The Tour d'Afrique, a 12,000km bike tour across Africa, has contributed 70 bicycle sponsorships that will be delivered to Africycle's partner organizations across Malawi. 30 of the bicycles will be used in a Village Savings and Loan project that provides people in rural areas access to micro-financing. These bicycles will enable program coordinators to work with communities to set up groups of people willing to pool small amounts of money on a regular basis. As the fund grows, the group members start taking loans. With these loans they are able to start small businesses.  The bicycles will enable trained coordinators to reach more communities to help break the cycle of poverty for many.

30 of the bicycles will be used within community Based Health Care(CBHC) programs. These bikes will assist in the delivery of health care services to overlooked, rural areas in Malawi. To date, Africycle has contributed over 300 bicycles to health care programs within Malawi and seen the impact they are able to deliver! The bicycles have played a major role in improving health care for many Malawians. The remaining 10 bicycles in this donation will be given to outstanding teachers within the district of Zomba. Many teachers in Malawi travel great distances to school. As an incentive program, Africycle will be coordinating with the local school district to identify teachers who are outstanding and have gone above and beyond for their students. We are excited to participate with the Tour d'Afrique in this initiative. Bicycles play such a vital role in empowering all these programs. The Tour d'Afrique passed through Lilongwe, on April 6th. A handover ceremony took place at Mabuya Camp.