Doffa Bike Shop

The Bwindi Women Bicycle Enterprise provides women with the opportunity to earn a much-needed income, while also giving their community vital access to transportation and helping to address the gender gap.

THE CONCEPT

Part of the Bike Shop Programme, Bwindi Women Bicycle Enterprise employs six local women who have undertaken extensive training to become bicycle mechanics and learn the skills necessary to own and operate their own business.

Stock is made up of used and donated bikes that are sent over via shipping container, with new shipments received on a regular basis, all proudly paid for with proceeds of the business. Even the shop itself is part of the story – it is made from the shipping containers that brought over the very first batch of bikes.

Not only does this project empower women to learn a new field of skills and support themselves but it also helps to break down socially constructed gender norms.

THE RESULTS

The Bwindi Women Bicycle Enterprise is a lifeline for the women that work there, providing income generation, a new skill set and a supportive, female-centric community. The bike shop also serves as a social enterprise, setting aside a portion of profits to be used in charitable initiatives in the community, such as sponsoring the education of orphaned students, investing in local health care and conservation projects. To date, a total of 6 containers have been received and over 1,400 bikes sold.