The idea behind Qhubeka is that bicycles are a simple tool to help people move forward. With a bicycle, people can travel faster and further and carry more. That’s why our goal is to distribute a million bicycles – to move entire communities forward by helping people access schools, clinics and jobs.
To do this, we follow quite a lengthy process:
We begin by raising funds. To do so, we rely on supporters like you. Individuals, groups, companies and government departments help us access funding through various channels. These range from grassroots / peer-to-peer fundraising to donations, sponsorships, grants, partnerships, social responsibility programmes and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) funding. Without these funds, we would not be able to change lives with bicycles.
The next step is bicycle manufacturing. Qhubeka’s wholly owned subsidiary, Real Bicycle Co. (RBC) designs and manufactures the Qhubeka Bicycles that are distributed into our various programmes. Bicycles are also available for purchase directly through RBC.
The bicycles are then assembled at Qhubeka assembly facilities in the Western Cape and North West by previously unemployed people from the local communities. From there, they are shipped to Qhubeka programmes or customers around South Africa for distribution.
Qhubeka then trains bicycle mechanics in the communities in which we operate. Our Qhubeka mechanics ensure the bicycles we distribute through our programmes get the maintenance and service they need, keeping them in riding condition.
Before we distribute bicycles to the beneficiaries of our learn-to-earn and work-to-earn programmes, we ensure they all go through beneficiary safety training to ensure they are comfortable with handling a bicycle and can adhere to the rules of the road.
Then comes one of our favourite parts of the process – distributing the bicycles! This happens at a distribution ceremony where we can celebrate the beneficiaries and their communities, as well as accommodating our sponsors and including local authorities and media. We love seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they receive their new Qhubeka Bicycles.
The process doesn’t end there, however. We also build the spare part supply chain to ensure that bicycle mechanics and communities are able to access parts for repair and maintenance, ensuring the bicycles remain in use.
We also undertake monitoring and evaluation to ensure the long-term sustainability of our programmes.
You can see that it’s a lengthy process, but at the end of it, it’s wonderful to see the impact and how bicycles change lives.
Thank you for helping to make this all possible.
If you’d like to help us continue our cycle of changing lives with bicycles, please consider donating or partnering with us.
