Ekialo Kiona Bicycle Project

In October, 2011 the Ekialo Kiona Center will receive its first shipment of donated mountain bikes from Bicycles for Humanity - Colorado. Members of the Ekialo Kiona Center will have the opportunity to purchase the bikes at a discounted rate from the EK Bicycle Shop. These bicycles will not only provide easy and affordable transportation for EK members to healthcare and treatment facilities, they will also promote job creation and sustainable technology throughout all of Mfangano. 

Additionally, Ekialo Kiona will be hiring two Mfangano community members to run the bicycle shop. These new employees will be trained for bicycle repairs by Bicycles for Humanity - Colorado and will run the business out of the EK Center. This bicycle shop will help with OHR's vision of reducing HIV/AIDS prevelance by offering discounted mountain bikes to EK members, encouraging local residents to learn their HIV status with this new and exciting incentive.

"A bicycle, one of the simplest transport technologies, is affordable and can be maintained anywhere in the world with minimal tools and spare parts. In the hands of a healthcare worker, they can cover four times the ground than otherwise on foot. This translates into four times the number of patient visits and four times the number of medication disbursements."    www.b4hcolorado.org