WPSO Uganda Shipping Party
We managed to squeeze 486 bikes into the container, 426 adult and 60 youths bikes, along with many additional parts and inner-tubes. With more helping hands at a shipping party than I've ever seen before the container was on it's way before 2pm.
Irene Nadunga’s initial comments on receiving the shipment ...
"We finally off-loaded on Monday the Zim Container from Chicago at a new loading site just a few kilometers from the previous site. It was in the bonded ware house for 10 days as we were still clearing with customs and the ministry of finance. The previous site was very expensive in terms of rent yet its out of town. Anyway, the challenge with the new site is that electricity wires on the road are too low in that a 40ft container can't pass under them. The young men tried to raise them with long sticks for the container to pass which led to lots of electric sparks although in the end they did succeed. We are planning to inform the Electric Company to raise the wires so that a 40ft container can easily pass through with little inconviniences, otherwise the new site is bigger and cooler. We have tightened the security by hiring a security guard with a gun since the area has lots of slums with unemployed youth who are usually night thieves living there to make sure that the bicycles are safe.
About the bicycles, the way they were packed without one tire was a little cumbersome although we have employed 2 mechanics to assemble all the bikes with thier tires. They have been so busy in essence. The good thing is that they are no road bikes as we have lots of them in stock. The bad side of the load is that they are lots and lots of size 24s and few 26s. Lots of 24s since they a small size, they cant meet the demands of project beneficiaries a number of whom are adults and the 26s help us meet shipping costs of future subsquent shipments. But all in all, its a pretty good load although the previous shipment you sent us was really wonderful. Anyhow, now you know very well our tastes and preferences which we greatly appreciate. They were no spares, just lots of small parts. But we will see how it all goes although am very optimistic."
We will be loading a container of bicycles bound for our new partner in Uganda,
the Women Prisoners Support Organisation, at 2434 S. Western Avenue ...
Empowerment in Uganda
When Marcellina Nakasobya - “Mama Alex” - was released from prison, she returned to her village only to find that her husband had abandoned her. He had remarried, leaving her to fend for their four sons. She had no work experience and few marketable skills.
What she had, though, was the Women Prisoners Support Organisation - WPSO - a Bikes for the World partner. WPSO offers training and preparation for re-entry into society in the months preceding release and continuing, as resources permit, afterwards.
In Kampala, Uganda’s capital, Mama Alex found a job delivering boxes of mineral water to small restaurants and hotels, earning about $2 a box. She could deliver only about four boxes a day, with over half of her “profit” going to drivers for carrying her and her product.
Desperate to improve her situation, Mama Alex went back to WPSO and purchased a brown Schwinn medium-tired bicycle, with rack and lock. She made a modest down payment and borrowed the remainder - another $16. With her bike, she now delivers an average of 11 boxes a day. Once she fully pays off the loan in February 2009, all her wages will go to support herself and her family.
In her words, it was the bike initiative, “removing the cultural blanket that had blinded my eyes for years,”that has allowed her to become financially independent. Women Prisoners Support Organization (WPSO) received its second shipment of bicycles and sewing machines from Bikes for the World in October 2008. Bikes are sold on credit and at a deep discount to selected ex-prisoners, and at affordable prices to community members, to cover program expenses.
With proceeds from future sales, WPSO plans to buy land and build a center to:
• provide training in bicycle repairs, tailoring, computer, and other life skills to female ex-prisoners and unemployed youth;
• support beneficiaries in accessing markets, schools, and health centers;
• partner with other community-based organizations that promote the use of bikes; and
• increase bikes sales to the local population and bike rentals to foreign visitors.
