Bikes 4 Life is a global community initiative, based in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to providing bicycles to underprivileged youth, helping the most vulnerable, isolated and neglected groups within society both in Australia and overseas.

It all started with the idea to raise bikes for displaced people, former child soldiers and victims of war in Northern Uganda. Bikes 4 Life are now collecting and repairing bikes for marginalized indigenous communities in Central Australia and on a local level throughout Melbourne, for disadvantaged youth and families most in need.

Bikes 4 Life is the brainchild of the amazing Ebony Butler, Director of Atlantic Star Productions to assist in her human rights and anti-slavery awareness campaign, which aims to see an end the use of child soldiers worldwide. Bikes 4 Life is a relatively new project within Ebony’s overall campaign to help communities she was touched by during her trip to Uganda in 2009, where she was researching and filming her documentary on child soldiers.

So what can YOU do to get involved?  Do you have an old unused bike in your household?  Then why not donate it?  There are collection points in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane contact Ebony to find out where and how.

Bikes 4 Life send bikes to the most isolated, vulnerable and war-ravaged districts in Northern Uganda (Gulu, Pader and Kitgum) who have been affected by a brutal 22 year long war.

So maybe you are wondering how exactly does your old bike help save a life? A bike means greater access to food, water, employment, health facilities and education.  Places too far to walk, suddenly become a bike-ride away.

Similarly, bicycles are sent to isolated indigenous communities in central Australia and will allow greater access to education and health facilities.

Bikes 4 Life recently shipped a container over to East Africa and always need help pay for the next shipping container, visit the Bikes 4 Life website to donate here.

No bikes or cash to give?  You can still help – please help spread the word, repost this on your facebook page, share on twitter and start following Bikes 4 Life on twitter or facebook.

THANK YOU!