HIV/AIDS bicycle project bears fruit

WALVIS BAY – The Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre Trust last week donated pots, plates, stock for tuck shops and material for traditional attire to five groups. The funds used to buy the goods were generated from a bicycle project that has been running for almost a year and set up in partnership with Ben Namibia. The five beneficiaries are part of the Walvis Bay support groups of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Last year, the centre embarked on a bicycle project after a Canadian couple, Michael Linke and his wife Clarrisse, through their organisation Ben Namibia, donated a container of 30 disassembled bicycles. Ben Namibia assisted with the training of members in bicycle mechanics.The director of the centre, Olivia Namkomba, explained that surveys show that more than 90 percent of people know about HIV. However, behaviour change is still a problem.“Some of these people have children going to school, but in the process they are forced to have unprotected sex.

So, we thought why not come up with a project to assist them and their families,” she said.The centre has so far employed five people through the bicycle project. She called on other partners to follow suit and not to rely hea-vily on foreign donors. Namkomba has appealed to the business community for a container to store bicycles that are assembled “because at the moment the project only has one that came from Canada with bicycle parts”.

Jack Manale, the trust’s vice-chairperson, thanked the Canadian couple and their sponsors who partnered with the centre in setting up the bicycle project. He also thanked employees who are working tirelessly on the project, making it possible for others to receive the donation.“The management and staff of the Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre Trust have decided to take the lead in changing the livelihoods of people living with HIV/AIDS and to contribute towards a better life. We hope and expect their business to grow from strength to strength,” he said.