My Passion for The Cadbury Bicycle Factory Program

Ever stop and think about how easy it is for us to get from one place to another? 

Whether it’s heading to work, or to the grocery store on Saturday, we dash around and never really stop to think about it. Why? Because, for us, getting around is easy.  We can cover a lot of ground quickly (minus traffic congestion, of course) in a lot of different ways:  it’s as simple as getting in a car, riding a bus or subway, or jumping on a bike. Now, stop to think about how you would get around in a place like rural Africa, where roads are often unpaved, cars are a luxury and public transportation doesn’t even exist. 

Let’s think about what this means for education. In Canada, students get to school by bus, walking, or being dropped off. In rural Ghana, Africa, it’s not as easy. In fact, getting to school could mean a long two-hour walk each way (and that’s after spending two hours on morning chores). This distance means that some students don't attend school at all, and those who do often arrive too tired to learn.

It’s amazing to think that the simple bike can have the power to make all the difference.

In 2009, Cadbury wanted to make a difference to the lives of students in Ghana and so we developed the Cadbury Bicycle Factory program. I have been fortunate enough to lead this program since we started the initiative 5 years ago. It has provided more than 18,000 bicycles to Ghanaian students over the last five years and for some kids, it has helped cut travel time to school by up to three hours a day. We wanted to rally Canadians to help make a difference and have fun doing it too! After all, we are in in the business of joy.

I often say I have three children — my son Kaiden, my daughter Karina, and The Cadbury Bicycle Factory.

Because I am a mom, I love that I have had the opportunity to teach this important message to my own kids. They understand that in places like Africa, a bike means so much more than a great way to spend time outdoors and get some exercise. In fact, my younger daughter Karina has grown up with The Cadbury Bicycle Factory for half of her life! 

Having had the opportunity to go to Ghana a few times over the years, I have been lucky enough to get to know our partners in Ghana that make all of this possible and to be a part of the delivery. Every time we take part in the ceremonies in the villages where the students receive the bicycles, I am always struck by a few things.

The first is always the number of people who show up to the ceremony—from the village elders, teachers, to literally hundreds of parents, and even some government officials! There are celebrations, speeches, music, and always dancing! What’s amazing is that even if 35 students are getting bicycles in the village, it’s still relevant for everyone because they see it as benefiting the entire community.  

Something else that always strikes me is the reaction of the students. While it’s not in their nature to jump for joy, you can see a humble appreciation in their eyes that is remarkable. They know that this bike has the power to change their lives and give them opportunity. They also know that it comes with responsibility; the school and the community members expect the students to put the bikes to good use, and ultimately be a good role model for other students.  

Another thing I find amazing about being involved in this project is that we work hand in hand with our partners who manage our cocoa communities to make changes and adjustments to the program based on need. On one of my trips, I spoke to a group of teachers in one of our communities who were grateful that their students were finally arriving to class on time, alert and ready to learn. However, I discovered in that conversation that some of the teachers were actually facing some of the same challenges that the students were. Many were also walking very long distances to school to teach.    

So the very next year we created an additional opportunity for Canadians to win bicycles for teachers in Ghana. Last year, 20 teachers received bicycles and this year we are hoping to give 50 bikes to teachers in need. A teacher who arrives on time and ready to teach can positively affect all 50 students in her classroom.  

On this year’s trip, the focus of where to evolve the program in Ghana was on sustainability. Now that we have been doing this for 5 years, our goal is to go back and do an assessment to figure out where we need additional resources in spare parts and training to ensure the bicycles last as long as they can, to ensure it’s a sustainable investment in the communities.   

I’ve talked a lot about Ghana but I haven’t really explained why we chose Ghana. For decades, Ghanaian farming communities have supplied cocoa for our Cadbury chocolate. Over the years, our connection has deepened significantly, becoming so much more than a business relationship. We have become part of the Ghanaian community and, like any community member we want to make meaningful contributions.

That commitment has come to life in many different ways, like our parent company, Mondelēz International’s Cocoa Life initiative. Aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Ghanaian cocoa farming, Cocoa Life represents another aspect of our dedication to the region. Similarly, The Bicycle Factory is a way for us to create immediate, practical improvements that ultimately aid in overall development.

Personally, I have seen its power time and again, on the faces of students like Lawrencia, who is a Cadbury Bicycle Factory recipient from 2011. To check out her story, go to our Facebook page.

Want to do your part to change the life of a student in Ghana? Visit www.thebicyclefactory.ca, select your favourite chocolate, candy, or gum product and turn it into a bike part. Every 100 parts equals one real bicycle for a child in Ghana and this year, we hope to deliver 5000 bikes.

The Bicycle Factory not only gets kids on the road to school, it also puts them on the path to a better life. I have witnessed it in action many times, but it never ceases to move, impress, and inspire me. You can make a difference, too. Visit www.thebicyclefactory.ca to start building today and check out our Facebook page for more information on the program.