The team involved in this project are, Oli McDonough (25) and Roz Inett (28). Oli is a trained professional in the cycle industry, including but not solely mechanics and maintenance. He is an avid cyclist himself and has worked in the industry for just under 7 years, in all retail roles and is currently the Head Mechanic at Halfords in Bromley, Kent. Roz is a mixed media artist, whose work ranges from small story book illustrations to drawings covering whole walls. She is currently working at Coulsdon Sixth Form College, as the Art Technician where she enjoys assisting the staff and students with their practical and creative needs.
Through his work at Halfords, Oli has come into contact with the Charity 'Re-Cycle', who ship unwanted and used bicycles to seven countries in Africa. There they help to support local welfare, education and state of living through their partnerships with schools, villages and workshops (www.re-cycle.org). Through this connection Oli and Roz formulated a project in which they would travel to Africa, and volunteer at one the schemes or businesses that are receiving the bicycles from Re-Cycle. The main aim is to take a comprehensive package of professional tools to Africa, to donate to one of the projects set up there, and to pass on skills and experience to the mechanics and locals working with them.
The project they have chosen to support is Ability Bikes, in Koforidua, Ghana (www.abilitybikes.org). This shop receives bikes from Re-Cycle, and a similar charity from America 'Bikes Not Bombs', and the team of mechanics and admin staff at this site, repair and restore the bikes, before selling the bikes to those in their local and surrounding communities. All of the staff there are affected by various health and mobility issues, namely Polio and it's life long effects. As such the staff there are empowered with specific job training and responsibility, and sustainable economic opportunities.
The funding required for this project is only going to be put towards tools and maintanence supplies for Ability Bikes, and none shall be put towards any travel expenses, or any other personal uses by the team involved. The money that you can help to provide will directly help those who need it most, and not the team travelling out to deliver them. Through workshops and Oli's experience as a mechanic, these tools will be put to full use and value, and it is this personal involvement that makes this donation so sustainable and valuable.
Oli's experience within the cycle industry, and his knowledge and skills as a bicycle mechanic, will of course be of value to Ability bikes. However it is mainly their extraordinary enthusiasm for cycling, namely it's unquestionable sustainability, that he believes himself and Roz share with the staff at Ability Bikes, that will make this partnership so valuable and welcome.
Throughout the trip Roz is going to be documenting and recording the teams activities and involvement, so that contributors will be able to see directly how they are helping, and the effect their donation has in Ghana. This documentation will not only be of interest to direct contributors, but also to the tens of thousands of people (in the UK alone), who have donated bikes through the 'Halfords Trade In' events, and similar collections that have taken place around the world.
Oli and Roz hope that you can support their project, and they look forward to sharing and creating stories and experiences.
For more information of previous projects to Ghana, see Derek McIntires documentary when he visited there in 2013 http://youtu.be/zQzTFPkthQc
This is the mission statement from the Ability Bikes website
- There should be Freedom of Mobility, because mobility is a right for all, thus bicycles and mobility aids give people this freedom in transportation.
- A workplace should be free and fair for all persons, with or without disability.
- Ability Bikes wants to assure that persons with physical and mobility disability have access to walking and mobility aids for an inclusive society.
- We aim to provide high quality and durable bicycles and mobility aids to clients.
- We prioritize transparency and accountability throughout the business.
- Ability Bikes is a strong advocate against any level of discrimination and believes that everyone should be treated equally.
- We believe in continuous education and skills development.
- We must work toward the creation of jobs and economic opportunity for all.
- We aim to build more international partnerships, as well as nation-wide and local collaborations.
Thank you