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WHEELS OF FORTUNE: Children enjoying their new bicycles

IN BRITAIN millions bikes are disposed off or lie unused in gardens or sheds without the realisation that simple and affordable means of transport can improve lives in developing countries.

Re-Cycle, a nonprofit organisation based in Colchester, recognises that a bicycle can be the first step out of poverty for some in rural parts of Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.

Manager Derek Balcombe said: “It transforms people’s lives. Since there is no public transport, people have to walk very long distances, sometimes up to four hours a day to either get to school, work, collect water and firewood or access healthcare.”

Merlin Matthews founded the charity twelve years ago when he was studying management at the London School of Economics (LSE) and was nicknamed Dr Bike, because he taught people to how fix bikes in exchange for beers.

He came up with the idea for Re-Cycle when he was approached by a Haitian lady asking him for advice to start a bike factory in Haiti to resolve the need for cheap, environment friendly transport. Matthews realised that there were a lot of bikes that were either unused or were being thrown away, which could be easily fixed to help others.

Since then, the charity has transported 45,000 bikes to Africa receiving donations from individuals, businesses and organisations such as the Royal Mail.

Damaged bikes or those in poor condition are thoroughly checked over and stripped down. They are then prepared for shipment before being loaded into containers (approx. 400 each time) and sent to the charity’s various partner organisations in Africa, such as The Salvation Army.

Balcombe said: “We do six shipments a year to Africa, 400 bikes at a time. We also supply spare parts and tools and re-stock shops in Africa to ensure bikes can be fixed and kept on the road.”

Many of the charity’s partners also teach repair and maintenance skills, a vital resource to keep people on their bikes.

Balcombe emphasised that people were happy to give their unwanted bikes a new home. He cited the difficulties of selling second hand bikes as the one of the main reasons.

He added: “The cost of repairs is quite expensive, so it’s cheaper to buy a whole new bike. People can give their bikes a better home and transform someone’s life on the other side of the world.”

However, the charity faces logistics challenges of collecting donated bikes around the country at a low cost. As a result of this, Re-Cycle will be making an announcement this month about a new partnership with a well-known UK retailer.

Balcombe said: “This will make it easier to get the bikes and it’s going to massively increase our recycling. The retailer has stores in every town therefore, will provide collection points for the bikes and then deliver them to us in Colchester.”

In the meantime, the charity receives help from volunteer Michael Groll who has taken it upon himself to collect singular donated bikes from across the Midlands.

Balcombe said: “So far Michael has picked up roughly 100 bikes. He is so enthusiastic and helpful – collecting enough to fill a van, and then dropping them off in Colchester.”

The charity now receives help from Warwickshire Police who recently donated 12 lost or found bikes that were shipped to Zambia.

Balcombe said: “A bike is a massive life changing thing for people in rural Africa, people can cycle four times faster than walking on foot, so the benefit is absolutely huge.”

To donate a bike please visit: www.re-cycle.org