Why Zambia?
In the summer of 2004, Dustin McBride and Vaughn Spethmann went on a trip to Zambia through Azusa Pacific University. During their trip, Dustin and Vaughn taught in schools, volunteered in local orphanages, and played on soccer teams.
During his final day in the country, Vaughn went on a bike ride with a good friend from a nearby compound named Benjamin. Vaughn borrowed a bicycle from Benjamin’s friend for the ride. It was difficult for Vaughn to ignore the state of the bicycles. They had cracked frames, bent rims, missing spokes, bent seats, and were covered in rust. Vaughn asked Benjamin how much his bike had cost, to which he replied, “Used, it was $200 US.”
Vaughn, Dustin and their team returned to the United States, but their hearts never fully left Zambia. They felt compelled to make an impact and help the Zambian people whom they had fallen in love with. Akerfa and Zambikes have been the product of a desire to help and change lives in Zambia.
Vaughn and Dustin view Zambia as a strategic location from which they can help all of southern Africa. Its border is shared with 8 other countries, and it is known for its peaceful, stable state when compared to other Southern African countries. Beginning with the first shipment of 300 bicycles, almost 30 were sent into Malawi and Mozambique.
As Zambikes begins to manufacture racks and frames and fully assemble the bikes within country, it is hoped that they can begin exporting to other countries.
The unemployment figures in Zambia, recorded as between 50 and 80 percent, are overwhelming. However, with growth, Zambikes can employ a greater number of people and ensure a greater number receive high quality bikes. They can truly turn Africa around, one bike at a time.
