The Citizen, 2009-06-25, Page 22Nearly eight months ago, HuronCounty residents were called upon todonate second hand bicycles toAfrica. In a tremendous response ofgoodwill, more than 350 bicycles
were collected, along with several
thousands of dollars in funding, to
transport the bicycles in a shipping
container to Namibia.
After much delay, the bicycles
have finally arrived in Okatana, a
farming village in northern Namibia.
They are a perfect tool to address
issues related to HIV/AIDS, poverty
reduction and gender equality.
Organizer Mark Nonkes said, “In
this country of two million people in
southern Africa, I can quickly tell
you that people in and around
Okatana often battle with
overwhelming obstacles: severe
poverty, great barriers in realizing
gender equality, lack of transport to
access basic services and regular
flooding that destroys crops, homes
and businesses on an annual basis.”
Along with the rest of the country,
Okatana is also experiencing the
HIV/AIDS crisis in a very real and
startling way. Here, about one in
every five adults is HIV positive.
One in every seven children has lost
a parent, often from an HIV-related
illness.
Despite the huge number of
People Living with HIV/AIDS,
stigma and discrimination is rife,
said Nonkes. Within communities,
people are openly discriminated
against. At workplaces, people who
are open about their HIV status are
often overlooked from getting a job.
In some families, people who are
HIV positive can be abandoned and
left to die alone.
The container of bicycles will
benefit one group in Okatana who is
working to address issues that
People Living with HIV/AIDS face.
Run in conjunction with the Catholic
Church, Catholic AIDS Action
provides home based care services to
people suffering from HIV. For
people living positive, they offer
palliative care services, home based
counselling and material support
(including food).
Although it is not recognized as
official practice by the government
of Namibia, home based care
volunteers also collect anti-retroviral
medication on behalf of their clients
from health facilities in distant
places.
For children whose parents are
either sick with an HIV related
infection or who have lost a parent
due to HIV/AIDS, home based care
volunteers provides physical,
emotional and financial support so
children can remain in school.
In Okatana, an active group of 275
home based care volunteers look
after 1,800 people. The volunteers,
who are usually low-income women,
travel long distances to visit clients.
Last year, another donor provided
the volunteers with bicycles.
Immediately, volunteers reported
that they visited more clients in a
day and offered far more services
than when they had to walk.
However, as the bicycles rolled
across northern Namibia, they broke
down in the most inconvenient
places. Parts were hard to get. And
basic mechanical skills weren’t often
technical enough to adequately
repair the bike. Further, numerous
children and adults, not associated
with the home based care group, also
wanted transportation of their own to
cover the wide distances they
normally walked.
Realizing the need, early in 2009 a
committee of Okatana’s Catholic
AIDS Action was formed to
advocate for a bicycle workshop in
the community.
That’s where the Huron County
shipment of second hand bicycles
came in. Working with Bicycles for
Humanity, the Bicycling
Empowerment Network Namibia
and AUSAID, an agreement was
drawn to set up a bicycle workshop
in Okatana.
In May, the Huron County
container of bicycles arrived in
Okatana, with much excitement.
In the weeks that have followed,
Nonkes said, modifications have
been underway to transform theshipping container into a bicycle saleand repair centre. Currently, a skillstraining course in bicycle mechanicsand small business management istaking place for five people who
were previously unemployed. The
three women and two men who will
manage the bicycle workshop on
behalf of the Okatana home based
care group will now earn a regular
income to provide for their families.
Additional proceeds generated
from this bicycle workshop will
benefit the activities of the Okatana
Home-Based Care Volunteers.
Overall, the entire community of
Okatana will benefit. People will
now have access to sustainable and
economical transportation options.
In this area of Namibia, which is
generally flat and sandy, the bicycles
will benefit those who, at one time,
had no choice but to walk long
distances to do daily chores – like
collect firewood for cooking or
water for drinking.
Other bicycles will be donated tochildren and other needy communitymembers. People can learn moreabout this project and other bicycleprojects in Namibia by visiting theweb site: http://
bikes2namibia.wordpress.com
“At several meetings with the
group of home based care
volunteers, I have been asked again
and again to express the deep
gratitude from the people of Okatana
for the generous gift to their
community,” said Nonkes. People
here truly believe these bicycles can
help bring a positive change and
begin to address some of the issues
they are facing.”
“On a personal note, it has been
inspiring to know there are many
people with big hearts, giving hands
and willing spirits who took part in
this campaign. Through deeds of
selfless action, regular Huron
Countians have contributed to
transforming a community and lives
of people living half a world away.
PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009.350 donated bicycles arrive in Namibia
Where is Tom?
The search for Tom took over the early parts of the
production of Tom Sawyer put on by Blyth Public School
last week. He proved to be difficult to get a hold of, but
eventually, he was found. On the hunt were Leeanne
Plunkett, left, and Joel Snell. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Riding
Bikes shipped from Huron County earlier this year are
currently on the move in Namibia. Mark Nonkes, formerly
of Blyth, spearheaded a project that ended up bringing
hundreds of bikes to Namibia to be used for several
purposes, including aid workers. (Photo submitted)
THURS., AUG. 27/09 - 8PM
CENTENNIAL HALL - LONDON
Tickets at The Centennial Hall Box Office.
Charge by Phone 519-672-1967 or online
at www.centennialhall.london.ca
Events run until June 28
Family fun for everyone!
See last week’s paper for full listing of events
or visit www.strawberrysummerfest.com