Bernice Dapaah launched the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative as a way to create local jobs and promote low-carbon transport.
Bamboo is an abundant and fast-growing plant that is native to Ghana. Bernice saw an opportunity to utilize the strong, local material to empower women and give back to her community.
Most of her trained employers are women and they make it a point to operate as sustainably as possible.
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For every bamboo plant that is cut down to make a bike, Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative plants 10 more.
But they don’t stop there. For every bike sold, one is donated to a student in need.
“When we started this initiative, I looked back and said, when I was young, I had to walk miles before I could get to school, and sometimes if I was late, I was punished,” Bernice says.
“Why don’t we donate bikes for students to encourage them to study and so they can have enough time to be on books.”
By promoting cycling culture in Ghana, Dapaah says they’re also committed to reducing emissions and contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“I love the idea of reusing bamboo to promote sustainable cycling. People want to go green, low-carbon, clean-energy efficient,” she says.
Think you would look fly on a sustainable bamboo bike from Ghana? Check out their website here.