RESEARCH-transportation options for getting students to school
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As a long-term goal, Notre Dame High School would like to one day purchase a mini-bus. This would be used to transport children to school and also to workshops/seminars. At the present time, there are not finances available to do this.
For this task we would like to research alternative transportation solutions. Some of the children come to school from very far away. Some live nearby as well, but others have to walk between 2-5 miles to/from the school location. One of the options that has been mentioned in previous discussion is use of bicycles.
Christopher is interested in receiving help from volunteers to identify and contact organizations who may be able to help provide bicycles to students at the school.
Keep in mind, we want to keep transportation costs to a minimum, so you may want to begin your research on what's available within Uganda first.
If you post useful links, please also add them to the associated Shared Document (wiki).
Project: Help Improve Notre Dame High School
How many bikes do you need?
The following organisations were mentioned in previous discussion.
Christopher I am not sure if you got in contact with any of them?
I would suggest that you get in touch with the Ugandan organisation
Bicycle Sponsorship Project & Workshop
http://www.bspw.org/
They are based in Jinja, and as well as providing free/low cost bikes to local people who need them, they also run a bicycle workshop where they are assembled and repaired. This also teaches valuable skills to young people. They may be able to provide you with bikes, or suggest other organisations who can help.
The following two collect bikes and send them to schools and other groups in Africa. I don’t have any information on shipping costs.
Bikes4Africa http://www.jole1000.org/./bikes4africa.html
Ibike http://www.ibike.org/
Mary
I came across this today...they are an organization based here in the United States in Chicago, but it looks like they work to raise the shipping costs for the projects they support from the information on their website. That's such a huge need, I think it's fantastic that they work on that aspect too!
http://workingbikes.org/
http://www.re-cycle.org/
This is a UK based organization. According to their website:
"We collect unwanted bikes from individuals and organisations such as the Royal Mail. These are reconditioned, loaded into containers and sent to several locations in Africa. There, they are distributed by our African partners. We also teach repair and maintenance skills."
http://www.ibike.org/pabin/index.htm
Mary mentioned this one in her earlier post. This is a link to the Pan Africa Bicycle Information Network. They have an email discussion group that focuses on transportation issues which might be good to join to access more resources and information.
www.bikesfortheworld.org
This is another USA based organization. They do not cover shipping costs, so funds would need to be raised for that. While this is another source of help, I still believe it's best to look inside Uganda first and then to these other resources as a last resort. They have specific information on their website about the requirements for applying and handling of shipping fees.
I have also included a link to short video about Afribike which I think provides a good example of how a program might be set up and what bikes can mean for improving the lives of people in Africa. The video is located here:
http://www.afribike.org/
And another...
Derde Wereld Werkplaats (Third World Workshop)
Main site in Dutch - http://www.dwwbreda.org/index.htm
English page - http://www.dwwbreda.org/english.htm
A Dutch organisation that sends refurbished sewing machines, knitting machines, hand tools, machine tools, computers/printers and bikes to projects in developing countries. They pay for international shipping, with the receiving group paying for local clearing and transport. As they get many enquiries, successful applicants will sometimes have to wait until items become available.
Their focus is on income generation and vocational training projects. As you are starting vocational training classes next year, maybe they would consider an application from the school for bikes, and any other equipment you need to get the training up and running.
There is more information and an application form on their website.
Mary
Hi Christopher
Although I have posted details of a couple of international possibilities today, I would suggest starting within Uganda by contacting the Bicycle Sponsorship Project & Workshop who I wrote about in an earlier post.
Their contact details are:
BSPW
PO Box 1537
Jinja, Uganda
Email: bspw@bspw.org
Phone: +256 772 620312
Fax: +256 43 121322
Is this something you are able to do when you have time?
========
Another international option, found on the blog of AVIF, a British organisation who send volunteers to projects in Kenya http://avifvolunteers.blogspot.com/2008/11/simon-tour-d.html
"...He wants to raise money for ourselves and the Tour D'Afrique Foundation which donates bikes to aid access..."
Tour d’Afrique Foundation http://www.tourdafrique.com/foundation/ donate bikes to schools, healthcare, and other groups across Africa. It does not appear to say exactly which countries, whether they pay shipping costs, and whether they have an organised application process.
Mary
Dear Mary,
Thank you for the info provided.
We are sart to working on all soon.
Christopher
Thanks Christopher, please let us know how you get on and whether there are ways in which you would like us to help.
Mary
Dear Mary,Janiffer an friends,
Thank you for providing the information for organisations donating bikes.
May one of you help me to write direct to such organisations for bikes request/donations.
Otherwise work is becoming too much on my desk.
Please,its just a request.
Christopher
LR
Masaka Village
Hi Christopher
We can help you write to them.
A suggestion - before we start to look outside Uganda, would it be possible for you to contact BSPW in Jinja to see whether they are able to help you, or whether they know of organisations that can?
We could do that for you, but as they are in Uganda, it may be better for you to talk to them yourself.
Mary
Dear Mary,
Thank you for all the info you provide to our village.
We drafted and we have posted a latter for requesting this morning to BSPW in Jinja.
We do request that you help contacting to other organisations also.
Christopher
LR
MASAKA
Hi Christopher
Lets wait a few days, see if BSPW reply to you. Then we can contact some of the others if they don't reply or if they are unable to assist.
Do you know how many bikes you will need? We may not be successful in finding that many, but it would be helpful to know.
Mary
YES,if we could get 50,it would be a nice start
Christopher
LR
MASAKA VILLAGE
I have created a Shared Document (wiki) for this task at http://www.nabuur.com/en/village/masaka/project/wiki/shared-document-wik...
If you add links to the discussion, please add them to that document as well. It makes it a lot easier to keep track of information.
Christopher, which bike organisations have you contacted so far, and have you had replies?
Mary
Dear MARY,
and friends,l will have to check out in the records and provide you with the list of Bike organisations contacted.
But as yet,we have not recieved any responce including that of Uganda/Jinja,
Yours
Christopher
LR.
MASAKA VILLAGE
Thanks Christopher
Once you have found the list, please let us know whether you would like us to try and make contact with some of the ones you have not tried.
Mary