Lost Boys of Sudan Hampton Roads

Recently, Amy and i have given this organization a bike to help these refugees get around town. While the means for motorized transportation is there, Recycles Norfolk will continue to provide LBSHR with bikes when they need them. We can all help!
Check them out at www.lostboyshr.com:

In 2001 before the attacks of 9/11, approximately 4,000 Sudanese Lost Boy and Girl refugees arrived in the United States. As victims of genocidal (un)civil war which has raged in Southern Sudan for over twenty years, they have spent the majority of their lives in refugee camps of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Since the ages of 3 to 7, the tides of war have forced them to flee as groups of children through the deserts on thousand mile treks. Most have lost their parents and siblings, having seen them perish or killed before their eyes. They have survived war, thirst, starvation, and personal loss that has scarred their souls but never beat them. Now in their early twenties, the Lost Boys and Girls living in the United States embody the hope for their country’s future.It is the purpose of the Sudanese Lost Boys African School Program is to help ease the many difficulties that may arise during their transition to life in America. We endeavor to help them achieve the education and political resources necessary to rebuild their own lives and also the lives of those left in Sudan.

slowly but surely

i am in the works of setting up an information session about our project. most likely it will be late november or early december. i will keep everyone posted. as of right now, i am also going to look into getting a storage unit for $35 a month at our apartment complex to store the bikes. anyone who has recently emailed about donating i'm still waiting on when's a good time to pick them up! Also, i put in my two weeks notice at my second job in order to devote more time to this project so soon we will be up and rolling BIG TIME!

Just an update on what's been going on. Aaron and I (Amy) have been in the process of moving to Va Beach so it's been a little difficult to work on the project. We HAVE donated three bikes to a local domestic violence shelter! We have also received a heartwarming thank-you letter from one of the recipients. She is using the bike to get from the bus stop to her job. What a wonderful example of women in crisis taking agency over their lives! Awesome! We are now in the works with the Girl Scouts to see what kind of assistance they can provide. 

Also, if anyone has a bike rack, helmets, or locks laying around... we need them! 

some similar projects on a global level!

Africa

Indonesia

Vermont project

Intro... thanks for visiting!

Thanks for visiting our page. This is a project started by Amy Twisdale and Aaron Edler to assist our community organizations in finding bicycles for those who need them for transportation. Whether commuting to a job, leisure riding, or children needing a healthy mode of play, Re-Cycles is committed to go above and beyond to get everyone up and pedaling as soon as possible. 

Our method is simple, those of you who are fortunate enough to already have a bike can assist others in obtaining the same luxury. Have any old rusty bikes in your garage that haven't been touched in years? Do yourself, your garage, and a person in need some good and donate your used bike to Re-Cycles. 

With the help of local volunteer groups, our friends and coworkers, and Aaron and myself, we'll restore your old bike and donate to those who need adequate transportation, i.e. not walking. We are partnering up with the YWCA soon to provide bikes to women and children who are in situations of domestic violence. In their transition process of regrouping and rehabilitating their lives, your donated bike can be a stepping stone to their empowerment. 

We are in the works of contacting organizations and hope to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. For certain, we will be up and running this fall! Events that are in the works as well are:

• a bike drive at a local spot, so everyone and anyone can drop off your used bike, in any condition. Remember, even if a bike isn't rideable, we can still use parts from it to fix other bikes!
• local workshops with girl and boy scouts, church groups, and other community members on bike maintenance and restoration! This way, we will have more hands to help restore the bikes!
• and an all-encompassing event to bring together non-profits throughout Norfolk and educate them about the Re-Cycles project and how they can get involved! 

Keep checking this site to learn more about how you can help with the project! We are open to absolutely anyone who wants to join in and give a hand! No experience in bike repair is necessary!