‘Bikes for Africa’ - A two-wheeled documentary

The experiences of young adventurers Hap Cameron and Mandy Todd will be shared in the upcoming documentary ’Bikes for Africa’. The documentary will follow their attempt to ride 5000kms across Southern Africa to meet and implement a container of second-hand bicycles in the community of Katima Mulilo in Namibia.

The two have teamed up with Bicycles For Humanity in Melbourne and Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) Namibia, and with the support of their community, friends and family, are working towards raising the AUD $12,000 to ship the container to Africa.

Hap Cameron was born in New Zealand and has for many years pursued his goal of living and working on every continent before he turns 30. With Africa the one continent he is yet to conquer, Hap is close to achieving his goal. Mandy Todd was born in the USA and has also travelled widely, particularly in the Spanish speaking world. She admits that the upcoming adventure in Africa will be the ride of a lifetime.

The documentary will share their travel experiences and examine the positive impacts that the donated bicycles have on the Namibian community.

Bikes for Africa is directed by independent New Zealand filmmaker Richard Sidey and is expected to be released in early 2012. Watch the first trailer here

Bikes for Africa | Documentary Promo from Richard Sidey on Vimeo.

Beer, Bikes & Bands Fundraising Event

Beer, Bikes & Bands will combine these three things for one action packed event in support of the Final Continent Expedition.

The Final Continent Expedition is the brain child of Hap Cameron, who set the goal of living and working on all 7 continents before he turned 30. The FCE team has raised $10,000 in support of Bicycles For Humanity in order to send a shipping container of bikes to Namibia. The FCE team will soon leave for Cape Town, from where they will cycle to Namibia to implement the shipping container as a workshop, train the locals to maintain it as a sustainable business which will provide bicycles to the community.

The event will feature live performances by Charlie Lim, PHIA, The Lights, Hazel Boot and a burlesque performance by Miss Kay Risqué. There will also be a raffle and silent auction which will feature items donated by select local businesses. Little Creatures will be sponsoring the event and offering a free brew with each entry ticket!

The event will also feature as a bicycle collection point for Bicycles For Humanity. This is a great opportunity, in a central location, to donate disused bicycles that will go to help those in need in Africa. With every donated bicycle, you’ll get an entry into the raffle!

When: Sunday 29 May @ 5pm

Where: The Workers Club - 51 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

How much: $12

Proudly sponsored by Little Creatures

All the details are at http://www.beerbikesandbands.com/

We’ll look forward to seeing you there.

Paul Kviecinskas Rides Perth to Melbourne!

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/paulius_kviecinskas

Our latest supporter and winner of the ‘Hero of  The Year’ award is Paul Kviecinskas. He’ll be riding from Perth to Melbourne later this year and helping us raise funds for the next container of bikes. ‘Perth to Melbourne’ I hear you say… no, it’s not an extended typo or geographical ignorance - it is around 4,500 km from Indian Ocean to Port Phillip Bay covering the legendary Nullaboor on the way.

But wait there’s more. As 4,500 km is such a small effort Paul will be doing it hard core on a single speed. Yes, really. Here’s a bit more about the amazing Paul in his own words.

Paulius Kviecinskas, 30 years old, living in Spotswood Melbourne.  Ecologist, currently working for Melbourne Water.  Have worked in many bike shops in the past as sales and as head mechanic.  Became aware of B4H whilst working in a bike shop and having customers ask me about any charities that will take their old bikes.  I have always been into the outdoors, cycling, mountainbiking, rockclimbing, mountaineering, hiking, adventure races etc.  Have done several long distance bike rides but never this long plus a single speed.  Chose to do the single speed due to reliability and ease of maintenance and for the extra challenge.  I thought doing something on a bike would be fitting to raise funds for B4H.

From its beginnings BicyclesFor Humanity, Melbourne has been supported by wonderful and passionate people like Paul who get what we’re doing and do astounding things because of it.  He deserves all our support - you can get behind him and his amazing effort at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/paulius_kviecinskas

Our First Container Arrives in Opuwo

We were hugely excited to get the first photos from Namibia with our first conatiner arriving in Opuwo where it is now being implemented as a Bicycle Empowerent Centre. This bike workshop will support the local Red Cross and the local community provided emplyment, training and economic opportunities. Many of the bikes will be distributed to home based care workers  who work at the coal face to the HIV/Aids response in Namibia.

Huge thanks to everyone who made this possible. We’ll keep you posted as the story unfolds.

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