All posts by Michael Sabrio
Absolute Bike Tirana 2023, Our Newest Partnership in Albania
By Absolute Bike Tirana
Fall 2023 Newsletter
[Editor’s note: This fall on October 21st 2023, we sent our first shipment to a new program, Absolute Bike Tirana, marking our 18th shipment to the region. Absolute Bike Tirana is a charitable minded bike shop founded by Valjon Pacani and Ervin Sulovari in 2019. I had the pleasure to meet Ervin when I visited Albania in August 2021, where he had spent over fifteen years with our previous partner, Ecovolis. Collaborating with Absolute Bikes Tirana was a no brainer when Valjon reached out about his new endeavor earlier this year.
Beyond the friendly faces, Absolute Bike is a more traditional bike shop, similar to how our partners FIDESMA operate in Guatemala. A brick-and-mortar bike shop has the capacity to make a lot of progress in an area. Having a physical storefront to supply bikes to the community creates a home base for cyclists and everyday commuters. By providing Absolute Bike with a wide range of bicycles, they can sell affordable bikes to individuals in lower income levels and name brand or specialty bikes to those who can afford them around the large city. This is a key P4P pillar as it eases our goal of establishing economic stability with an emphasis on sustainability for years to come. Absolute Bike will receive a range of quality items, enabling them to employ people in their bike shops, supply community members with affordable, environmentally friendly transportation, and also provide themselves with funding for their charitable causes and programs.
We are extremely pleased to resume shipping to Albania after a brief pause. Eastern Europe and the Balkans are under exacerbated economic strain due to world events and increased inflation. We are proud to be able to contribute tools of personal empowerment to the region giving a helping hand to folks in need.
Here is some more background information about Absolute Bike, their youthful energy, and what they aim to achieve.]
History of Absolute Bike Tirana
Absolute Bike Tirana is a program that aims to contribute sustainably to community development. It was established in 2019 by the leader Valjon Pacani and his collaborator Ervin Sulovari, after a 15-year experience in various organizations where they received awards and recognition for their maximum contributions to various social and environmental issues. The main mission is engagement and dedication to this decision-making, working in partnership with people to build a sustainable, healthy, and active community. Its goal is to provide our city with clean air by promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. It is a symbol of hope and also a means to preserve nature, from which our city can benefit.
Absolute Bike Tirana, Aim and Objectives
Absolute Bike Tirana aims to raise awareness and assist the needs of residents seeking access to transportation. It is an effort to increase social, ecological, and economic responsibility. Absolute Bike Tirana aims to promote eco-friendly transportation through bicycles, providing our city with cleaner air and adopting a civil and European practice. We believe in community-based programs, where the Foundation collaborates with local people to improve lives. By keeping the programs small and manageable, we monitor expenses in detail and ensure that funds are focused on priority needs.
Absolute Bike Tirana aims to address the transportation needs of rural and urban communities, enhancing societal awareness, responsibility, and environmental concerns. Specifically, Absolute Bike Tirana’s mission is to establish a community-based and community-supported economically sustainable model that provides quality consumer-oriented transportation services, catering to both urban and rural residents.
In the urban context, bike lanes can offer numerous benefits to the community. More and more cities are seeking ways to reduce overpopulation while also improving the environment, turning to bicycles. This means that vehicles and pedestrians won’t have to speculate on how cyclists will navigate roads or sidewalks. Absolute Bike Tirana’s bicycles provide access from the city’s outskirts to the urban center for those at risk of social and economic isolation.
Key Success Factors / Strengths:
- The initiative heavily relies on volunteers, strengthening the community aspect of Absolute Bike Tirana.
- It also employs financially disadvantaged individuals, contributing to social inclusion and economic support.
Activities Developed so Far
In 2021, Absolute Bike Tirana collaborated with the Municipality of Tirana and the National Youth Agency to create a partnership and became part of the Student Card initiative. The goal of the Student Card is to ease the economic burden on students in relation to their high expenses. For every individual who enjoys student status and is equipped with a student card, they receive a 10% discount on all the services offered by Absolute Bike Tirana. Our focus is on students, who inspire us every day with their participation in our store. The trust they have in us motivates us to continuously strive for even better things.
During the “Donate a Bike” campaign in collaboration with the Municipality of Tirana, we had the opportunity to donate a bicycle to a very positive 10-year-old boy who was suffering from a severe illness called hemiparesis, affecting the left side of his body. The bicycle was the only thing that kept him moving and helped him in his fight. Due to financial constraints, he couldn’t afford to buy one. Absolute Bike Tirana, along with its volunteers, made the donation of the bicycle possible, making him happier and giving us hope and motivation for many other cases.
During the “Donate a Bike” campaign, Absolute Bike Tirana continued its mission by joining the initiative to show solidarity with more citizens. The individual we chose to assist was an exemplary citizen around 60 years old. Berti used to cycle over 10 kilometers every day to get to work. The house where he lived was in a peripheral area with no public transportation. Alongside our volunteer Ervin, we engaged and selected a comfortable bicycle suitable for his age, making his work easier and bringing a smile to his face.
During the “Donate a Bike” campaign, the citizen we chose to continue our initiative with was Osmani, a 20-year-old young man who was very well-educated. Osmani was continuing his studies, but difficult economic conditions forced him to work in his free time at a supermarket as a shelf organizer. His family was not in good health and economic circumstances to provide for the needs a child of his age proved to be difficult. Osmani tearfully told us the story of his life and the genetic condition he inherited from his mother, called ‘middle ear,’ making it difficult for him to travel to work as the house was somewhat far away. We listened attentively and did not hesitate to help. We gifted him a comfortable bicycle and also offered free servicing for any repairs the bicycle might need. After a few weeks, Osmani visited our store and seemed very happy. He explained how much we had eased his work and shortened the distance from home to work, but also made his journey to school easier since he commuted by bicycle every day.
Osmani was asking us about how we operate, and his great desire was to join us as a volunteer and contribute to our activities, making other people happy as well. This was certainly our wish too, as we gained a new young activist, motivating us even more for the work we do.
Absolute Bike Tirana, in collaboration with the youth of the “Exploringwithgysi” association, organized a one-day action where we participated in their adventures towards breathtaking destinations, creating unforgettable memories. We are in love with nature and its beauties, and without a doubt, we chose to be part of this organization by providing 20 bicycles for all the present activists at no cost.
The aim of this activity was to explore “Lake of Bovilla” by visiting the main attractions of rural Tirana. Undoubtedly, the main objective of the Absolute Bike Tirana team and the activists was to raise awareness and participate in a cleaning campaign where people come together and organize for a cleaner and more responsible community.
Anyone who shirks responsibility by polluting, allowing pollution, or not reacting, doesn’t gain but loses! We all have the right to live in a healthy environment, but we must cooperate for this. We showed that we lack neither desire, nor will, nor energy to clean it, to protect it, and to develop our city!
Last but not least, here is a one-minute 50-second video of what happened to 3 bikes from Absolute Bike Tirana.
Shipping the Gift of Mobility
Vector Global Logistics is an international shipping consolidator. They have handled the booking and logistics for our container shipments for over five years. They have long-term contracts with shipping lines that afford us very competitive pricing. They are very supportive of our mission and whenever possible find P4P discounts in the shipping costs.
In October 2021 Vector Global Logistics hosted Dave Schweidenback for an hour-long podcast. Dave talks about his childhood, his Peace Corps experience that inspired P4P, P4P’s early days and explosive growth, and lots more. Here are two versions of the podcast: (1) audio only and (2) audio and video.
2023 Spring Solicitation
Spring 2023
Dear Donors, Friends, and Supporters of Pedals for Progress and Sewing Peace,
Receiving this letter, you have supported Pedals for Progress and Sewing Peace in some form and have aided us in providing people in developing countries with access to reliable transportation and economic opportunity. It is always exciting to know that the work we do in small parking lots in New Jersey and the surrounding areas, is all worth it knowing that the items we collect find new homes with people that need a helping hand.
Last fall, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated collection sponsors and the generosity of donors like you, we were able to ship three containers of bikes and sewing machines to Belize, Guatemala, and Togo. The impact of these donations has been truly incredible, from helping to provide economic opportunities to remote villagers to supporting local feeding programs and mobile medical aid distribution centers. Check out our Spring 2023 Newsletter to read more about these programs.
The spring collection season is always a special one. Shaking off the cold weather fills me with energy and motivation to continue our cause and build on the success we have achieved so far. With your support, we can continue to collect bicycles and sewing machines and provide people with the economic aid they need to build better lives for themselves and their families.
Our fundraising goal for this season is $30,000, which will carry us into the fall and allow us to collect and ship hundreds of bikes and sewing machines to communities in need around the world. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference and brings us closer to achieving our goal.
I encourage you to donate today by visiting the Donate page on our website. Your support will help us continue to supply bikes and sewing machines to our range of programs, so that we can continue the positive impact we are having on our neighbors abroad.
Sincerely,
Alan Schultz, President, P4P/SP
Pedals for Progress is a New Jersey 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
P4P Belize Programs, Spring 2023
By Alan Schultz
Spring 2023 Newsletter
P4P Belize has several community outreach programs aimed at aiding people throughout Belize City and other parts of the country. The following pieces are descriptions of these programs that illustrate how P4P Belize goes beyond distributing bicycles in their community.
Employment
The sale of bicycles overseas is crucial to Pedals for Progress and our international program’s success. P4P Belize employs young men as sale associates who help Derrick move the items throughout the city, ensuring they reach the people that need access to transportation.
The sales process involves a range of strategies, from larger street market sales to smaller individual transactions arranged through word of mouth or online advertisements. The sales reps earn a commission on the sale of the bikes, with a recommended starting price set by Derrick. This gives the salesmen incentive to maximize their efforts and help Derrick distribute the hundreds of bikes that we send him.
This employment program gives the young men a steady job, reducing the likelihood of them looking for other ways to make their money on the streets. They also aid Derrick in numerous roles within the organization when there is down time while bike sales are slow. By empowering these young men with employment and valuable skills, we not only contribute to their personal growth but also strengthen the overall impact of our mission in Belize.
Feeding Programs
Food insecurity is an issue on a global scale. No matter the direct cause, when families and individuals struggle to get food, becoming self-sufficient is exceedingly difficult.
P4P Belize has a feeding program that reaches out to families who are unable to provide enough food for their households. P4P Belize identifies these families and helps by providing chickens or pigs, which helps alleviate the burden of securing regular meals. Without the daily stress of finding their next meal, families can focus on other crucial responsibilities and pursue employment opportunities. This, in turn, enables them to save more, improve their financial situation, and create a pathway to a better future.
The food provided through this program is partially funded by bike sales. P4P Belize also makes the time to check back in with these families to ensure that their needs have been met sufficiently. This ongoing engagement helps us build strong relationships and ensures that the program has a lasting impact.
Medical Aid
Prior to partnering with P4P, Derrick acquired buses and an RV from the United States through another charitable organization he has partnered with. Driving them down to Belize himself, Derrick was able to get the vehicles into Belize. From there, he has used them for several projects.
Derrick uses them to transport and distribute medical supplies to community members in need. With the size and mobility of the buses and RV, Derrick ensures that essential healthcare resources reach those who require them most. This initiative plays a crucial role in improving access to medical assistance and addressing healthcare disparities in the region.
While not in use for aid, Derrick rents the buses to visiting programs from the United States to earn a passive income. Income generated by the bus rentals are used to offset programs like the feeding programs and other charitable causes. The concept of offsetting program expenses, which P4P advocates for, was already being implemented by P4P Belize in a different context.
Aguacate, Sewing
Partnering with other outreach organizations, Derrick can access more remote areas of the country rather than strictly focusing on Belize City. Derrick has helped set up a small sewing operation in the remote village of Aguacate with the help of Toledo Outreach Center that frequently helps the small community.
During my visit I was able to be present during the day we donated 20 sewing machines to the villagers and a bicycle to the chief. Kicking off this program we met with the women and expressed out gratitude and detailed what we hope to achieve.
The women in Aguacate are being trained by a woman named Maria Coe who works with the Outreach Center on sewing projects specifically aimed at educating single women how to sew. Through this training program and using the machines provided we will be able to make a lasting change to how the community can earn more.
Going to and from the small village is done only a few times a week when buses bring community members to the nearby town of Punta Gorda on the coast. It is our hope through the sewing program that once the women are trained, they will be able to make repairs to clothing making trips to town less frequent. It will also give the women opportunities to make their own clothes and other merchandise to sell within the village and in town when they do make the trip.
Prison Sewing
The Fall 2022 newsletter has an article on the P4P Belize Sewing Program in the Belize Central Prison. On January 27th 2023 Derrick and I were able to make the starting donation of 20 sewing machines to fully kick start the program. Through his connections with other charitable organizations, Derrick will be able to provide the prison with a volunteer sewing teacher to lead class sessions. Part of a successful reform for incarcerated people requires a reinvestment in the people that found themselves behind bars. Educational aid gives people in Belize Central Prison a chance to continue to better themselves once they are done serving their time. Educating people within prison, giving them tangible skills, makes it easier for them to become productive citizens once outside the walls. If they can use their specialized skill such as sewing, they have a better chance of finding employment. They then will be far less likely to become repeat offenders. In turn this creates a safer nation with a more vivid economy.
Belize Visit, Spring 2023
By Alan Schultz
Spring 2023 Newsletter
In the spring of 2022, Pedals for Progress embarked on an exciting partnership with P4P Belize, marking our most recent destination in Central America. We have now made three shipments to P4P Belize and feel that the program has found its stride and will be in a comfortable position to continue the revolving fund system we aim to achieve with our partners. Finding partnerships that can maintain consecutive shipments creates sustainable projects that will make a deeper impact in the communities they serve.
To solidify our connection with the new program in Belize, I had the privilege of visiting the country and meeting Derrick Pitts, the CEO and executive director of P4P Belize, also known as God Cares Outreach within the country. I encourage you to read our previous posts on their programs. While I was visiting, I was able to get a better sense of their operation and their remarkable goals.
P4P Belize is a community outreach organization situated in South Side Belize City, focusing on empowering their neighbors and helping them overcome poverty. Located away from the tourist areas in the north, South Side Belize City faces numerous challenges on multiple fronts.
Leading up to my trip, I was doing research of what to expect in Belize and one recurring piece of advice was to avoid South Side Belize City due to higher crime rates resulting from extreme poverty and other factors.
However, South Side Belize City holds a special significance for Derrick, as it is where he grew up and spent most of his life. It is home to him. While I was working on some bikes, cleaning and reassembling them in preparation for sale, Derrick asked me how it felt to be in the most dangerous part of the city. I replied that I felt perfectly safe. Thanks to Derrick’s assistance and hospitality, I was given the opportunity to explore this overlooked area of the country and meet the people who call it home.
Through our revolving fund system, Derrick can recoup the costs of shipping by selling the items that we send him. Going around the city, we visited the local bike shops that sell Chinese-made bicycles that one would typically find in big box stores in the United States. Brand new bicycles in these shops sell for $200 to $500 in Belize. There are also high-end stores where bikes from brands like Specialized, Giant, Trek, and others are sold for $1,000 to $5,000. With the bikes we send, Derrick can comfortably compete with these stores, offering the community quality bikes for less.
The impact of this partnership is significant. By offering affordable and reliable transportation options, we are not only improving the lives of individuals but also creating economic development in communities like South Side Belize City. Together, we are breaking barriers and creating opportunities for those who need it most.
P4P Belize has several community outreach programs aimed at aiding people throughout Belize City and other parts of the country. Part 2 of this report describes these programs and illustrate how P4P Belize goes beyond distributing bicycles in their community.
Spring 2023 Newsletter
President’s Message
P4P Belize, Spring 2023
This spring Alan visited our newest partner, P4P Belize. Here is Part 1 of his report, introducing the director, the organization, and its South Side Belize City neighborhood.
P4P Belize Programs
Part 2 of Alan’s report on his trip to Belize introduces the programs of P4P Belize.
Guatemala
FIDESMA, our partner in Guatemala, is our longest-running partnership.
Togo Report, March 2023
DRVR-TOGO, our partner in Togo, sent this report on their ceremony for International Women’s Rights Day.
Uganda
Our partner in Uganda runs training programs in sewing, design, motor mechanics, and other marketable skills for vulnerable members of the community. They held their Eighth Graduation Ceremony on February 11, 2023.
Active Partners
Collection Sponsors
Major Contributors
Staff
Trustees
Report from Uganda, April 2023
By Mathew Yawe, Executive Director, Mityana Open Troop Foundation
Spring 2023 Newsletter
On behalf of the Mityana Open Troop Foundation, allow me to present to you a report of our activities from Janaury to April 2023.
Mityana Open Troop Foundation is a registered Community Based Organization, with a Vocational Skills Training Centre, which recruits and trains vulnerable youths, mostly young girls formerly selling sex for survival and girls expelled from schools due to teenage pregnancies. Currently the project has a total of 111 Trainees, girls and boys.
Learners are trained for two years in sustainable skills such as sewing and fashion design, hair dressing and weaving, motor vehicle mechanics, carpentry & joinery, or metal fabrication.
There are three 3-month training terms per year. For each term the centre recruits whoever wishes to join.
Since the inception of our Vocational Skills Training project in 2007, more than 1,200 have graduated. Some got employed while others set up their own workshops.
Every trainee in the sewing program works with a sewing machine from the Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace Project of the USA to enable proper hands-on training.
Other P4P/SP sewing machines are donated to the graduating youths to enable them to start their own workshops right away. In Uganda, graduating a trainee with only a certificate and no equipment is a waste of time. It’s estimated that 90% of Ugandan graduates can’t afford start-up equipment.
Achievements
The Vocational project held its Eighth Graduation Ceremony on February 11, 2023, when 205 youths graduated with sustainable skills. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola in our Ugandan Operational Districts, this is our first graduation ceremony since the Seventh Graduation Ceremony in November 2018.
Breakdown of graduates:
- 101 tailors
- 70 hair dressers
- 10 domestic electricians
- 20 motor vehicle mechanics
- 4 bakers
The project leased a plot of land for growing maize and beans to feed project learners, as buying maize flour and beans from food stores is so expensive.
We also hold talks concerning STIs, HIV/AIDS, youth friendly services, etc.
Income and Expenditure January to April 2023
Exchange rate: 1 U.S. dollar (USD) to 3,300 Uganda shillings (UGX)
| Income January 2023 to April 2023. (USD $) | Expenditure January 2023 to April 2023. (USD $) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | School fees contribution from trainees | US $ 2,727 | salaries for the Instructors and support staff | US $ 600 |
| 2. | Selling of Sewing machines. | US $ 454 | Sewing machine shipping from USA | US $ 1600 |
| 3. | Sewing & fashion products, embroidering services, face masks. | US $ 110 | Trainee feeding | US $ 1000 |
| 4. | Carpentry workshop products. | US $ 301 | Training working materials. | US $ 500 |
| 5. | Government of Uganda, youths skilling program support. | -Nil- | Electricity bills for school, carpentry, sewing shop. | US $ 400 |
| 6. | Kolping Mityana Womens Project, 5 Vulnerable Orphanage school fees support. | US $ 500 | Computer services & stationary. | US $ 30 |
| 7. | Fields of Life Orphanage school fees Support. | US $ 419 | Compound slashing / maintaining. | US $ 60 |
| 8. | Unbound Kampala Ltd Vulnerable Orphanage school fees Support. | US $ 350 | Sewing Show Room & Carpentry Workshop premise Renting. | US $ 597 |
| 9. | Firewood | US $ 200 | ||
| 10. | Operational licences / Taxes | US $ 239 | ||
| 11. | Sewing machine servicing | -Nil- | ||
| 12. | Condolence support to project trainees and teachers, having lost their closest dear ones! | US $ 1000 | ||
| TOTALS: | US $ 4,861 | US $ 6,226 | ||
Challenges / Limitations
The Training Centre lacks clean water. There is a small water tank, 2000 liters, which is emptied in 2 days. Then students have to walk 2 km to get water from unprotected sources.
We lost Rev. Balam Mukwaya in February 2023, a board member who donated to the project land fund.
The organization requires office furniture and staff room, as instructors don’t have a place to sit and keep their kits.
The organization still encounters challenges in raising funds for shipping sewing machines from Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace USA, as the project gives sewing machines to graduates as start-up equipment.
The organization lacks a computer, printer, and photocopier for printing end-of-term exams, and for other office computer work. Currently all computer work is taken to our town to be worked on.
The project needs a computer lab with internet access, to enable students to find dress fashions, learn computer skills, and get health information. In addition, this computer lab would be used by our community volunteers to access the Ministry of Health for health-related issues.
We have many cases of malaria among project trainees, as they lack mosquito nets.
Our project lacks a toilet for boys. Currently boys and girls share one pit latrine, which is not recommended by the Ministry of Education.
The project lacks an incinerator, where sanitary pads and other wastes can be burnt easily.
We lack our own land for growing maize, beans, and potatoes for feeding trainees. The same piece of land could be planted with Robusta coffee and macadamia nuts, cash crops for generating income.
Community Impact
The Mityana Open Troop Vocational Skills Project offers affordable training to school dropouts from our communities, including unemployed youths. The project trainees come from the six surrounding districts: Mityana, Mubende, Kiboga, Kasanda, Kyankwanzi, and Hoima. The non-formal skills training we offer has very much benefited parents whose children have dropped out of school, as most institutions in the area offer formal education only.
Over 800 trainees have graduated since our inception in 2007. These graduates go back to their communities and set up their own workshops, passing along their acquired skills to fellow youths who didn’t join our project.
The community can also buy inexpensive goods and services from trainees in the carpentry workshop and the sewing project, where we make uniforms and offer sewing repair services.
Our sewing shop also offers embroidery services to schools formerly traveling to Kampala.
The Mityana Open Troop Foundation is the only shop in the area delivering high quality used sewing machines at inexpensive prices. The machines are from Sewing Peace USA. Many schools and tailors in the area have been supplied with these machines.
Way Forward and Recommendations
We are fundraising for a new 2-classroom block, to enable us to create a conducive training environment and have room for more students.
We need an incinerator for burning sanitary pads and other waste.
We need a new toilet for boys, who currently share facilities with girls, which is not recommended!
We need embroidery machines with USB input, as the one we have is very slow and requires mechanical servicing all the time!
We are organizing a Christmas children’s party for December 27th, with guest speakers, drinks, cakes, biscuits, music, and gifts.
We welcome volunteers who can teach sustainable skills to our youths. We would like to partner with similar vocational training institutions elsewhere in the world. This will help us learn how they operate. Plus it will help our Ugandan youths create friendships with fellow youths and learn about their cultures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, on behalf of the Mityana Open Troop Foundation, I extend our sincere thanks to the following great friends / partners who have been so supportive of our activities: Mr. Chris Eldridge, Mr. David Schweidenback and Mr. Alan Schultz of the Sewing Peace Project USA.
I extend our thanks to the generous communities of the USA, who have been donating high-quality refurbished sewing machines to our needy Ugandan communities. Please, the used sewing machines which seem unimportant in the USA have uplifted our communities, changing peoples’ lives by creating a daily source of income. Thanks to all the volunteers involved in the collection of sewing machines and bicycles.
Please Continue Giving a Hand Up, Not a Hand out.
Thanks.
Report from Guatemala, Spring 2023: FIDESMA ECOLOBICI Business Project
Bicycles in Competition
Over the past 10 years, many young people have entered the sport of cycling from different places in Guatemala because of our bicycles. They began training on local roads, and over time they were encouraged to participate in competitions. These included different categories, for both men and women, using different types of bicycles. Our quality bikes enabled these young people to compete in events all over Guatemala.
In 2022 the Guatemalan National Cycling Competition passed through our home town of San Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango. One of the cyclists from the Guatemalan national team is from Itzapa. The bicycle is a symbol of sport, of competition, and of teamwork. It is of great benefit to the children and youth of our towns.
Bicycles in Schools
Also for more than 10 years we have delivered bicycles to teachers in different communities in Chimaltenango, where children win bicycles by holding a raffle or a competition. Many children who have won bicycles use them to go to school, to run family errands, or just to play sports.
Bicycles for Transportation
Many men and women have bought bicycles from our FIDESMA ECOLOBICI bike shop. The bikes are used by women who take their market goods home, by young people who go to work in the urban area of Chimaltenango, and by men who use their bikes to commute to the farms and factories where they work. Using bicycles for transportation saves money they would otherwise spend on bus fares.
Sewing Machines
Sewing machines have always been a very important contribution from Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace. Each year more than 20 women have benefited from a sewing machine. Women use their sewing machines mainly in their clothing stores. They repair clothing for other people, they make new garments for sale, and they repair clothing for their own families.
Our Resellers
Because of the pandemic, people from around the country were looking for new business opportunities. In parts of Guatemala that we do not get to, some of these people decided to become resellers of our bicycles. They buy loads of our bikes and resell them in their communities for a profit.
Togo Report, March 2023
From: Simon Akouete
Date: March 23, 2023
The whole P4P team are doing well I believe.
I am sending you some photos of the ceremony of the second edition of the International Women’s Rights Day organized by the DRVR-TOGO Association with the Young Women’s Leaders Group (G.J.F.L) here in Vogan-Awlamé in Togo. The theme this year is “For an Inclusive Digital World: Innovation and Technologies for Gender Equality”.
Many events and demonstrations are organized around March 8 to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. The event is marked first by a women’s caravan with a fanfare group carrying the banner they held in front of the crowd on which you will see the name and logo of Pedals for Progress and an American flag. On the opposite side is the flag of Togo and the name of the Young Women’s Leaders Group, which is one of the groups supervised by the association Challenge and Revolution in Rural Life (DRVR-TOGO). The caravan passes through the surrounding villages, and is followed by a women’s bicycle race with a key message: with bicycles, we have a means of transport that is fast, safe, ecological, and above all economic and adapted to our means for the reinforcement of our small commercial activities.
All our thanks go to P4P, its partners, and to all near and far who supported us for the smooth running of this activity.
Simon Yawo Galé AKOUETE, coordinateur de l’association DRVR-TOGO
