A COLCHESTER charity which donates thousands of bicycles to places in Africa is celebrating its new partnership with Africycle in Malawi. 

Re-Cycle is marking its sixth collaboration with a non-profit organisation across the continent, adding to its existing partnerships in Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.

The charity sources bicycles from across the UK and sends them in shipping containers to African partners.

These bicycles are distributed across rural communities, providing affordable and sustainable transport options.

Re-Cycle's 23rd container, which carries around 540 bikes, will be sent to Africycle in November this year and aims to arrive in Malawi in early 2025.

The bicycles are donated to the local non-profit partner, who uses any surplus generated from sales to reinvest into community-based projects, such as education, healthcare, and economic development.

Charlotte Ward, director of Re-Cycle, said: "I visited Africycle myself this year, and it was an eye-opening experience. The need for affordable, sustainable transport in Malawi is clear, and bicycles can make an incredible difference here.

"By supporting Africycle’s programmes, we’re helping to improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for entire communities.

"The impact we will have together in Malawi will make a big difference in people’s lives, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve."

Africycle refurbishes the donated bicycles and makes them available to low-income households through an affordable sales model and a microloan programme.

Proceeds from the bicycle sales are reinvested into local community projects, including supporting over 500 orphaned children.