WOC FAQ

Thank you for your interest in Wheels of Change International, below you will find answers to frequently asked questions.

Founded -
  •  2011 - Wheels of Change International was founded by a group of entrepreneurs that shared a common passion for helping those that need it most. In 2011 Dan Austin of Austin-Lehman Adventures and other leaders with experience collecting and shipping bicycles to Africa joined forces with Michael Linke of Bicycle Empowerment Network- Nambia (BEN) to form Wheels of Change. The success of WOC Montana led Dan Austin to reach out on an international level to create WOC International.
The Facts - 
  • A bicycle, one of the simplest transport technologies, is affordable and can be maintained anywhere in the world with minimal tools and spare parts.
  • In the hands of a healthcare worker, they can cover four times the ground than otherwise on foot.
  • A healthcare worker visits 3 to 4 times the number of clients with a bicycle compared to walking.
  • Girls are 70 percent more likely to attend school if their household owns a bicycle.
  • 5km on foot = 1 hour / 5km by bicycle = 20 minutes.
  • A bicycle carries up to 5 times the load compared with a person walking.
Mission -
Wheels of Change International was established to help the people of Africa gain access to mobility and create a better life for all in their communities.  As an organization WOC International’s mission is to help form the foundation for change in Africa, driven by the simple belief that a bicycle can make a difference.
Directors - 
Dan Austin from Austin-Lehman Adventures 
Michael Linke from Bicycle Empowerment Network- Namibia (BEN)
Getting Involved -
  • 100% of all donations, cash, equipment and materials go directly to the recipient communities in Africa. To date, over 10,000 bicycles have been shipped overseas.
  • Every little bit helps, whether you are donating a bike, donating money, or even starting up your own chapter of Wheels of Change. Your generosity will help change the lives of many African citizens.

Things you can do:

  • Donate a bike (or two or three)
  • Financial donations (through paypal on the right side of the screen)
  • Volunteer your time to help load shipping containers
  • Encourage your friends, family, and community groups to do the same
Donations - 
It’s simple, WOC International 100% of all donations, cash, equipment and materials go directly to the recipient communities in Africa.


Social Media Networks – Stay in the loop with everything going on with WOC International, from news about new shipments to photos of current projects.
Contacting WOC International - 

Due to an overwhelming response we are struggling to quickly respond to everyone. But fear not, we read every comment and will respond in due time. We are working to get a list of approved associates to help with bike donations and chapter start ups, so stay tuned and thank you for your interest in helping WOC International.
Contacts –  
Director: Dan Austin dan@wocinternational.org  # 800.575.1540
Director: Michael Linke michael@benbikes.org.za # +264 81 295 6281
Media -
Shipping bicycles to A developing country is a very media-friendly activity, and local radio, print and TV can all be approached to provide coverage. Timing your media coverage to occur in the week leading up to bicycle collections or fundraising events can have a major impact.

Media request - Please contact Dan Austin - dan@wocinternational.org

Photo request - Please contact Andy Austin- andy@wocinterational.org

Costs - 

To send a container or BEC to Africa, there are 2 major costs, buying the container and shipping it there. While some chapters have gained discount shipping, the majority need to pay commercial rates. We send 40 ft (12m) ‘high cube’ containers, which are taller than standard containers and allow for an extra row of bikes to be loaded. A container costs around $2000.  Shipping to Africa for example varies between $5-$8000 from north America, depending on the location of the shipper and the recipient, bringing the total cost to between $7 and $10,000.

Starting a WoC Chapter - 
Wheels of Change (WOC) aims to empower people in developing countries by providing bicycles and establishing small bicycle sales and repair businesses. If you are interested in starting your own chapter please refer to our Start a Chapter Guide

Achievements -

In 2011 the Montana chapter WOCMontana sent a new shipment of 400 bikes to Nairobi, Kenya to set a up a new shop!

October 2011, Travel+Leisure awards the Global Vision Award to Austin-Lehman Adventures for their “corporate innovation” work with WOCMontana. This monumental award inspired Austin-Lehman and the WOCMontana chapter to create Wheels of Changes International. To start the ground breaking work on this truly inspiring journey to bring international recognition to this great cause.

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