BEN Namibia aims to empower disadvantaged Namibians through provision of sustainable transport and bicycle-related income generation opportunities Our main work is bicycle distribution in order to strengthen the grassroots response to HIV/AIDS. We import donated new and second-hand bicycles, parts and accessories from overseas partner organisations and refurbish them by training and employing local people in bicycle mechanics. We began operations in May 2005, and as of October 2010, we have arranged the distribution of over 18,000 bicycles to disadvantaged Namibians. We have partnered with 60 community-based organisations (CBOs), mainly focused on home-based care (HBC) services for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), as well as dissemination of information on HIV prevention. Bicycles are distributed to volunteers and staff who use them to greatly improve the efficiency of their work. Through these partnerships, we also provide bicycles to children living long distances from school and to low-income earners. Besides bicycle distribution, BEN Namibia also produces bicycle-pulled ambulances to improve access to healthcare services in rural areas.
Listing Details
Classification Criteria
Environmental Goods or Services, Social Enterprise