195. How This Young African Philanthropist is Fighting Poverty Through Cycling in his Country of SIERRA LEONE | STYLISH aka Abdul Karim Kamara

In this episode, you will learn about: How a young man can change so many lives in the African Country of Sierra Leone. Abdul Karim Kamara AKA Stylish has impacted so many people's lives through cycling, creating one of the largest cycling events in Western Africa - Tour of Lunsar, his cycling team and impacting the lives with programs to help kids get to school and women ride bikes.
He is one incredible human!

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/FcpkInqdLUU

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/me/ Instagram Page Abdul Karim Kamara (@stylishmankarim) • Instagram photos and videos Lunsar Cycling Team Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LunsarCycling/ Lunsar Cycling Twitter https://twitter.com/lunsarcycling Tour de Lunsar Website https://www.lunsarcycling.com/
Stylish" is his nickname, he's 29- years-old born in Kabala northern part of Sierra Leone.
Presently leaving in Lunsar where he works for the Village Bicycle Project and runs the Tour de Lunsar which is one of the biggest cycling races in west Africa.  

Stylish was born an organizer in one of the least-organized places you've ever seen. 
 Three years back he won the country's Young Philanthropist of the Year award – a recognition of his work over the last six years, running a feeding programme in Lunsar every August when the constant torrential rain makes it impossible to harvest crops and a lot of people in Sierra Leone go hungry.

Last year the program provided meals for 1,000 neighbourhood kids, making them attend maths and English lessons in exchange for a meal. His income is as a country manager for Village Bicycle Project (VBP) – a US-based charity that focuses on sustainable bicycle transportation in Africa. I deliver workshops all around the country, teaching people – particularly women and girls – how to ride bikes.

WORLD BIKE RELIEF
Traditionally, women aren't taught how to ride because of nonsensical ideas about being able to lose your virginity from sitting on a bike saddle. To these young women, most of whom balance school with family duties, the bicycle can deliver a level of freedom and mobility that's otherwise inaccessible.  His biggest passion project, is his racing team, Lunsar Cycling Team and Tour de Lunsar. The club has around 40 members, the largest of any club in Sierra Leone, and a thriving women's team – something almost entirely missing from other clubs in the country. Many of the riders – the majority of whom are in their late-teens – work for him in my bike shop, with the small amount they earn going towards supporting their families.

He always covers the costs of training out of my own pocket, supplying riders with racing bikes at knock-down prices, as well as providing meals for them after training sessions. Every year, he put on a bike race around Lunsar – the "Tour de Lunsar" – which attracts thousands of spectators. For last year the top prize is LE, 15,000,000 ($1500), which he secures through sponsorship from Science In Sport (SIS) which is one of the biggest sport nutrition companies in the world. It's been a long journey to this point. My passion for bikes started when, as a young boy, my mother got me an apprenticeship to a bike mechanic in the same compound I called home in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. 

As a teenager, he moved out of the city and opened a small shop in Lunsar, where he fixed people's bicycles. In 2013 he met American David Peckham, who was riding around the country, exploring Sierra Leone, searching out local mechanics and selling them bicycle tools. So far this is how it all started.

Please just to let you know I'm still looking for sponsors to support my cycling team and the tour de Lunsar. For my cycling, we're looking racing bikes cycling gear and financial support for all the riders training programs. I look forward to talking to you today.

Don't FORGET to Follow the HOST Sylvie D'Aoust at
https://www.instagram.com/sylviedaous...
https://www.facebook.com/Daousttraini...
http://www.sylviedaoust.ca

FOOD: make sure to download my FREE Cycling Snack recipes
http://www.askcoachsylvie.com

TRAINING: I have an amazing 4wk Cycling Skills program. When you have the right techniques it will make your ride so much easier!
The next session starts in March
http://www.cyclingskillspro.com

Gain Cycling STRENGTH through Working Out Regularly
CycleFitness monthly Membership
Weekly Quick Strength Training workouts & YOGA
Balanced Routine
$7 for 7 Day Trial
Sign up https://bit.ly/3puyCfh

Subscribe and never miss an episode: https://www.secretsfromthesaddlepodcast.ca
Join the FB community https://www.facebook.com/groups/457137678000433

2024 Online Winter Cycling Training Program https://www.cyclingskillspro.com

Don't FORGET to Follow the HOST Sylvie D'Aoust at
https://www.instagram.com/sylviedaoust_cyclist/
https://www.instagram.com/secretsfromthesaddlepodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/Daousttrainingsystems
http://www.sylviedaoust.ca