Local Business, Lasting Change
Re-Cycle works in partnership with Village Bicycle Project (VBP) in Sierra Leone, an organisation led by Karim Kamara that trains local mechanics and supports small bike businesses. Through this partnership, donated bikes from the UK are sent to Sierra Leone, where they are refurbished, sold, or donated to help improve mobility and livelihoods across the country.
One of the local entrepreneurs benefiting from this collaboration is Umar, who runs a bicycle shop that has become a vital part of his community.
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Growing a Business with Impact
Umar started his bike business with just seven bikes. Thanks to continued access to affordable bikes through VBP (bikes from Re-Cycle in the UK) Umar’s stock has now grown to around 80 bikes. He sources many of these from Karim’s central hub and prepares them for sale from his well-organised shop, which includes:
- A secure bike storage area
- A designated space for parts and accessories
- Repair and maintenance stations
- A safe area for scrap and unusable parts
Umar is hands-on with the daily operations, working closely with his team to prepare bikes for weekly sales, held on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
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A Customer-First Approach
What sets Umar apart is his commitment to customer care. He offers:
- Free repair services with every bike sold
- Free delivery within a 15km radius — crucial for customers in rural areas
- Ongoing support to ensure bike owners stay mobile long after the purchase
This level of service not only builds trust but makes bike ownership more accessible for people in and around his town — especially in areas where transport options are limited.
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Giving Back to Education
But Umar isn’t just running a business — he’s making a difference. He recently donated six bicycles to teachers at his former school, helping them overcome the daily challenge of commuting long distances.
“To honour the teachers who walk miles just to educate our future leaders, I donated six bicycles to support their daily commute,”
Umar explains.
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A Personal Mission
For Umar, this work is deeply personal. Growing up in Sierra Leone, cycling helped him overcome difficult circumstances and gave him a path forward. Now, he’s determined to use bikes to create similar opportunities for others.
Looking ahead, Umar dreams of visiting Europe to deepen his knowledge of bicycle mechanics and business practices. He wants to return home equipped with new skills to train others and grow the cycling movement in Sierra Leone.
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Umar is quick to credit his success to the support of Re-Cycle and Village Bicycle Project, especially Karim Kamara, whose guidance and bike supply network helped transform his vision into a reality.
👉 CLICK HERE to watch a short video of Umar himself speaking about his shop and his journey.
