How Bicycle Repair Training Is Transforming Rural Mobility in Malawi

In rural Malawi, a broken bicycle is more than an inconvenience. It can mean a child misses school, a farmer cannot reach the market, or a patient cannot get to a health clinic. The El Chay Foundation's Bicycle Repair & Mechanics program is tackling this challenge head-on.

Since launching in 2018, the program has trained over 320 young men in bicycle repair, maintenance, and entrepreneurship. Graduates have opened 45 repair shops across 12 communities, collectively repairing more than 5,000 bicycles.

One graduate from a village outside Mzuzu opened his repair shop six months after completing the program. Today, he serves over 30 customers a week, employs one assistant, and has become a trusted figure in his community.

"Before the training, I had no income and no prospects," he said. "Now I have a business, I support my family, and people in my village depend on me. That means everything."

The ripple effects of the program extend beyond individual graduates. Communities with active bicycle repair shops report higher school attendance among children who cycle to school, and farmers describe easier access to markets and better prices for their produce.

The Foundation's community surveys show that in villages with a trained bicycle mechanic, bicycle ownership has increased by 35% — a sign that people feel more confident investing in a bicycle when they know repairs are accessible.

Building on this success, the Foundation plans to train an additional 80 young men in 2025, with a new focus on motorcycle repair as demand for motorbike transport grows in the region.