In Ghana, the popularity of our bike program is spreading and applications requesting bikes are piling up fast. Farmers are waiting. Families are waiting. Students are waiting...to get to school safely and on time. Village Bicycle Project is our local partner handling the bikes, the requests, the training and the distribution. No matter how quickly they bring the bike shipments in, they cannot meet the demand. 

Last year they hosted six Learn To Ride programs where they were able to reach over 500 people in small communities around Ghana. Through their L2R programs, VBP provides access to a bicycle and training to ride and maintain the bikes they deliver. Putting more bikes in the hands of young people for the purpose of attending school remains a priority for VBP. 

From the time the bikes hit the ground, they immediately begin transforming a community. VBP works with local mechanics who are employed to repair the donated bikes coming into the area. Each participant who receives a bike is also taught how to properly maintain and clean the bike in addition to learning how to make small repairs, which can lengthen the life of the bike and cut back on expensive repairs.

This past February 100 bikes from a BfW shipment in 2025 were delivered to the Upper West region of Ghana. For farmers, a bike can save valuable time and energy by cutting commuting time by hours. Farmers are able to get to and from their fields faster, spending less time walking under the hot sun in the heat of the day. They are also able to carry more products to market increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables they can sell per day.

Nearly half of those bikes distributed in February ended up with students. For a young person, a bike can be the component that keeps them enrolled in school. Through the L2R programs, VBP works closely with girls to ensure they are skilled on the bike and fixing a flat or adjusting brakes. These skills will help keep them safe on the roads and confident on the bike, building on their strengths and independence. 

At the conclusion of the program in the Wa Region this past winter, VBP was flooded with more requests for bikes. As you step up to help support projects like this by donating your old bikes we can continue to replenish their supply to keep these projects rolling throughout 2026. Another container from BfW will be donated to VBP Ghana this upcoming week.