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LATEST FEATURES: THE KONA AFRICABIKE PROGRAM: BIKES THAT HEAL
Philip Booth
June 3, 2009
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THE STORY OF STEVEN
Steven is a security guard in Africa. In 2004, he learned he was HIV positive. He spent most of that night at his security post, gun in hand, debating whether or not he should take his own life. Steven made it through the night, and the next morning, his wife, who would later test HIV positive, convinced him to continue on. He did and Steven has now become a “Buddy”—-a person who works within the community and outlying areas with people who have tested HIV positive or who are at risk for the HIV virus. A Buddy offers support, educates people about the disease and puts them in contact with organizations that can provide medical assistance. Today, Steven and Buddy groups like his reach thousands of people infected with the HIV virus in Africa. Thanks to Kona and the AfricaBike program, they reach these people on bikes. Riding an AfricaBike, Steven is able to reach more clients and spend more time with them if needed. He describes his meeting with clients as “very sad and heavy” but takes great pride as he talks about how his visits take away some of the fear and the thoughts of dying that come with HIV status.
THE PROGRAM
Started in 2005, the Kona AfricaBike program’s primary focus has been to provide strong and easy-to-maintain bicycles for healthcare workers to assist in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in remote parts of Africa. By the end of 2008, Kona will have produced a thousand AfricaBikes for the project.
For every two AfricaBikes purchased by customers, Kona donates one AfricaBike to the program. With roughly 2000 AfricaBikes being sold last year, Kona will donate a thousand bikes to the project with all proceeds from sales going into the production and delivery of AfricaBikes to Africa. The AfricaBikes are delivered through Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Secure the Future Foundation, Bicycling Magazine’s BikeTown Africa project, and other non-profit and non-governmental organizations whose missions include helping to improve the quality of life in sub-Saharan Africa.
THE PROGRAM EXPANDS TO TANZANIA
In 2008, Kona broadened its scope and is developing projects with the World Wildlife Foundation and other organizations. In September, Kona donated a hundred AfricaBikes to one of the World Wildlife Fund’s water projects in Tanzania.
The Great Ruaha River is the most important source of fresh water in Tanzania. Since 1993, poor water management has left the river in the Rufiji River Basin completely dry for long periods of time. In 2003, the World Wildlife Foundation implemented a sustainable water management program to help the 6.35 million people living in the region. The program trains people in water irrigation, law, policy and conservation. The program has been a success and in 2006 the Great Ruaha flowed throughout the year for the first time since 2001. By having access to a hundred Kona AfricaBikes, workers are better able to cover the long distances required to monitor the river. This leads ultimately to more stable water supply and healthier communities. Without the AfricaBikes, management of the river would be nearly impossible.
ADOPT AN AFRICABIKE PROGRAM
The Adopt-an-AfricaBike program allows individuals, companies or bicycle shops to adopt an AfricaBike for $100. Companies or shops can send in a sticker and Kona will apply it to the bike before delivery. Once the bike is delivered, Kona takes a picture and sends it to the adoptee. Last year, Kona’s adopt-an-AfricaBike program raised more than $10,000.
QUINN AND CHRISTINE
The Adopt-an-AfricaBike program has also had an effect on people not directly affected by the many different crises in Africa. Ten-year-old Quinn Freedman raised $1500 by completing a solo 25-mile “Bike-a-thon” in the San Juan Islands last November. The month before, Quinn was on the Kona website and saw that Kona had designed a bike to allow the African healthcare workers to better access the rural population. The site was asking readers to donate money to purchase AfricaBikes. Quinn was moved by the request but didn’t have money to donate. Quinn then decided to start a one person bike-a-thon. He asked his friends and family to pledge money for each mile he rode. Initially he hoped to raise $100, enough to buy a single AfricaBike bike. What Quinn didn’t expect was the outpouring of support from the community. He found thirty donors, mostly local residents who each pledged between $0.25 and $10 a mile.
His personal longest ride to date had been fifteen miles; however, in support of the AfricaBike program Quinn rode 25 miles to raise a total of $1525. “I felt really proud,” said Quinn. “That will be enough to adopt more than fifteen bikes. I know this will make a big difference to a lot of people.”
On the other side of the country, Virginia Tech senior Christine George created a fund-raiser that went on to raise $10,500 for the Adopt-an-AfricaBike program Christine’s fund-raiser ran from February to June of 2008 and attracted interest and donations by everyone from community members, hardcore bike enthusiasts and even college students who put in what little money they had.
The funds Christine raised will help supply AfricaBikes to healthcare workers who treat HIV/AIDS patients in Africa, but will also assist in the logistics of getting the bikes from Kona to Africa in 2009. In partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bicycling Magazine, Kona will have made six trips to Africa by the end of the year. BikeTown Africa representatives, volunteers and bike mechanics will stop in Mozambique, Swaziland and twice in South Africa to deliver AfricaBikes, educate people about the bikes and lend support in their healthcare missions.
For more information on AfricaBike Programs visit www.konabiketown.com
Kona AfricaBike
The Kona Africa bike is as simple as a bike can get. The one-size fits all frame is constructed from butted chromoly, and features a built-in rear lock system. Every AfricaBike comes equipped with Continental TownRide tires, fenders, a basket, rear rack, chainguard and a bell. The AfricaBike is available in single speed and three-speed versions.
PRICE: $375 (single-speed), $449 (three-speed)
INFO: www.konaworld.com
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