"BENN has improved the living standards of the people in our communities of Katima Mulilo by creating jobs, providing bike transport (which is good for the health), capacity building to the community and business skills to our people. We are happy and proud; thanks BEN and the donors. God bless you."
-Moses Musukubili, Manager, Hard Working Men's Bicycle Shop"BEN Namibia has not just brought many affordable bikes to Namibia. It has also established the shops to maintain them, and added some jobs to the economy, in a creative way. It is an important resource in the advocacy of non-motorised transport. Let’s keep up the momentum so that cycling becomes more widespread and safer."
-Justin Ellis, Namibian Cycling Federation"We at Bicycles for Humanity in Colorado have been partners with BENN since 2008, primarily focused in northern Namibia. Our oldest bike shop in Nkurenkuru has been operating for 5 successful years spawning a small school. The shop’s success is greatly tied to the BENN team providing local training, mentoring, support in this very remote part of Namibia. BENN’s positive imprint on these bike shops is unmistakable. We look forward to many more years of jointly bringing the gift of mobility to those most marginalized."
-Joshua Pace, Bicycles for Humanity Colorado (US)"We have grown because of BEN Namibia. We have created job opportunities for others, we have trained many people, we provide cheap transport to all and the bikes we sell are all well maintained."
-Hilya Ekandjo, Manager, Okathitu Bicycle Shop (Est.2006)
"Talking about BEN Namibia is talking about life transformation and developments in the communities where it is operating. I have seen individuals’ lives changed through the work of BEN Namibia in my region, especially the privileged volunteers who work at the bike shops; they are now good business planners and able to manage their resources on their own. BEN Namibia has also helped the community at large on transport as the communities are able access bikes at a reasonable and affordable prices. It has changed our communities, and we really appreciate BEN Namibia."
-Jane Wachila, Catholic AIDS Action Regional Coordinator, Zambezi Region"I spent two months working as a volunteer with BEN in Namibia. Having been involved with Bicycles for Humanity in Melbourne, I wanted to see how things worked at the other end: from the repair and distribution of the many bikes packed tightly into the container in Australia months before, to the mechanical and business training required to create a sustainable community enterprise in Namibia. What became quickly apparent is that the bikes are wanted and needed where they are not a very common form of transport, and the chance of ongoing employment, poverty alleviation and a different future is valued by those trained to run the bicycle centres. Not all centres are immediately successful but with the ongoing support of BEN staff and partner organisations, from a good idea and much dedication things are growing, creating positive development at that very important community level."
-Tim Mulligan, volunteer (Australia)"Over the last 12 years Michael and the team of BEN Namibia have developed a unique and innovative model to bring entrepreneurship, affordable transportation and skills transfer to disadvantaged, rural communities in Namibia. We enjoyed supporting the start-up of the BECs in Bunya, Noordoewer, Karasburg, Omaruru and Linyanti and are looking forward to continue to provide what we see as social venture capital to future projects of BEN Namibia."
-Joerg Bauer, NEIA e.V. (Germany)"At TKMOAMS bike shop we really appreciate BEN Namibia for its generous support towards our project. It helped us to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic with ambulance bicycles for our volunteers to transport clients to hospitals or the nearest road to get transport.
Our volunteers are able to reach clients who live far away by using bicycles. It uplifted our activities as an organization; community members are buying bicycles from us as a means of transport to go to work and more importantly for children to go to school.
We wish BEN Namibia will continue to support community projects to fight HIV/AIDS, poverty and reach orphans and vulnerable children. It has also created jobs for our people and given them mechanical skills.
TKMOAMS would like to express its happiness to BENN for its generous support."
-Johanna Ishidhimbwa, General Manager, TKMOAMS, HIV/AIDS support organisation, Oshakati"Dr. Steve Klassen (Past Chair, Bicycles for Humanity, Thunder Bay) and I had the opportunity to travel to 11 Bicycle Empowerment Centres around Namibia during the making of the documentary, Where on Earth is My Bike? I am happy to say that our work is a hand-up, not a hand-out!"
-Paul Morralee, Filmmaker (Canada)
"BENN has improved the living standards of the people in our communities of Katima Mulilo by creating jobs, providing bike transport (which is good for the health), capacity building to the community and business skills to our people. We are happy and proud; thanks BEN and the donors. God bless you."
-Moses Musukubili, Manager, Hard Working Men's Bicycle Shop"BEN Namibia has not just brought many affordable bikes to Namibia. It has also established the shops to maintain them, and added some jobs to the economy, in a creative way. It is an important resource in the advocacy of non-motorised transport. Let’s keep up the momentum so that cycling becomes more widespread and safer."
-Justin Ellis, Namibian Cycling Federation"We at Bicycles for Humanity in Colorado have been partners with BENN since 2008, primarily focused in northern Namibia. Our oldest bike shop in Nkurenkuru has been operating for 5 successful years spawning a small school. The shop’s success is greatly tied to the BENN team providing local training, mentoring, support in this very remote part of Namibia. BENN’s positive imprint on these bike shops is unmistakable. We look forward to many more years of jointly bringing the gift of mobility to those most marginalized."
-Joshua Pace, Bicycles for Humanity Colorado (US)"We have grown because of BEN Namibia. We have created job opportunities for others, we have trained many people, we provide cheap transport to all and the bikes we sell are all well maintained."
-Hilya Ekandjo, Manager, Okathitu Bicycle Shop (Est.2006)
"Talking about BEN Namibia is talking about life transformation and developments in the communities where it is operating. I have seen individuals’ lives changed through the work of BEN Namibia in my region, especially the privileged volunteers who work at the bike shops; they are now good business planners and able to manage their resources on their own. BEN Namibia has also helped the community at large on transport as the communities are able access bikes at a reasonable and affordable prices. It has changed our communities, and we really appreciate BEN Namibia."
-Jane Wachila, Catholic AIDS Action Regional Coordinator, Zambezi Region"I spent two months working as a volunteer with BEN in Namibia. Having been involved with Bicycles for Humanity in Melbourne, I wanted to see how things worked at the other end: from the repair and distribution of the many bikes packed tightly into the container in Australia months before, to the mechanical and business training required to create a sustainable community enterprise in Namibia. What became quickly apparent is that the bikes are wanted and needed where they are not a very common form of transport, and the chance of ongoing employment, poverty alleviation and a different future is valued by those trained to run the bicycle centres. Not all centres are immediately successful but with the ongoing support of BEN staff and partner organisations, from a good idea and much dedication things are growing, creating positive development at that very important community level."
-Tim Mulligan, volunteer (Australia)"Over the last 12 years Michael and the team of BEN Namibia have developed a unique and innovative model to bring entrepreneurship, affordable transportation and skills transfer to disadvantaged, rural communities in Namibia. We enjoyed supporting the start-up of the BECs in Bunya, Noordoewer, Karasburg, Omaruru and Linyanti and are looking forward to continue to provide what we see as social venture capital to future projects of BEN Namibia."
-Joerg Bauer, NEIA e.V. (Germany)"At TKMOAMS bike shop we really appreciate BEN Namibia for its generous support towards our project. It helped us to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic with ambulance bicycles for our volunteers to transport clients to hospitals or the nearest road to get transport.
Our volunteers are able to reach clients who live far away by using bicycles. It uplifted our activities as an organization; community members are buying bicycles from us as a means of transport to go to work and more importantly for children to go to school.
We wish BEN Namibia will continue to support community projects to fight HIV/AIDS, poverty and reach orphans and vulnerable children. It has also created jobs for our people and given them mechanical skills.
TKMOAMS would like to express its happiness to BENN for its generous support."
-Johanna Ishidhimbwa, General Manager, TKMOAMS, HIV/AIDS support organisation, Oshakati"Dr. Steve Klassen (Past Chair, Bicycles for Humanity, Thunder Bay) and I had the opportunity to travel to 11 Bicycle Empowerment Centres around Namibia during the making of the documentary, Where on Earth is My Bike? I am happy to say that our work is a hand-up, not a hand-out!"
