CBS Evening News did this story about Co-Founder Dan Austin and 88Bikes work on Project Four.
About 88bikes Foundation
The mission of 88Bikes Foundation is to provide bikes – a sustainable, joyful, empowering form of transportation – to young people in developing countries who have been affected by war, conflict, poverty, disease, or other regional hardships. To do so, they rely on individual donations of $88, which is the approximate cost of a bike in most developing countries.
Dear Friends:
There are 27 million slaves in the world today, many of them children. For kids rescued from slavery, their journey toward independence and healing is arduous. This year, 88bikes honors the heroism of these children by launching a multi-country endowment. In
early 2010, 88bikes will travel to Ghana, India, Nepal and Vietnam, endowing orphanages, ashrams, centers and schools sheltering children rescued from human trafficking. The Moment of Happy will occur in January, 2010 at more than a dozen sites throughout the world. 300+ children will receive a bicycle and the training to maintain it.
88bikes is partnering with Free The Slaves and Touch A Life, two non-profit organizations dedicated to the eradication of slavery. A bike is that magical vessel of freedom and fun, the rare tool as useful as it is enjoyable. For these children–as all children–a bike will provide joy, freedom and autonomy. A bike will help each child get to school and explore her world. At certain locations 88bikes will set up on-site bike shops and sponsor in-depth bike repair apprenticeships. Every kid should have a bike!
You can support 88bikes Project4 by making a donation anytime at 88bikes.org. The cost of a bike is 88 dollars and it is totally tax-deductible. As every year, we’ll ask you to submit a photo of yourself, or the person in whose name the bike is donated, to give to your sponsored child, along with the bike. We’ll send you a packet in early 2010 with a picture of your sponsored child on her new bike holding your picture. If you’d like to buy the bike as a gift, you can print out a gift card at 88bikes.org. I am also happy to send along a handwritten 88bikes post card to your friend, introducing her to the project.
As always, 100% of every donation goes directly to the children. We don’t take salaries or keep office space and all project participants are volunteers. Jared and I will personally deliver the bikes to every location. Nick and several volunteers may join us for one or more legs of the journey.
Thanks for supporting 88bikes! As always, please drop me a note (dan@88bikes.org) if you have any questions. I’ll be thrilled to hear from you.
With enthusiasm,
Dan, Jared and Nick
Follow a team of more than 10 world class paddlers and producers as they travel the globe seeking to “raise public awareness of some of the world’s most beautiful, culturally rich and ecologically significant rivers that are threatened by large scale hydropower projects.” This DVD features some amazing rivers being paddled for what could be, sadly, their last descent. Learn more about these rivers here.
With rivers from 4 continents, including some here in the US, this DVD strikes the perfect balance between exciting river action and the deeper stories surrounding the river’s and their future.
What’s more, all the profits from the sale of this DVD are going to support river conservation groups – including American Whitewater!
Check out The Last Descent website and order a copy today!
Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about the ago-old concept of “rags to riches.”
This movie inspired me to learn more.
I stubbled across a news story/video production posted on www.globalpost.com.
The “On the Run with Delhi’s Railway Children“ 3:46 minute video needs no introduction. Click and watch.
. . . let me know what you think!
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