Alaffia Collects Bikes for Students in Togo at Ralph’s Thriftway

alaffia bike drive
Donated bicycles will help female students make the long trek to and from school in Togo.
0 Shares

 

By Eric Wilson-Edge

alaffia bike
Amber Light, buyer at Ralph’s Thriftway, stands before Alaffia products carried in the store.

Got an old bike collecting dust in your garage? Maybe it’s hanging upside down from hooks or stashed away in some remote corner. You’ve ridden that old ten speed once, maybe twice in the last few years.  Well, it’s time to wipe away the cobwebs.

Ralph’s Thriftway has teamed up with Alaffia to collect bicycles for girls in Toga, Africa. Since 2006, Alaffia has shipped more than 5,000 bicycles to Togo as part of its Bicycle Empowerment Project.

“91% of girls in rural Togo drop out of school before completing sixth grade,” says Alaffia Communications Director Shane Hart. Schools in these remote areas can be between 10-15 miles away from home and walking that distance can take hours. Add in time spent studying and there isn’t much leftover to complete everyday tasks.

Helping others is a core part of Alaffia’s philosophy and it is one of the reasons Ralph’s decided to get involved with this year’s bike drive. “I love their mission and what they’re all about,” says Amber Light, a buyer for both Ralph’s and Bayview Thriftway stores that carry Alaffia’s health and skin care products.

alaffia bike drive
A truckload of bikes will be transported to a ship and from there to Togo.

Light is a mother and that’s one reason she recommends Alaffia to her customers. “I feel comfortable using their products on my six-year-old son because I’m not putting harmful chemicals on his body.”  Everything Alaffia makes is certified fair trade.

Now to that bike of yours. Don’t worry about cleaning it or inflating the tires. Repairs are paid for through the sale of Alaffia’s products. If your bike is in terrible shape then it’s sent to a scrap metal recycler. Children’s bikes are donated to food banks and foster care programs throughout the state.

The success of the bicycle program is well-documented. 95% of girls who receive an Alaffia bike end up graduating. There’s also the ancillary benefit of lowering maternity rates for female students.  Alaffia keeps track of both the students and the bikes. If something breaks then the company pays to have it fixed.

Back here in Olympia the project has helped foster a sense of purpose. “We are extremely grateful to the local community for their support; it’s been paramount in the success of Alaffia’s Bicycles for Education Project,” says Hart. “Together we’re empowering the lives of people born into situations less advantageous than our own.”

Who knew that beat up old bike taking up space in your garage could be useful? With a little love it will help power some students to a brighter future.

The bike drive will be held on Saturday, July 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Ralph’s parking lot. Food and drinks will be available by donation. All proceeds go directly to Alaffia. There will also be deals on Alaffia merchandise the entire weekend.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
0 Shares