Bicycles for Humanity is a grassroots organization and it is growing globally in many wild and wonderful ways. Individuals and community groups everywhere are establishing bike collections and sending containers to Africa to support health workers, women and entire communities with mobility. If you are interested in finding more about organizing a Bicycles for Humanity, there are a number of links on our website that can hopefully help. If what we do makes sense but you are very busy, just adding our domain name, www.bicycles-for-humanity.org at the bottom of your signature on all emails would be greatly appreciated.

We are grassroots, we will always be. In today's world of large budget non-profits, people wondering where their donations are going. Our goal is simple: to help individuals and community groups directly connect with communities and individuals in Africa and together make a difference. One BEC (container of bikes) can do much more than anyone of us can ever imagine both here within your community, but also in Africa.

There are many ways to get involved and we welcome everyone. If you have a bit of time, why not become a Friend of Bicycles for Humanity. As a Friend, we will provide you with a Bicycles for Humanity email address, PowerPoint and word presentations you can use to make people aware of what we do, plus we will provide you with Bicycles for Humanity business cards that you can hand out. As a friend, we encourage you to get out there and talk to schools, churches, civic clubs and cycling clubs in your area. It's fun, easy to do and you will meet new and interesting people in your community.

Want to do more? Why not start a Bicycles for Humanity Chapter in your community, just as Thunder Bay, Brampton, Kelowna, Ottawa and Cambridge have done. Organizing a chapter is fun, rewarding and it brings your community together in new and exciting ways. We will partner your community or chapter with a partner group in Africa and the goal is to send a BEC (Bicycle Empowerment Centre) to that community or another community each year. All chapters are provided with all the material Friends receive, plus we will provide your Chapter with web space and full support directly & online in our community resource centre.

Friends of Bicycles for Humanity & groups of friends establishing B4H Chapters are the foundation of our grassroots movement. With it costing roughly $8,000 to send a BEC to Africa, there is a lot of fundraising that needs to happen. Groups organize rides, dinners, concerts, wine and cheese parties, sell Humanity cards and prints and many other exciting initiatives. Being grassroots, we have to raise every cent. There is nothing taken out for administration or overhead in any way and there never will be.

We believe and encourage corporations to get involved. In addition to helping the B4H chapter and the people of Africa, corporations can gain valuable good will and positive media coverage. It's environmentally friendly, economically sustainable and makes a huge difference effecting many for years to come. We are even happy to make the BEC private labelled to your organization and you can add signage to the container if you wish.

For more information of becoming a Friend, establishing a Chapter or in Corporate partnering, please send me an email, info@bicycles-for-humanity.org

Humanity by Liz Woodside