Donating your no-longer-used bicycle can make a world of difference to people living in underdeveloped countries. And the Environment Club at Neil M. Ross School is ready to help.
The grades four to six club has signed on with the newest chapter of Bicycles for Humanity, a charity that collects bicycles and transports them to countries in Africa where they can vastly improve the quality of life of individuals and families.
"Because we're an environment club, we chose it because it serves two purposes — it not only takes bikes out of landfills, it helps our world neighbours," said Carol Strilchuk, a teacher at the school and club supervisor.
From April 23 to 25, students and families of students of Neil M. Ross can drop off their used bicycles for collection. Paul Paridaen, the founder of the Edmonton chapter of Bicycles for Humanity, will load them in his trailer. On April 26 from 3:30 to 6 p.m., the trailer will be parked at Holy Family Parish on 75 Poirier Ave., where anyone can drop off any bikes or donations.
But anyone looking to unload a road bike or princess bike is asked to leave those at home. The charity is looking for strong, rugged mountain bikes so that they can survive difficult terrain. The condition of the bike, however, does not matter.
"Any kind of shape," Paridaen said. "Rusted out, flat tires, doesn't matter."
That's because before the bikes are shipped to Uganda in September, a team of bike mechanics will head to the country to train locals on bike repair. And the 40-foot sea can that will be used to ship the bikes will become a shop for the new mechanics.
Transportation and more
The focus on bicycles predominantly has to do with transportation. According to Paridaen, it's the main form of transportation in Africa, which he has personally witnessed during two trips to the continent. The bikes cut down on travel time for locals and also help farmers get their produce to market and make it easier for doctors to respond to requests for help.
"They use bicycles basically as freighters," Paridaen said. "A farmer can haul a lot of his produce a lot quicker to the market and for health care workers, it just makes it more efficient."
According to a handout from Bicycles for Humanity, a person with one bike can travel a five-kilometre distance in one-fifth the time, carry four times more weight and a health-care professional can reach five times more people.
While the Edmonton chapter does not yet have a charitable organization number and cannot issue receipts for tax purposes, it will be taking financial donations. Cheques can be made out to Bicycles for Humanity.
"We've talked a lot about our relationship with the environment, with God and humankind," Strilchuk said of her 19-member club. "It's been a good social justice project."
For information on Bicycles for Humanity, visit www.bicycles-for-humanity.org.
