How World Bicycle Relief Dramatically Assist Rural Communities

World Bicycle Relief combines impactful non-profit programs with social enterprise sales of their Buffalo Bicycles to meet the staggering need for reliable, accessible transportation in remote and rural communities.

They are also committed to building accessible, affordable, and sustainable bicycle infrastructure in the areas where they work, benefiting generations to come.

“All Buffalo Bicycles are assembled in the countries where we work and, to date, we have trained more than 2,600 bicycle mechanics,” said Di Mason of World Bicycle Relief.

“This not only generates new employment opportunities in rural areas but means people can access a local maintenance service to keep them on the move,” she added.

Each mechanic learns bicycle assembly, maintenance, and repair, as well as basic business, marketing, and management skills. In addition, each trainee receives a bicycle, a set of high-quality bicycle tools, a uniform, and marketing materials.

Locadia is a passionate advocate for women and children, working as a social worker and facilitator of several women’s savings groups in the Hwange District of Zimbabwe.

When Locadia received her Buffalo Bicycle, aged 35, she had never ridden a bike. Within months, with the support of our local partner Greenline Africa and the local Buffalo Bicycle mechanic, Locadia learned to ride with confidence, opening a new world for herself.

But her relationship with bicycles didn’t end there. Locadia has now completed the six-day mechanics training course in Victoria Falls and was one of the top performers. After receiving her certification, she shadowed one of the longest-standing Buffalo Bicycles mechanics in Hwange District to hone her newly acquired skills.

Now, as a skilled rider and qualified mechanic, Locadia not only has an affordable means of transport to support her community work, but she is generating additional income through her bicycle maintenance and repair business.

The Buffalo Bicycle is engineered for heavy loads, long distances, and rugged terrain, using high-quality parts and materials designed specifically to meet our riders’ needs. Still, every bike will need repairs or a tune-up on occasion.

Alex, a 70-year-old small scale farmer in Zimbabwe and Buffalo Bicycle mechanic, makes sure that rural students, healthcare workers and entrepreneurs can get their bicycles fixed quickly and well so they can get back on the road right away.

When Buffalo Bicycles became available in his area, Alex was selected by his local council to undertake the mechanics training program. With the additional income generated as a mechanic, Alex has been able to put family members through school and purchase a new radio, solar panel, and power inverter.

Alex takes special pride in making sure his neighbours’ bicycles stay in good shape and on the road. “I see my job as important. When I fix people’s bicycles, they appreciate my service,” he says.

Plus, Alex loves the satisfaction of making broken things work again. His favourite bike part to work on is the rear hub, because he likes to re-assemble all the small pieces within the coaster brake.

“I’m very proud to be a mechanic,” Alex says.

World Bicycle Relief’s field mechanic program is an essential part of our self-sustaining model. Once Buffalo Bicycles are available in a rural area, they never need to leave that community for repair or maintenance, and local residents with an interest in mechanics can create a new income stream for themselves.

More than a billion people in rural areas lack access to reliable roads and affordable transportation. We believe that mobility is a fundamental human right.

With bicycles, people are empowered to make positive changes in their lives and break the cycle of poverty.