Despite receiving no pay or renumeration at all (they even have to buy their own books), the six monitors have labored faithfully for 4 years teaching and leading the TEE classes in Nampula. Therefore, we were thrilled when a generous supporter donated the money for new bikes for all of them (thank you Joseph and Pauline!). I wish you could have seen their faces when Kevin announced it. They all went to the store together that very morning to pick out the bikes, and Kevin bought them the next week. Two of the monitors showed up an hour early to our house to pick up their bikes, they were so excited. Kevin arrived with the bikes and mechanic, who had to “finish” the bikes by greasing and adjusting the chain, pumping up the tires, and doing various other things to get them roadworthy, and the monitors sat around for hours waiting for their new bikes. They are not pink, as they appear in the photos, but green. They have a protective plastic on them which is pink.
Why is a bike a big deal? Well, cars are not an option for folks here. Just to put gas in the car once a month is equal to the entire salary of a normal worker. Purchasing a car is the unattainable dream, and even the cheapest motorbike costs four months salary. So, most people walk or take the public taxi, and they spend a LOT of time getting from place to place. A bike cuts down on that transport time considerably, and is free to use! You’d be surprised at how few people here actually have bikes, and most of the ones we see are used for “work”, hauling wood or charcoal or market goods.
We hope that these bikes will last a good long time and will not be stolen. One of the monitors, Castello, was attacked by thieves on the very first night he had the bike, and he managed to fend them off by using the bike to swing at them. Crazy stuff. -Cami
Kevin & Cami in Southern Africa 