Helping women pedal to personal power
FOUNDED in 2015, Bicycles and Beyond (BAB) is a nonprofit organisation that empowers individuals, especially women and youth, via bicycles.
It is owned and managed by Beverley Roode and Janine Johnson, who believe that BAB plays a pivotal role in Western Cape communities, providing a safe and friendly environment where women and young people can learn about cycling, road safety, bicycle maintenance and repairs.
They also host ladies’ cycling events and bicycle tours, spinning classes, team-buildings events and special holiday programmes in communities during the school holidays.
Roode and Johnson manage and operate the Qhubeka Western Cape Bicycle Assembly Facility at Nederburg Wines in Paarl, where a number of previously unemployed women from the local Paarl East area work as trained bicycle builders and mechanics.
Qhubeka advances socioeconomic development in South African communities through the distribution of bicycles as part of a range of learn-to-earn, work-to-earn, sports and disaster relief programmes.
To date, this charity has contributed more than 80000 purpose-built bicycles, uplifting communities throughout the country.
Q&A with Roode and Johnson:
Why did you start your own business?
We identified a need in our own communities for especially women and youth to learn how to cycle. Given the high unemployment rate in these communities, we set out to empower them with a new skill.
What are the hours that you work?
It all depends on our workload, the time of the year and the projects we’re involved in. Every day brings its own realities.
How many people work in your business?
We have 16 staff members and some volunteers.
What are the goals for your business?
We are aiming to open a formal “training centre of excellence” where we can accelerate the opportunity and available space to teach women and youth how to cycle, and about road safety, bicycle maintenance and repairs.
Learning these skills is truly beneficial, allowing those who have received training to, for example, start their own bicycle businesses offering repairs and maintenance services, and even the sale of bicycles.
It could also assist them in securing employment as bicycle mechanics at existing bicycle organisations, or even to become professional cyclists.
For us, it’s all about giving them a way to provide for their families in an effort to uplift vulnerable Western Cape communities.
We hope we can eventually expand our reach beyond this region to service and uplift communities across South Africa.
How do you handle pressure?
We stop, take a deep breath, take a step back, sometimes even go cycling, and then come back and approach whatever needs our attention.
This enables us to get perspective, to look at and handle each difficult situation with a clear and calm mind.
How would a man run your business differently?
In our opinion, most men might not have the patience and passion that we have for this kind of business.
They won’t necessarily be able to bring a “motherly touch”, something that we have found is crucial in the work we do.
Would you ever go and work for a boss again? Never. Do you ever take work home with you?
Yes, we do at times, but for us, maintaining a healthy work/personal life balance is largely non-negotiable. What do you do to relax? We go cycling – and socialise with friends and family.
What would you like to know about more to run your business better?
How to better identify and secure funding opportunities.
Also, effective and professional proposal writing. We recognise that there’s a lot for us to still learn, so we welcome any advice.
If you had to start again, what would you do better, knowing what you know now?
We would plan better and ask the right questions. Also, we’d know to think before we answer, and take our time to answer important questions. Not make hasty decisions due to pressure and uncertainty.
What satisfaction do you get from running your own business?
We are in control of our own lives. Our work is our passion and we are immensely satisfied.
What makes your business successful?
Our passion and commitment, and the fact that we strive to remain true to our core values.
What form of marketing do you use?
Social media, publicity, collaborations and word of mouth.
What is your favourite mantra when things get tough, to help you through the difficult times?
When things get tough, we stay calm, work through it and find a solution.
Which five lessons have you learnt in your business?
The business is not about us, but rather those we come across, regardless of race, whether they are young or old, male or female.
Unfortunately, not everyone is our friend.
How to cope under pressure.
How to work through difficult situations.
To give and receive. also to