Bikes for the World (BfW) is a sponsored project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (tax ID #237305477) whose mission is to collect valuable but unwanted bicycles and related material--parts, tools, and accessories--in the United States and deliver it at low cost to community development programs assisting the poor in developing countries.   The bikes donated to our partner organizations provide much-needed and affordable transportation to laborers, micro businesspeople, farmers, health workers, and students.  Recipients benefit in proportion to THEIR efforts.  Our non-profit partner organizations sell bikes at a below-market price or distribute them to targeted beneficiaries in exchange for volunteer services (e.g., health workers in Namibia) or as award (e.g., for scholarship students living miles away from school, as in the Gambia or Senegal).  

As much as possible, Bikes for the World uses the donated bicycles to help set-up self-sustaining bicycle repair operations which can make enough money to pay the direct costs for subsequent container shipments of donated bicycles.

Bikes for the World also operates the Rockville Youth Bicycle Project in suburban Maryland, offering local youth opportunities to learn about bicycles, fulfill high school community service requirements, earn a reconditioned bicycle, and bike safely and enjoyably.

(Right: Picture from Nyariga, Ghana showing a recipient of a Bikes for the World bicycle. Courtesy of the Shape Lives Foundation)