Our Project: Laying the Groundwork

Joyce Doh-Efa, Co-founder, Akaa Project

This morning we first met the Ability Bikes staff, Sule, Maude, Mirriam, Lisbeth, David and Julius. We took them all out to lunch, along with Akaa co-founder Joyce Doh-Efa, who had traveled up from her home in Accra.

Lunch turned into a very informative and productive meeting. Joyce described her work, then David told her and us about Ability Bikes and how it got started. Then we introduced our proposal to purchase bikes from Ability to donate them to the village that Akaa is conducting community development in. Discussion in Twi, the local language, ensued. The Ability staff expressed interest in getting involved, beyond simply selling us the bikes, so we collectively refined the proposal and determined next steps.

We agreed that we would donate two bicycles and Ability Bikes would donate two more. One children's bike would go to each of the three communities in the village and one would go to the teachers. The bicycles will be used by the communities to transport children to school and the teachers will use their bicycle to help villagers get to the hospital. The families of each community will contribute a small amount of money for their bicycle which will be put in a fund to be used to keep the bikes in good repair.

Julius addressing the village leaders

Immediately after the lunch meeting, Julius, Joyce, and the three of us traveled to the village. We met with village leaders and teachers at their newly established school.  Joyce presented our proposal.  She is very outgoing, very competent, and has established excellent rapport with seemingly every person in that community.

We received the leaders' approval and gratitude. They agreed to discuss with their community members how much they could afford to contribute to a fund for the ongoing repair needs of the four bikes.  We agreed to return Thursday with the bikes.

Joyce connecting with a teacher