Project Name:Bamboo Bikes

Project managers/designers: Bernice Dapaah

Web link: http://ghanabamboobikes.org/en

Description: Our Bamboo Bike Initiative continues to build capacity and create employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled youth and women (35 jobs created: 25 bike builders and 10 farmers). It significantly contributes to reducing poverty in Ghana’s rural communities along with the value added by supporting the local bamboo bike industry. Additionally, the local government is assisted through taxes and foreign exchange that is generated through exports. Our Initiative offers a basic course and practical lessons on building bamboo bikes as a way of encouraging entrepreneurship and providing sustainable livelihood job skills for women and youth of Ghana. Providing this training helps equip people to set up their own small-scale production base in any part of the country. Our Bamboo Bike Academy is located on the premises of our factory and includes a 200-hour bamboo bike manufacturing and mechanics course. It teaches apprentices to manufacture, assemble and repair their bamboo bikes. This thorough knowledge helps to empower cyclists and employees, equipping them with the skills to repair and make the most of their vehicles. In addition to the mechanics, techniques on selling bike parts and accessories are provided. This training can result in jobs at local area bike shops and other bike related businesses upon completion.

Added by: Alexandros Nikolis Oneata