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giving happiness global impact

Day 258: 1 Bike Can Change the World For 1 Person

What if you had no source of transportation to get anywhere? No car, no bus, not even a bike. How would you get to school, to work, to receive medical care, food and in some parts of the world water? What if just a bicycle could do all of those things? A bike can change the world, so today my give is a bike part so bikes can be built through an online give.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRpI9k5n9Ps&feature=player_embedded

Day 258: Give 258

“In some parts of the world a bicycle is much more than just a bicycle – it’s our access to the vital services of life” A quote from The Bike Factory.

Bikes are changing the face of a continent and there is an organization that is helping to make it happen. The Bike Factory has provided 9332 bikes to Ghana children to date. They have a big goal of 5000 bikes to bring to Ghana for 2011. This is how we can help change the world one bike at a time.

“June is Bike Month all across Canada.  Bikes are important all over the world, but is life changing in Africa.  Many rural Ghanaians lack access to basic needs such as healthcare and education, simply because they are too far away. So we designed a bike called “nframa” (Ghanaian for “wind”) to suit local needs and bumpy, Ghanaian roads. And every year, The Bicycle Factory program gives Canadians the opportunity to help send up to 5,000 of these sturdy, simple-to-repair bikes to Ghana simply by entering bar codes off participating Cadbury Products.”

Giving doesn’t get much simpler. All I had to do was go into my purse and pull out my pack of gum. It just so happened it was a Cadbury product. You don’t have to be a gum chewer to help! If chocolate happens to be your thing use a Cadbury chocolate bar to give or any Cadbury product.

One product +one bar code number (UPS #) = 1 “virtual” bike part.
100 virtual parts = 1 bike for a person in Africa.

That simple. You can feel good about your next Cadbury purchase by entering your bar code and soon the 2011 goal of 5000 bikes will be reached. No donation required, no volunteering for hours. Give today!

Let us know when you have donated your first virtual bike part by leaving a comment.

Time Commitment: 1 minute

Cost: 1 pack of gum I had already purchased.

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)