Bikes to Rwanda explained

Bikes to Rwanda was a non-profit international aid relief organization established in Portland, Oregon, United States, in 2006 by Stumptown Coffee Roasters founder and CEO Duane Sorenson following a business trip to visit coffee growers' cooperatives in Rwanda.[1] [2]

The organization's mission was "to provide cargo bicycles to co-operative coffee farmers in Rwanda. The goal was to improve quality of life in these communities through a bike workshop and maintenance program to provide transportation resources for basic needs and enhance production of quality coffee."[3] [4]

The bicycles were built specifically for heavy cargo, and were designed and developed by Project Rwanda with master bicycle builder Tom Ritchey.[1] The organization also established bike shops in Rwanda for maintenance and repair.[1] [5]

The aim of Project Rwanda was to develop racing cyclists and also import low-cost cargo bicycles to Rwanda.[6]

In April 2007, 400 bikes that were designed to carry heavy loads of coffee over difficult Rwandan terrain were provided ahead of the harvest.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book Excerpt: Tom Ritchey, The dot connector. Tim Lewis. December 23, 2013. VeloNews. Sorenson, after discussions with farmers, also decided that bicycles were the missing link and set up a charity called Bikes to Rwanda.. 2015-03-29.
  2. News: Hot Java, for a Cool $40 (or Less) a Half-Pound. September 12, 2007. The New York Times. inspired Stumptown's owner, Duane Sorenson, to start the Bikes to Rwanda program. 2015-03-29.
  3. Stumptown's Duane Sorenson, the Coffee Connoisseur. Jennifer Wang. June 21, 2011. Entrepreneur. Bikes to Rwanda, a nonprofit that sends cargo bikes to coffee farmers.. 2015-03-29.
  4. News: Reduce Your Pet's Carbon Footprint. Lisa Acho Remorenko. October 17, 2008. Santa Barbara Independent. proceeds goes to the organization Bikes to Rwanda, which is a nonprofit company whose mission is to provide cargo bicycles to cooperative coffee farmers in Rwanda.. 2015-03-29.
  5. Web site: Bikes to Rwanda: Building Communities and a Better Cup of Coffee. Jim Witkin. December 4, 2008. TriplePundit. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093040/http://www.triplepundit.com/2008/12/bikes-to-rwanda-building-communities-and-a-better-cup-of-coffee/. April 2, 2015. 2015-03-29.
  6. Web site: Team Rwanda matures in Central Africa’s top cycling team. Velo News. 2 August 2018. 20 June 2019.
  7. News: To Burundi and Beyond for Coffee’s Holy Grail. New York Times. 12 September 2007. 19 June 2019.