support Mission (CSM), works closely with those in poverty to help them earn their own living and create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

On August 5, 2014, P4P prepared two additional pallets of sewing machines to continue our support of CSM.  On September 18,2014, CSM will receive in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 60 refurbished working sewing machines.  Refurbished means Dennis Smyth and Doc Hammond cleaned and fixed all of these machines; P4P is greatly indebted to them for their work. This will bring P4P’s year to date total of sewing machines shipped to 182. P4P expects to ship over 300 in 2014.

The first shipment to CSM was totally paid for by the Clif Bar Family Foundation. The value of the sewing machines in that shipment funded CSM for the majority of the shipping costs of the second shipment.  Again we used a small subsidy but going forward Community Support Mission will be capable of paying the shipping costs in total. This creates a level of sustainability that is very advantageous.

P4P needs strong reliable distribution partners run by nationals of the country involved.  With our revolving fund system, we bring our overseas partner financially into the workings of the program.  Once we have them working with us cooperatively within the finances,  we can teach them basic best practices with regards not only to their finances but to their overall program.  We start by convincing them that they can seriously help their community and do so in a net positive financial manner with P4P’s support.  Wilfredo Santana Rodriquez of Rivas, Nicaragua, started the first revolving fund program with P4P in 1992.  The value of our shipments is double or greater than the actual cost of shipping. Our partners can afford to pay the shipping costs and are better financial stewards when they do so. It does take that first shipment or two to prime the pump and adding new programs would be very difficult without our solid financial sponsors. Having strong solid partnerships domestically and internationally has been the hallmark of the success of Pedals for Progress.

bicycles, Guatemala

Guatemala #15 Arrives

CAM01961

Dear David,

On behalf of the beneficiaries of bikes and the beneficiaries of social projects, thank you for your continued support. We would like to thank Pedals for Progress for all of the activities FIDESMA can accomplish with the bicycles and sewing machines.

We finished the inventory of bikes, and now began with sales of the bikes and other pending activities. Attached are photos of the container when it arrived in San Andrés Itzapa.

We also want to thank you for the the magazine you sent us, everyone is reading the magazine. We will send another letter soon to update you.

Thank you from the Members of FIDESMA.

Margarita Caté

CAM01965

Moldova, Sewing Partners

Sewing Machines in Moldova – Summer 2014

Aneta is a French teacher at the high school. She cares deeply for her students and the community. She spent many hours helping with the logistics of bringing the bicycles and sewing machines to Grozesti. When she was young all the girls learned how to sew, knit, and crochet. Her father was an artist and filled their home with tapestries. Aneta wanted to pass these skills on to the next generation. When she found out that our shipment of bikes would also contain sewing machines we quickly applied for a grant to pay for ten machines, tables, chairs, lights, and fabric. Her parent’s home has been vacant for the past 7 years and her plan is to turn it into a sewing shop. DSC02117 She will teach a sewing class at the high school and those students who show promise will be offered a position in the shop. Moldova is ranked the highest in Eastern Europe for victims of human trafficking. She hopes to teach the most vulnerable young women in the village a valuable skill so they will not be so easily duped into believing there is a dream job waiting for them in Romania or Italy. In this picture you see Aneta with her granddaughter, Denis. Aneta has been taking care of Denis for the past 2 years while her daughter studies and works in Italy. Jobs are scarce in Moldova. Aneta is doing a great thing by sharing her knowledge and love of sewing while creating jobs and a future for her village.

 

Madagascar, Turtles

Bicycles to Turtle Rangers in Madagascar

Angonoka_baby_LWoolaverGetting bicycles to the Paso Pacifico Turtle Rangers of Nicaragua was such a successful first collaboration with the Turtle Conservancy that we asked if there were other such groups we might be able to help. The Turtle Conservancy introduced P4P to Mr. Hasina Randriamanampisoa of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Ampasanimalo Madagascar. Just like the Rangers in Nicaragua, it’s very important that these conservationists have the mobility to get out into the threatened habitats. Working with communities and Malagasy authorities, Durrell’s efforts have led to the creation of 4 protected areas – the three more to come in the near future. Over 500 critically endangered ploughshare tortoises have been bred in Durrell captive breeding centre, and over 8- released back to the wild as part of the Project Angonoka. On May 15th P4P and Turtle Convervancy shipped 12 mountain bikes to Tamatiave Madagascar and they will arrive in Mid-July.

bicycles, Costa Rica

Miranda Family

DSCN8096Due to its warm, sunny climate, Tacares de Grecia in the Alajuela Province is one of Costa Rica’s main areas for growing tomatoes, the dry season being the most suitable for planting crops. The Miranda Family owns a small plot for producing tomatoes. They distribute and sell their goods through roadside vendors as well as deliver tomatoes directly to customers using bicycles outfitted with baskets, charging 1000 colones (approximately $2.00) for every 2 kilos of tomatoes.