BEC Arrives in Rundu, Namibia!

Ottawa's first Bicycle Empowerment Center (BEC) - a shipping container full of bikes, spare parts, soccer gear, backpacks and books, has arrived at it's destination in Rundu, Namibia. The BEC has been given to House of Love for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HLOVC), a community-based care group..

With a BEC, HLOVC will be able to supply bicycles to more volunteers and to orphans living long distances from school, and generate income in support of their other projects. In addition, due to high volume of needs in the region, HLOVC will become a hub in the area, providing transport for more than 10 groups working in Home-based care (HBC) and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programs as well as HIV/AIDS support groups

Along with the bikes, more than 400 soccer jerseys, 100 balls, socks and shin pads were shipped.  The soccer gear has now reached its destination - Katutura - a township near Windhoek, Namibia. The soccer gear will be supporting the efforts of MaryBeth Gallager with her programs to teach life skills and improve the lives of the kids who have lost one or both parents to the AIDS epidemic. Among other initiatives, she runs a Saturday soccer program for 500 kids.

See photos of the soccer program and the arrival of the Bicycle Empowerment Centre (BEC)

See a video message from Salome Victor, coordinator of the House of Love Orphan and Vulnerable Children Centre in Rundu, Namibia.

See a video about meal preparation at the HLOVC - cooking pots were included in the shipment in response to a specific request from the House of Love

See video message from Gertrud - a volunteer at the HLOVC who is training as a bike mechanic

THANK YOU to all donors, supporters, sponsors and volunteers - you made the dream a reality!
We hope that we can continue to count on your support as we gear up for the next BEC, scheduled for August 23, 2008.