Rwanda 60 bicycles were issued on credit to two groups in the town Gakomeye, and also bicycles were given out from payments from earlier groups in the towns of Gakenke and Ngeruka through the partner organisation FAPDR. . Burkina Faso Bicycles were given out on credit through partner organisation AVO, all financed through revolving funds from earlier projects.
Bicycles on credit Many Africans have no many to buy a bicycle, but do have a vision of how they could use a bicycle to earn money. These people (women are especially encouraged to participate) can come to one of our African partner organisations for a bicycle which can be paid off in instalments. For farmers, merchants, bicycle taxi drivers, etc., the bicycle is a means through which they can build a better future.
Uganda In 2012, bicycle-on-credit programmes were started in 10 locations, in which 56 bicycles were distributed. In 2013, 44 more bicycles will be distributed.
Kenya In Kenya bicycles were issued on credit through the bicycle workshop in Kisumu. In 2012, a small number of entrepreneurs started a drink delivery service.
Brian, juice vendor in Kenya I used to sell juices walking in the street and carrying a small cooler. Recently, I bought a freight bicycle, on credit. With this pimped bicycle I now sell four times as much as I used to. As I can bring more drinks with me, I’m much more mobile, so I can be in strategic places at the right time.
Burkina Faso The AVO workshop repaired around 300 bicycles and made a number of metallurgy products (such as windows, doors and toys). There was a small profit, which was used to make the bicycle-oncredit program sustainable.
Uganda The bicycle-component of the BSPW workshop in Uganda is slowly being expanded. In 2012, only a few models were produced because BSPW is in an internal organisation process. In 2013, the bicycle-component will be further developed.
Bicycle workshop in Uganda
Bicycle workshop projects CooP-Africa also supports bicycle workshops. On one hand this creates employment for mechanics, on the other hand it ensures that there are good mechanics available for bicycle users in our projects. Experience learns that to be financially self-sufficient, it is necessary to not only focus on bicycles, but also on other activities such as producing metallurgy products. Since this doesn’t interfere with the goals of the workshops, and it is a necessity for the bicycle component to survive, this is an important lesson learnt.
Kenya The CBW workplace had a good development in 2012 with a new supervisor, so the year was closed with a small profit. The road construction in front of the door forms a challenge for the workers because of the dust. In 2012, a feasibility study showed that a workplace in Nairobi isn’t feasible.
Training of bicycle mechanics in Kenya
Fietswerkplaatsprojecten CooP-Africa ondersteunt ook fietswerkplaatsen. Enerzijds levert dit werkgelegenheid op voor mecaniciens, anderzijds zorgt dit ervoor dat er goede fietsenmakers beschikbaar zijn. De ervaring leert dat voor economische onafhankelijkheid het noodzakelijk is dat de werkplaatsen zich niet alleen op fietsen richten, maar ook op andere activiteiten zoals de productie van ramen, hekwerk, speelgoedtoestellen, etc. Omdat dit het doel van de werkplaatsen niet in de weg staat, en het bovendien ervoor zorgt dat de fietscomponent kan blijven bestaan is dit een belangrijke geleerde les.
Bicycle mechanics One of the was to make a living by using bicycles is being a bicycle mechanic. That is why CooP-Africa trains bicycle mechanics.
Kenia 6 bicycle mechanics are being trained to repair bicycles with a coaster brake. They work in the areas where Bike4Care programmes are located, and bicycles with coaster brakes are used in that programme.
Uganda 31 youths were trained as a bicycle technician at 6 locations where a Bike4Care programme is running. The large group of Bike4Care beneficiaries are clients for the bicycle technicians. The biggest challenge is the access to spare parts which are only sporadically distributed in Northern Uganda.
Demoproject: Bike2Rism The organisation “Bikeventures Tours, Rentals and Events” was started in May 2012, and now rents bikes and organises tour events. In 2012, the promotion material was developed, such as city maps, banners, T-shirts, hats, flyers and brochures. Bikeventures has organised tours for 62 people and 19 bicycles have been rented (from a few hours to a few months). In 2012, the operational costs of the enterprise were covered, which is a great achievement.
Demoprojects
Bike2Rism Een group visits a slum in Kisumu Kenya
Demoproject: Bike2Clean In 2012, experience was expanded for the Bike2Clean project on three locations: Jinja (Uganda), Kisumu (Kenya) en Koudougou (Burkina Faso). - In Jinja, during the year 2012 business planning was carried out for a group of 5 youths who collect garbage by bicycle (with 5 tricycles and 4 bicycle-trailers), and individual garbage collectors were supported with the development of their business (with 15 tricycles). - In Kisumu, garbage collectors (with 8 tricycles, 5 trailers, and 4 bicycles) and garbage processors (with 3 tricycles and 2 trailers) were supported. This was successful for the garbage collectors (105% more income), but not for garbage processors (suppliers don’t want to pay rent for tricycles). In Koudougou, a feasibility study was done for the use of 5 tricycles, 5 bicycle trailers, and 2 pushcarts to collect garbage.
Demoprojects for entrepreneurship involve enterprises in which a bicycle is used. The enterprises are supported in finances and/or in business planning, depending on the need. When a demoproject proves successful, the experience can be used for up scaling in other locations. 2 demoprojects in 2012: -
Bike2Rism Bike2Clean
.
Bicycle cart in use for garbage collection
Results
Repayments
The impact of Bike4Work projects is measured by the following indicators and targets: - 95% repayment percentage - 30% more income/savings - 10% less transport costs - 50% less transport time
already paid back 77%
people who have stoped paying without completi ng payments 0%
100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
Transport time less transport time now they have a bicycle 100%
still paying 23%
no changel 0%
Savings not saving before getting the bicycle; 39%
not saving now they have a bicycle; 0%
already saving befor getting the bicycle; 61%
saving nowthey have a bicycle; 100%
0% before they had a bicycle now they have a bicycle
more transport time now they have a bicycle 0%
Transport time decreased with an average of 43%
Transport costs less transport cost now they have a bicycle 97%
no change in transport cost now they have a bicycle 3%
more transport cost now they have a bicycle 0%
Transport costs decreased with an average of 53%
Conceptualisation In 2012, the Bike4School concept was developed. Students can apply for a bicycle on credit at the beginning of the school year. The first months, they save for the payments. During the rest of the months to the end of the school year, they pay off most of the debt. If, at the end of the year, their grades and presence has improved, they receive a voucher for a part of the school tuition the next year: the performto-own principle.
Uganda en Kenya In 2010, CooP-Africa made an important choice regarding the type of bicycles. A model was chosen which looks athletic, can support heavy loads, and for which spare parts are locally available – and therefore can also be repaired locally. This model has been marked as a CooP-Africa bicycle. In 2013, the ordered bikes will arrive. This means that until then, no Bike4School bicycles can be distributed. Meanwhile, in 2012 the local coordinators in Kenya and Uganda have visited many schools to explain the programme. Eight schools in Uganda and 10 in Kenya have started a collaboration with Bike4School.
A student in the Bike4School programme in Uganda
Kenya In 2012, 235 bikes were distributed to aid workers in Kenya at 7 locations. The aid workers received a training about bicycle maintenance and simple repairs. To support this, a handbook was developed which the aid workers could take home. Bicycle mechanics were trained in the areas where the bicycles were put into use (see Bike4Work). The bikes which were used for the Bike4Care in Kenya in 2012 come from the Hoge Veluw (the Netherlands). In principle, CooP-Africa doesn’t use second-hand imported bikes for African projects. Rather, bikes are bought at local markets. However, CooP-Africa deviated from this principle and collaborated with the Hoge Veluwe national park and Air France KLM Cargo. Beforehand, a number of criteria were defined: the bike is an identical, maintenance friendly and sturdy model, and there are good possibilities for obtaining reserve parts and repairs. The bicyclse are user-friendly, sturdy, identical, and uni-sex. The impact of the use of second-hand bicycles will be evaluated when they have been used for one year.
Health care workers Kenya
Conceptualisation In 2012, the Bike4Care concept was further developed. The heath workers pay for the bicycle partly in money, and partly by continuing to volunteer as a health worker for a minimum of 2 years: the work-to-own principle. Furthermore, the health workers get the opportunity to set up income generating activities. The groups make a business plan for this activity together with our local coordinator.
Uganda In 2012, a Bike4Care programme was started at 3 locations in Uganda. With the support of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, 410 aid workers were supplied with a bicycle in 2012. Our partner organisation BSPW assembled the 410 bikes and added a modified carrier to the front and red mudguards so they can be recognized as bicycles of health workers. Bicycle mechanics have also been trained in the 3 areas (see Bike4Work).
Results of Bike4Care bicycles distributed in 2011
165% more patients visited
The impact of the Bike4Care projects is measured by the following indicators and targets: - 50% more patients visited - Better healthcare situation: - Number of households using mosquito nets - Number of malaria cases - Number of malnourished children - Number of TB cases - Number of cases of waterborne diseases
46% more households using mosquito nets
9% less malaria cases
Health care workers Kenya
9% less waterborne diseases
63% less TB cases
3% less malnourished children
Income of 84% of the people increased Bicycle carts In 2011 two prototypes of bicycle carts were developed, for which an evaluation among users took place in 2012. This evaluation showed that the bicycle carts: increase income, are an alternative for motorised transport and this way reduces CO2 emissions, and increase the range of the user.
Range increased with 28%
Pedicab To provide an environmentally-friendly alternative for proliferating motorised taxi traffic in Kisumu Kenya, 2 types of a pedicab have been designed and produced. Research was also done regarding the pricing of the fares and legal vehicle requirements. The pedicab uses an electromagnetic engine which is powered by solar energy. In 2013, the pedicab will be used as a vehicle in a Bike4Work project for bicycle taxientrepreneurs.
Income increased with 23%
12.5% previously used motorised transport Pilot group now saves 19,688 CO2 emissions annually by using a bicycle*
Hand powered tricycle The CBW workplace in Kenya, together with an ABN team, has developed a hand powered tricycle especially for disabled entrepreneurs. The team went to work in optimizing existing models so that disabled entrepreneurs can get more out of their businesses. Together with disabled people, a list of requirements was made upon which the design was based.
53% was previously footing *see full annual report for reference
Prototype pedicab and team Delft University for Technology
The African Bicycle Network organised a workweek to design a hand powered tricycle. Participants included: - The ABN members who already make a tricycle for disabled persons, but not for entrepreneurs - Students of the Polytechnic Kisumu - Students of Delft University of Technology - Disabled entrepreneurs The workweek was partly developed by Jeroen Spoelstra (teacher at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences), en Boukje Vastbinder (teacher at Delft University of Technology). The African Bicycle Network hosted a 2-week course named: “Planning for Cycling in Sub-Sahara African Cities�. This course was organised by ITC Twente for Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) Alumni. The ABN had a primarily facilitating role in this course.
International group of technicians and designers in an exchange regarding the design of hand powered tricycles.