In September, Re-Cycle Director Charlotte and Warehouse Manager and Bicycle Mechanic Marc travelled to Ghana to visit our long-standing partner, Village Bicycle Project (VBP).
Re-Cycle hadn’t visited VBP since 2023, so the trip was an important opportunity to catch up with the team, review the partnership and see first-hand how the bikes we send are being distributed and used within local communities.
A container arrives in Ghana
The timing of the visit worked particularly well, as Charlotte and Marc arrived just in time to see one of our containers being unloaded.
Unloading a container is a big operation, with a large team working together to unload hundreds of bikes and spare parts in around an hour and a half. VBP’s mechanics were on hand to sort the bikes, and Marc was able to share his knowledge and provide some practical training.
Visits like this help us understand how our bikes are handled once they reach Ghana, while giving our team the chance to share skills and learn more about the work happening on the ground.
Seeing the difference bikes make
Over the weekend, Charlotte and Marc travelled to Ghana’s Central Region to visit three schools that have benefited from VBP’s programmes.
They met students who are using bikes to get to school, often travelling long distances each day. Among them were children riding bikes originally donated to Re-Cycle by Center Parcs, showing how bikes collected here in the UK can continue to be used and make a difference years later.
Seeing the bikes in use and hearing from the students gave Charlotte and Marc a valuable insight into the impact of the partnership.
Supporting cycling in Ghana
Back in Accra, they also met with the National Cycling Federation of Ghana to discuss opportunities to work alongside VBP to support the country’s national cycling team and help develop cycling more widely.
The visit was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with VBP, strengthen our partnership and see how the bikes, parts and support we provide are being put to use.
And, of course, the trip also offered plenty of opportunities to enjoy Ghanaian food and culture along the way!
