My husband, Rollo and I run a voluntary feeding scheme for 2000 Aids orphans in the Nkomazi region of Mpumalanga province.

Bicycles for needy children is a brilliant idea and we are very excited at the prospect.   Most of our orphans are school going and often have to walk long distances to school every day.   It would be wonderful for them to have wheels!    They have lost everything they care the most about and need, amongst other basic things, to know that someone out there cares about them.   Bicycles carry status and just imagine - they may not have parents, security, a proper home, but they could have a bicycle!   Bicycles would help them carry firewood, to fetch their daily water and just get around much easier.

Please answer this and give us your phone number.   We could then phone you and talk about this.   Without being greedy, about 500 bicycles would be wonderful.   We still need to work out details like sizes and sexes etc, and will get down to those details once you can tell us how many bikes you'll let us have.

We have a website africaaidsorphans.blogspot.com  - please look us up.
 
Thank you so much, Inky Granville

I have recently heard about your proposed project about Bicycles.   I think it is a wonderful idea. There are so many people here who have to spend half their income on travelling to school, work etc.

We care for very many orphans and many have to walk very long distances to school.  Bicycles would be a real boon for them.  Then there are the care workers who visit the sick.  In the rural areas they have to walk several kilometers a day to reach their sick patients.

Many young men and boys who are lucky enough to have work are forced to spend a large part of their earnings on taxis to get them to their place of work and back.

So you see your idea would really benefit very many people. We could use about 40 adult strong bicycles right now here in Kamhlushwa.

I heard that Rollo Granville is also invited to apply for some.  We live close to his home and work well with him so perhaps that would help in the actual transport. 

Wishing you good luck in your project,

God bless
Sister Marguerite

I am Sr. M. Louise Gufler, working as a missionary in a very rural area of Mpumalanga.  Although the area is rather hilly, we could do with about 5 bikes.  Family members walk long distances to work, to school, to clinics and shops.  Transport is available along the main roads only but not along the off-beaten tracks where some of the people live.

It would help people greatly if they had the use of a bicycle. We are very grateful for the generous offer at this stage.

Gratefully, Sr. Louise Gufler FIC

Hi there!

The bikes arrived on our farm at 8 am this morning!! They are in perfect condition and travelled very well. Only 2 bikes got their pedals stuck in each other. The variety of sizes is marvellous. This is so exciting!!! They will get allocated in dribs and drabs - a few in each of the areas in which we distribute food. Seeing the bikes being offloaded was amazing! One can't believe that they all got into that container. Our grandchildren - and their mommies- had a few test runs.

We cannot say thank you enough for the generostiy you have shown these children - imagine walking up to 8 km to school every morning and walking back 8 kms and then someone gives you a bike!! WOW!!

Thank you very very much. I'll send more photos when they get distributed.

God bless you!

Inky Granville ( Makhundu Christian Support)