Trips for Kids International (TFK) has opened their door to the African continent with the formation of TFK Freetown, Sierra Leone. Located on the coast of West Africa, TFK Freetown, Sierra Leone is the first of what the organization hopes will be many chapters on the African continent.
In collaboration with Village Bicycle Project operating out of Sierra Leone, TFK International is providing the framework, equipment, training and other services to help their new Freetown chapter grow and flourish.
“Unlike in the U.S., there are very few resources available in Africa to help organize and fund a program like Trips for Kids,” said Marilyn Price, TFK founder and executive director. “In partnership with Village Bicycle Project, we are able to extend the Trips for Kids model to our new Freetown chapter and expect it to be the first of many more chapters to come in Africa.”
Founded by Louis Bayo, a Freetown police officer who grew up in the same neighborhood as the children his program now serves, TFK Freetown, Sierra Leone is located in an impoverished, high-crime community with few schools and little opportunity for the thousands of children who live there.
The program has already attracted more than 25 volunteers – most of them unemployed, under schooled teens. “I am thrilled with the incredible volunteer turnout since announcing our program,” said Bayo. “Having grown up in poverty ourselves, we are very enthusiastic about working together to contribute to the lives of the kids in our community.”
The first training session was conducted by Village Bicycle Project staff in August 2013 to the rapt attention of the volunteers and the many onlookers who turned out for the occasion.
“We had the first Learn to Ride session today, and it was fantastic,” said Chris Harbert-Erceg, SL Programs Coordinator of Village Bicycle Project. “All of the volunteers were eager to help and excited to learn about cycling. We look forward to partnering with Trips for Kids as they expand to other areas of Africa.”
