Hello, I was interested to hear about your bicycle technology on public radio. I want to inquire about the possibility of setting up a production site in Southern Sudan. Bicycle technology and production would be extremely helpful in Sudan. During my last visit I noticed that renting a bicycle was considered a luxury to travel from one town to the other in the bush. Most people have to walk for days to arrive at their destination. In addition, the few people that owned a bicycle in the more populated villages were at an advantage.

The towns of Juba, Wau, Aweil. and Bor would be excellent initial sites for introduction, production and distribution.   In Aweil, Father Angelo is receiving children from Darfur trying to escape the genocide there. Many orphans and displaced children are located there with the population growing.  As a result, we see the need in the region and the benefit of a bicycle that could help to transport children and the supplies needed to care for them.  In addition, we have a vision to provide vocational training to the children. One type of micro economics that would work is the maintanence, repair and possible production of technology found at world bike to serve the poor.

I have some questions.

1.  Is it possible at this time use welding equipment in order to repair, maintain and produce bicycles without electricity?

2.  How much money would be reasonable to start such a project?

3. What types of support could we expect from World Bike to begin and maintain our project?

4.  What were the challenges when beginning to organize a project in Africa or another third world or remote location? What are the benefits?

Thank-you,

Melanie