Chipego Bike Shop

Sanctuary Retreats has teamed up with Working Bikes, a charity that aims to empower people in developing countries by providing bicycles and establishing small bike sales and repair businesses.

Some of the many benefits of this social enterprise include creating employment opportunities, empowering women, generating an income for a rural village and providing affordable mobility to a community.

Chipego Bike Shop in Nakatindi was our first women’s social enterprise project. The five women who are employed at the shop chose the name Chipego, which means ‘gift’. The passion of the mechanics is infectious; they love having guests visit to learn more.

All five women have improved the quality of life for themselves and their families, building homes, supporting school fees, putting food on the table and breaking down gender stereotypes across the community in the process. This initiative has just turned 9 years old and the team have received their 15th container, meaning they have received a total of over 8900 bikes. Chipego Bike Shop has supported five pupils through school annually and donated 30 bikes to secondary school pupils and 18 to community healthcare volunteers.