Bicycle Repairs for Africa, Oftringen
About the event
Recycled bicycles from Switzerland serve as a bridge between social and professional integration within Switzerland and sustainable development cooperation in Africa.
With your support, we can export additional bicycles to the Global South, train more bicycle mechanics, and help students become mobile by bike.
We are flexible regarding dates for requests in 2025.
Your Role:
Together with staff from the Wendepunkt Foundation, you will prepare donated bicycles for export to Africa. Is the bicycle in working condition? Are minor repairs necessary? How can it be prepared as space-efficiently as possible for shipment? You will learn all of this during your volunteer assignment—and get hands-on experience yourself.
Since 1993, Velafrica has been collecting decommissioned bicycles, refurbishing them, and shipping them to Africa. Each year, over 20,000 bicycles are sent to the Global South, significantly improving daily life for many people. In addition to enhancing mobility, Velafrica supports the establishment of bicycle workshops and the training of mechanics. This creates jobs and income opportunities in bicycle assembly, repair, and distribution.
In Switzerland, Velafrica collaborates with social institutions that employ individuals who are unemployed or have disabilities, as well as with correctional institutions. In doing so, Velafrica successfully combines social integration with development cooperation.
Agenda
9:00 Welcome / General Introduction
Getting to know each other
Training in pairs on a bicycle
Workshop: Bicycle Repair
Workshop: Proper Bicycle Disassembly for Export
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Break
13:00 – 15:50 Bicycle Repair and Disassembly
15:50 Feedback Session
16:00 Conclusion
From 9:30 Work Assignment in the Export Workshop
Event details
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Meals
Coffee, croissants, lunch, and all refreshments during breaks are included.
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Location
Description
Location:
- Stiftung Wendepunkt, Parkweg 6, 4665 Oftringen
Arrival
- Bus stop: Oftringen Kreuzplatz – from there, it is a 3-minute walk.
- A limited number of parking spaces (maximum 6) are available directly at the building.
Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the meeting point. Travel expenses for the journey to and from the site are not covered and must be borne by the participants.
Contact on the Day of the Event
Stiftung Wendepunkt, Bicycle Workshop Department
- Jonathan Graber – Group Leader, Bicycle Workshop
- Tom Frehner – Head of Garage / Metal Workshop / Bicycle Workshop
Email: metallwerkstatt@wende.ch
Phone:
Jonathan Graber: +41 62 788 98 36
Tom Frehner: +41 62 788 98 04
For any questions in advance, please use the inquiry function at the end of the event description.
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