Being a farmer in Zomba is challenging, something Lasen knows all too well. The 41-year-old lived 3 KM from his farm, so transport costs were eating into his profit and impacting his family’s livelihood – and that was before the work day had even begun. A bicycle was the gift that kept on giving. Travelling to his farm is now free and so much quicker. Employing workers, expanding his land and transporting goods to the market also became possible. This means more sales and fewer losses for Lasen.

Starting a business without transportation wasn't easy for Gertrude. The entrepreneur sold sun-dried fish and rice from a humble bench before she opened a grocery store with tailoring services. The gift of a bicycle only gave her more independence and made her business more lucrative. Operations are now smoother, transport is cheaper and reinvesting profit into her store is possible. The bicycle is also used by her community to transport farm produce and access medical help when needed.

Matilda, a dedicated Health Surveillance Assistant in Zomba, has transformed her community's health outreach. She and her team were formerly disadvantaged by hours of walking, but now use bicycles to get around. This means a more efficient service delivery, improving health outcomes and strengthening community bonds. The bike has also sparked a positive ripple effect in Matilda's own life as it means her family and their neighbours can do daily tasks so much more quickly.