The People behind the Project
Richard Sidey | Documentary Filmmaker | website | blog
Kia ora, Richard Sidey here, or Sich as I'm know to this crew. I'm an independent documentary filmmaker and photographer based in the mountain town of Wanaka, New Zealand.
After the African adventure, an undernourished and homeless Hap turned up on the doorstep, with several weeks of footage and together we constructed the Bikes for Africa documentary in March 2012.
I first met fellow kiwi Hap Cameron on the icy shores of Antarctica in 2009 and the two of us became good friends. It's been awesome to reunite and be working on this project with him and Mandy.
After the African adventure, an undernourished and homeless Hap turned up on the doorstep, with several weeks of footage and together we constructed the Bikes for Africa documentary in March 2012.
I first met fellow kiwi Hap Cameron on the icy shores of Antarctica in 2009 and the two of us became good friends. It's been awesome to reunite and be working on this project with him and Mandy.
Hap Cameron | Adventurer, Author | website
“Gidday”, I’m Hap, real name Mark, but have answered to Hap my whole life. And yes Hap is derived from ‘Happy’. It came about as I was a baby that didn’t stop crying, in the words of my father, “I was a grizzly little bugger”, so he nicknamed me Happy. Somewhere along the line it got shortened to Hap. Its managed to stick around like a girlfriends older brother at a teenage party. Trust me I have explained the name ‘Hap’ a few times.
I was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 in the 11th month, on the 11th day in the 11th hour and 3 minutes before the 11th minute - I blame that on my father being too excited that night. more about hap
I was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1981 in the 11th month, on the 11th day in the 11th hour and 3 minutes before the 11th minute - I blame that on my father being too excited that night. more about hap
Mandy Todd | Adventurer, Logistics, Media
My name’s Amanda, but most people call me Mandy, including Hap. I was born in a small town called Hammond, Indiana near to Chicago. I moved out west when I was 3 years old to the promise of sunshine and warmth (and often scorching heat) of Phoenix, Arizona, which was my stomping ground until I was 18.
I’m excited to see how the Africa expedition moves and unfolds, worms and squirms, shapes and fumbles. I’m looking forward to all the interaction with people along the way, new landscapes, smiling faces, and acts of kindness that will come with the days of hard work, frustration and trying situations. I know one thing’s for sure — we’re in for the ride of our lives.
I’m excited to see how the Africa expedition moves and unfolds, worms and squirms, shapes and fumbles. I’m looking forward to all the interaction with people along the way, new landscapes, smiling faces, and acts of kindness that will come with the days of hard work, frustration and trying situations. I know one thing’s for sure — we’re in for the ride of our lives.
Bicycles for Humanity - Melbourne | website | facebook
A bike can change a life in a poor country. Yet for millions of people on the lowest incomes, a new bicycle is financially out of reach.
Bicycles for Humanity began in September 2005 with the simple aim of enabling people to raise funds and collect unwanted bicycles to send to reliable partners in developing countries to provide affordable transport.
In developed countries, Bicycles for Humanity provides resources and support to make the process as simple and enjoyable as possible. In developing countries it works at the grassroots level to ensure that disadvantaged people are empowered through improved access to food and water, employment, healthcare, education and social opportunities. It also works hard to guarantee accountability and efficiency in all its projects.
Bicycles for Humanity began in September 2005 with the simple aim of enabling people to raise funds and collect unwanted bicycles to send to reliable partners in developing countries to provide affordable transport.
In developed countries, Bicycles for Humanity provides resources and support to make the process as simple and enjoyable as possible. In developing countries it works at the grassroots level to ensure that disadvantaged people are empowered through improved access to food and water, employment, healthcare, education and social opportunities. It also works hard to guarantee accountability and efficiency in all its projects.
BEN Namibia - African Based Charity | website | facebook
BEN Namibia aims to empower disadvantaged Namibians through provision of sustainable transport and bicycle-related income generation opportunities.
Our main work is bicycle distribution in order to strengthen the grassroots response to HIV/AIDS. We import donated new and second-hand bicycles, parts and accessories from overseas partner organisations and refurbish them by training and employing local people in bicycle mechanics. We began operations in May 2005, and as of October 2010, we have arranged the distribution of over 18,000 bicycles to disadvantaged Namibians. We have partnered with 60 community-based organisations (CBOs), mainly focused on home-based care (HBC) services for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), as well as dissemination of information on HIV prevention. Bicycles are distributed to volunteers and staff who use them to greatly improve the efficiency of their work. Through these partnerships, we also provide bicycles to children living long distances from school and to low-income earners. Besides bicycle distribution, BEN Namibia also produces bicycle-pulled ambulances to improve access to healthcare services in rural areas.
Our main work is bicycle distribution in order to strengthen the grassroots response to HIV/AIDS. We import donated new and second-hand bicycles, parts and accessories from overseas partner organisations and refurbish them by training and employing local people in bicycle mechanics. We began operations in May 2005, and as of October 2010, we have arranged the distribution of over 18,000 bicycles to disadvantaged Namibians. We have partnered with 60 community-based organisations (CBOs), mainly focused on home-based care (HBC) services for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), as well as dissemination of information on HIV prevention. Bicycles are distributed to volunteers and staff who use them to greatly improve the efficiency of their work. Through these partnerships, we also provide bicycles to children living long distances from school and to low-income earners. Besides bicycle distribution, BEN Namibia also produces bicycle-pulled ambulances to improve access to healthcare services in rural areas.
