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Our Model: Bicycle Empowerment Centres (BEC)
Bicycle Empowerment Centre (BEC)
Shop-in-a-box
A BEC is a bicycle shop-in-a-box delivered to a community in a developing country.
A 40 ft shipping container, stocked with about 400 bicycles, tools, spare parts and accompanied by comprehensive training in bicycle mechanics, it is designed to empower disadvantaged people and their communities with their own transport and their own means of maintaining it.
Everything gets put to good use
The container remains at its destination and becomes a “building” in the community. Doors and windows are cut out and a heat-shielding roof is placed on top. In this way, the shipping container is converted into a community-based bike shop.
Empowerment & Sustainability
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•A portion of bikes are given to healthcare workers and students.
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•5-6 new jobs are created (bike mechanics & shop staff).
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•Community-based bike shop opens and begins to repair and sell bicycles.
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•Income generated is re-invested in community development and assistance programs.
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•General economic improvement in the region as people become mobile - hundreds of people and their families benefit from increased availability of transportation.
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Home > What We Do > Our Model
What happens in Ottawa, Canada?
Raise awareness & funds
Collect donated bikes, spare parts & tools
Prepare bikes for transportation - maximize container capacity
Load & ship the container (BEC)
What happens when it gets to the destination community in Africa?
From One Community to Another...
Container (BEC) is delivered and converted to a bike shop
Training is provided on bike mechanics and project management
Bikes are distributed and BEC is open for business
Feedback is provided and progress is monitored and evaluated.
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