Seward Bike Shop Thailand Edition
The Situation:
Civil war in Myanmar has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee. Many children have escaped to Thailand, fearing for their safety or avoiding mandatory military service. If they return home, they may be forced to fight against their own countrymen. Now residing in Thailand at boarding school, they struggle with employment barriers such as transportation and marketable skills. Due to the threat of child trafficking in SEA's Golden Triangle, strict safety protocols limit students ability to leave campus. Often the students have old, non-functioning bikes, but lack the tools and parts to get them running again.
The Plan:
Establish a basic but functional "bike shop" at the refugee school.
The Seward Bike Shop will cover out-of-pocket costs of getting mechanic(s) to Mae Sot, Thailand. I travel by bicycle, demonstrating to students exactly what bicycles make possible: inexpensive transportation, hauling products to market, and getting to work on time.
The Seward Bike Shop is raising donations to purchase tools, repair stands, brake pads, chains, tires, and (dreaming big here) a new bike or two. Last year, the bikes repaired were in such poor condition I'm surprised the students and I got them working. This year, I'm sure a couple will need replacement.
A free-of-charge multi-day workshop teaches students about basic maintenance, tool identification and function, component replacement, and the common compatibility issues.
All donations are made through a 501c, preferably not to the bike shop. At the bottom, you’ll find a donation link for the organization we are partnering with, Lost and Found Ministries of Seward, Alaska, and Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The classes are 100% about bicycle maintenance, repair, and business operation. 100% of funds raised will go towards the costs of the workshop. All tools and parts purchased will be left at the school, at no charge to them. Last year the school provided us a meal which was the simplest, most appreciated, and most often remembered of my time in Thailand. Other than that, the school does not provide any compensation.
