Africycle is an organization whose focus is facilitating those with the desire to affect change throughout the world, through the empowerment resulting from improved access to transportation in third world countries. Based in Uxbridge, Ontario; Africycle functions in many facets bringing together communities to reach a common goal of empowering Africans to improve their quality of life. To accomplish this mission Africycle collects donated bicycles, tools, and spare parts, and then ships these goods to an African country to plant a bicycle sales/repair shop. Creatively using the shipping container used to transport the bicycles and tools, the container is planted on ground and transformed into a fully functional bicycle shop, providing employment to locals, while also providing access to affordable means of transportation otherwise unattainable for the majority of Africans.

Meanwhile in Canada, Africycle functions to act as a fundraising mechanism to provide the means through which these goals can be accomplished. Africycle’s ‘Recycle-a-Bike’ programs allow youth to join Africycle in refurbishing a portion of the donated bicycles for re-sale. Through this program, Africycle is not only able to help draw in support for the associated costs of planting bicycle shops in Africa, but also to create a dynamic interest for youth in issues facing those living in the third world.