“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.” – Iris Murdoch
At the Kola Nut Producers Association, we identify challenges within our communities and strive to address them. Initially, we recognized a significant issue: the lack of access to transportation for local farmers in Sierra Leone. The distances involved and the poor condition of the roads have made it nearly impossible for farmers to transport their goods. We realized that bicycles could provide a vital solution to this problem.
The Pedals for Progress journey began when we identified a substantial transportation void for local farmers living in Sierra Leone’s most rural areas. Thousands of farmers were situated in hard-to-reach locations. Our national coordinator, Patrick Abu Mansaray, who grew up in rural Dalu Village, Kenema District, has personal experience with these transportation problems.
Recognizing this need, we reached out to Pedals for Progress in the United States for assistance. Their support in providing bicycles to local farmers, children, women, and the community as a whole is helping to bridge the transportation gap and improve livelihoods.
Although 25% of the world’s most arable land is in Sub-Saharan Africa, it produces only 10% of the world’s agricultural outputs (International Fund for Agricultural Development). This gap presents an opportunity to address the needs of millions of people in Sierra Leone who are overlooked by conventional market solutions.
Here are stories about people who are using P4P bikes to improve productivity in their farming or to travel to school more efficiently.
Abi Turay
Abu Turay grows crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, okra, palm oil, and rice. He has been an active member of the Slow Food 10,000 Gardens Project in Africa and has been involved with Slow Food Sierra Leone for over five years. Recently, he received a brand-new tricycle to transport his palm oil to the central market in Kono District.
Abu is thrilled with this new direction in his agricultural business and has expressed his gratitude to Duke Farm and Pedals for Progress for this wonderful gift, which uplifts both his business and family livelihood. “With this, I can now have more money to pay my children’s school fees,” he shared.
The challenges we face are vast, but they ultimately consist of millions of farmers like Abu, each with the potential to improve how they cultivate their land, plant their crops, harvest their goods, store them, and transport them to market.
With Pedals for Progress, a bicycle becomes a valuable asset for trade, employment, transportation, and community engagement. In countries like Sierra Leone, where P4P has established partner programs, the most successful entrepreneurs are those who use bicycles to reach work and deliver their agricultural goods and services where they are needed most. This empowers them to expand their businesses and increase their personal incomes and productivity.
Alieu Sesay
Alieu Sesay is a dedicated Kola Nut farmer and a proud member of the Kola Nut Producers Association. In addition to kola nuts, he also cultivates cocoa and stenophylla coffee, an indigenous species that is on the brink of extinction.
Recently, Alieu was fortunate to benefit from the Pedals for Progress bicycle donation program. He received one of the four cargo tricycles donated by Duke Farms in the United States. These trikes are specifically designed for African terrain, featuring puncture-proof tires and carrier frames that can hold up to 100 kg of goods. Before this, Alieu had to carry 60 kg of kola nuts on his head from his farm in Dalu Village to the market in Kenema, a grueling 12-mile journey that caused significant strain on his neck and back.
In Sierra Leone, many farmers face challenges accessing markets due to high transportation costs, leading to crop spoilage and financial losses. The COVID-19 lockdown in 2022 exacerbated these issues, as farmers like Alieu struggled to access markets for both inputs and selling their produce, severely impacting food security in their communities.
Today, Alieu is grateful for the tricycle, which has transformed his work. “I am very thankful to Duke Farms and Pedals for Progress for this bicycle. It will help me transport and sell my produce more efficiently, allowing me to support my family better.”
The donations from Pedals for Progress are empowering farmers to improve their lives and contribute to the well-being of their communities and the planet.
Mohamed Bockarie
In rural Sierra Leone, every student’s struggle to complete their education is unique. Financial difficulties, early parenthood, familial expectations, distance, and lack of transportation all challenge a student’s ability to attend classes regularly. However, with a reliable bicycle from Pedals for Progress in the United States, students can gain the time, energy, and confidence needed to overcome their individual obstacles and stay on their educational path.
Pedals for Progress is transforming lives in our communities by providing bicycles that help students reach schools and colleges across Sierra Leone. This initiative bridges the transportation gap, enabling pupils to achieve their educational goals.
Seventeen-year-old Mohamed Bockarie is a high-achieving student with a passion for mathematics at the Holy Trinity Secondary School in Kenema. When his single mother had to choose between paying for food and school fees, Mohamed secured a scholarship and received a bicycle, allowing him to continue his education. Now, he dreams of achieving greatness in his academic pursuits.
Mohamed shared how the Pedals for Progress bicycle program has been a wonderful success for many, including himself. He emphasized the benefits of cycling, stating, “Bicycles are awesome for getting exercise, which is crucial, especially when it’s not easy to stay in shape during school. Riding a bike is excellent cardio that improves breathing and heart rate, boosts the immune system, and strengthens muscles. Plus, it even sharpens your brain! Riding helps take my mind off academic stress and anxiety.”
Thank you, Pedals for Progress, for this incredible gift of empowerment. You are making a difference in the lives of students like Mohamed, helping them pursue their dreams and build a brighter future.
Aminata Sesay
My name is Aminata Sesay. I am a member of Slow Food Sierra Leone. I have been a farmer for over eight years, growing cassava, sweet potatoes, okra, rice, and traditional herbs. As a mother of three, I have faced significant challenges, especially after losing my husband to the Ebola virus five years ago.
Many farmers like me face considerable challenges, including limited access to markets, insufficient credit, and poor infrastructure. These issues hinder our productivity and profitability, limiting our ability to contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector.
One promising solution to these challenges is the use of bicycles in farming. Bicycles are a sustainable and cheaper alternative to traditional fuel-powered vehicles. They facilitate transportation, reduce costs, and improve access to markets.
On July 23, 2024, I was approached by a team of Slow Food garden coordinators who asked me about the challenges I face in my work. A major problem was the transportation of my produce to the market.
On October 27, 2024, while working on my farm, I received a call from Fatmata Mansary, the head of Slow Food in the Kailahun District. She informed me that Pedals for Progress, a United States organization, had donated a bicycle to our network, and I was one of the beneficiaries. Before this, I had been walking five miles every day to sell my produce at the market. Now, I had received a new tricycle from Duke Farms.
“Thank you, Pedals for Progress, for this amazing gift and support!”
Riding Bikes to School
In the rural communities of Sierra Leone, school isn’t just around the corner; it’s often a considerable distance away for many students attending public schools.
Before receiving a bicycle from Pedals for Progress, getting to school was a daily ordeal for Ibrahim Jajui, Abdul Bangura, David Sesay, and Keliven Dumbuya. Their journey involved long walks under the searing sun, squeezing into overcrowded public transport, or paying for expensive taxi rides. These transportation challenges made accessing education a struggle.
The relentless effort required merely to reach school often left students like Ibrahim, Abdul, David, and Keliven tired and drained before their day even began. However, with the donation of bicycles from Pedals for Progress, their strenuous marathon to class has transformed into a breezy ride.
Now, these students are no longer slaves to the uncertainties of public transport or the exhausting toll of long walks. Their daily commute has shifted from a puzzle of endless variables to a straightforward, manageable journey.
Not only are they saving precious time and energy, but they are also ensuring consistent attendance in school. With each turn of the pedal, each student is asserting their commitment to education and their future.
The bicycle has become more than just a mode of transport; it symbolizes consistency and empowerment. It reinforces a habit and creates an unbroken chain of learning that propels these young minds forward, both physically and academically.
This is why Pedals for Progress stands as a beacon of hope. Each day, as promising students make their way to school, they ride with gratitude. And every time they arrive on time and ready to learn, they carry a profound appreciation for something as simple as a bicycle.
Your contributions are making a world of difference—one bicycle at a time, one student at a time. Each morning, as students mount their bikes and set off for school to the sound of roosters, they ride with gratitude, knowing that their educational journey is made possible by your generous hearts.
Thank you for pedaling along with us. Together, let’s continue this incredible ride toward a brighter future.
