BEN Namibia

Bicycle Empowerment Network Namibia is our primary partner in Africa. Founded in 2004 by Australian Michael Linke, BEN Namibia have developed a range of bicycle related projects that break the poverty cycle and benefit the HIV/AIDS response in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most successful projects has been the implementation of 25 Bicycle Empowerment Centres across Namibia.

BEN Namibia provide training in both mechanical and business skills for the local community establishing each bike workshop as an effective self sustaining small business that benefits those working there, the local community and plays an important role in stimulating  the economy.

Each Bicycle Empowerment Centre (BEC) is attached to a beneficiary organisation - usually an orphanage or HIV/AIDS outreach centre and supports that project through providing some of its income to the project.

Bikes make a difference - however without some way to fix and service them, just providing bikes is not a sustainable and ongoing way of helping in Africa. BEN Namibia’s model works on many levels. It provides sustainable transport for a community, provides economic and employment opportunities and further benefits the development projects the BEC is attached to.

We love an elegant solution and BEN Namibia’s model fulfills this completely.  We’ve always said the we at Bicycles For Humanity have an easy gig compared to the work Michael and his team do. B4H exists because of the highly effective work of BEN Namibia.