Amazing story of a young boy wanting to honor his grandmother and help those in need. Many bicycles both in Africa and last year, in Puerto Rico, helping the less fortunate. Founder was recognized by the Leon Sullivan Foundation one year for his accomplishments. Encouraging story of a boy and his mom and their commitment to helping others.
grass roots non profit organization that collects used bikes and sends them to various regions throughout africa. I help organize collections and we always have fun collecting bicycles for those less fortunate. The collections teach kids about bikes and the ways in which these bicycles can help those less fortunate than us.
Hi Our oldest son volunteered in Virginia with Wheels to Africa and our whole family volunteered when we moved to California. I saw kids get organized and direct the effort to collect over 400 bicycles to help people they had never met and they had learned needed their help. We also went to Africa after the bike collection drive and got to see what a difference a bike makes in the lives of the lucky people that get a free bike. The average African family lacks so much that here in America we consider essential that it is shocking. I have great respect and admiration for Wheels to Africa because of the years of great caring and selfless work the organization has done
Wheels to Africa not only focuses on helping provide bicycles to impact the lives of people in Africa, it helps enlighten volunteers about the privilege and responsibility we have to give back. Wheels to Africa is a grass roots non profit where funding is directed to the cause and not to unnecessary overhead.
I was enormously impressed when I learned that at 10 years old Winston Duncan had a heart to help children and families in Africa be more mobile and able to get to work, to the clinic, to school, etc. having lived and worked in Africa I’ve seen the nerds first hand. Wheels to Africa has been impacting communities. I’ve witnessed the hard work and dedication in collecting, processing and shipping containers; and the arduous task of receiving the shipments and getting them cleared through customs in order to get them distributed to the communities in need. From the youth volunteers stateside through to distribution in Africa - the wheels to Africa team ROCKS and deserves recognition!
Jacquelyne Conley, Board member
I have watched Wheels to Africa grow from just an idea to an organization that has changed the lives of many people. Through the hard work of dedicated volunteers and by generous donations, this nonprofit has sent over 11,000 bikes to Africa. It's hard to imagine that something many Americans have unused in their garage could allow a family in Africa to gain access to schools, medical care, and other necessities. WTA stands in the gap of between unused bikes and unmet needs. It's simple, yet effective. I believe in this nonprofit, its mission, and that it will continue to provide freedom and opportunity for years to come.
I have been involved with Wheels to Africa for 15 years. I have seen hundreds of people cry when they receive a bike from WTA. I have seen young american leaders develop into amazing young adults who change the world everyday. Wheels to Africa is one of the most powerful all volunteer organizations in the world.
What a truly smart and great idea! WTA sends hundreds of bikes to Africa, where they transform lives of the recipients, allowing kids to get to school, their parents to get to work and non-profits to get more easy access to parts of Africa that are difficult to reach by car. It basically creates independence and allows families to spend more time doing and less time walking to and from places. This non-profit not only recycles used bikes but allows people to reach their potential and I strongly urge you to support this organization and the thousands and thousands it provides freedom and opportunity.
Wheels to Africa is a terrific nonprofit, not just for the 10,000+ used bicycles delivered to Africa, but for the community spirit and leadership opportunities in engendered among its teenage volunteers. Young people organize and staff the bike collection drives; they load the trucks, and some of them go to Africa to help deliver the donated bikes to orphanages, community organizations and families with limited means of transportation.
There are African students who can attend school now because of Wheels to Africa's efforts. There are women who can get their goods to market more quickly and efficiently because of the bicycles they receive. And their are medical professionals who can reach people more easily with this expanded access to remote villages.
I am a Girl Scout Leader, and our troop has been working with Wheels to Africa for over 8 years! Wheels to Africa is a very impressive non-profit. Not only do they operate on a "shoestring" budget, but they make an impact both internationally and domestically. Every year they collect over 500 bikes and ship them to different countries in Africa. Both the Founder and the CEO personally deliver the bikes to the villages that are the recipients. For the kids here in the States, Wheels to Africa educates youth on the issues that affect countries in Africa, and then informs them of different ways they can help. For the last 5 years, WTA has taken groups of kids to Africa to learn first hand what a difference a bike makes in the lives of real people!
Wheels to Africa is a life-changing nonprofit... pure and simple. They take one of the most incredible inventions ever created by humans, i.e. the bicycle, and provide it to people who will benefit the most from it.
I worked extensively with Wheels to Africa during their Bikes for Puerto Rico initiative, in response to the devastating Hurricane Maria that swept across the island. In response to this heartwrenching tragedy was an equally strong outpouring of support, in the form of bike donations by Wheels to Africa. In spite of numerous barriers, Dixie and her team successfully distributed 400 bikes, helmets and gear, for free, to low-income families gravely affected by this disaster. To say they changed 400 lives is an understatement. Their work has multiplier effects that range from sustainable transportation, youth empowerment (here and abroad), and educational attainment. I cannot express how highly I think of Wheels to Africa.
Wheels to Africa has sent over 11,000 bicycles to needy communities in Africa. The small non-profit reaches hundreds of people in American and Africa. The organization is all volunteer and all funds contributed support the mission. Wheels to Africa has a 75% repeat volunteer record. In 2018, Wheels to Africa supported a 14 person mission to Tanzanian to explore the impact of bicycles. Wheels to Africa continues to exceed expectations of "Changing the world one bike at a time!"