Mogahid showing no sign of ‘tyre-ing’ as he works on a bike that will soon be returned to the local community.
AN environmental campaign group has described the volunteering efforts of North West Migrants Forum members as “inspiring”.
For several months now members of the Migrants Forum have been helping Zero Waste North West, through its Life Cycles initiative, give unwanted and discarded bikes a new lease of life.
Life Cycles is a non-profit social enterprise committed to sustainability, wellbeing and inclusion through cycling.
Members of the Migrants Forum have been assisting and learning from Life Cycles’ qualified mechanics in their mission to repair and refurbish bikes to make sure they are safe, reliable and ready to be rehomed.
At the organisation’s first annual general meeting held in October, a special thank you was paid to North West Migrants Forum’s volunteers and others who help keep the project’s wheels turning.
Emily O’Brien of Zero Waste North West said Life Cycles was hugely grateful for the help it has received from members of the city’s migrant community.
Ms O’Brien said, “It was an honour to collaborate with the North West Migrants Forum on our Pedal Powered programme and getting to work alongside Mohammed and Abraham, to name but a few, was truly inspiring.
“These people have faced serious hardships in the face of war and persecution and have come together as a united front to not only help us in our mission of diverting bicycles from landfill, but also to support the ethos of our community project in giving bikes a second lease of life. For that we are truly grateful.
“We are wishing safe and happy cycling to all our friends at the Migrants Forum, come back and visit us anytime.”
• Life Cycles is located inside Derry Train Station and is open Wednesday to Saturday 1-5pm. Bike repairs every Saturday 1-4pm.
