The Bicycling Empowerment Centre (BEC) is a bicycle shop in a box, ready to be delivered to any community in a developing country. Stocked with 300-400 bicycles, tools, spare parts and accompanied by comprehensive training in bicycle mechanics, it is designed to empower disadvantaged people and their communities with their own transport and their own means of maintaining it. The BEN Namibia, Okathitu update on a BEC will give you a better idea of how it works and the benefits derived.

Who can send a BEC?

A BEC is housed in a shipping container that can be loaded with new or second hand bicycles anywhere in the world. A civic organisation, school or religious group in a Western country can organise to collect second hand bicycles or buy new ones and ship them to a developing country partner. Bicycles for Humanity can help coordinate fundraising efforts to purchase the container, pay for the shipping and help the developing country with delivery costs. Corporate partners and donor agencies can also help meet the costs associated with a BEC.

Visit the Humanity Rocks page to find out more about organising a BEC.