Mission
TO EMPOWER SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY RECYCLING BICYCLES AND SEWING MACHINES FROM THE US AND SHIPPING THEM TO MOTIVATED PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1991 AND FROM THE SEED OF AN IDEA BY ITS FOUNDER(A FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER), THE ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN INTO AN ENTERPRISE THAT HAS CUMULATIVELY COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 162,000 BICYCLES AND OVER 5,200 SEWING MACHINES TO THE WORKING POOR IN CENTRAL AMERICA, AFRICA, EASTERN EUROPE, ASIA AND THE ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND THE PACIFIC BASIN. THROUGH VOLUNTEER LABOR AND TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS OF MONEY AND MATERIALS, PEDALS FOR PROGRESS/SEWING PEACE COLLECTS, WAREHOUSES, AND SHIPS NEW AND USED BIKES, PARTS AND ACCESSORIES TO RECIPIENT COUNTRIES WHERE THEY ARE REPAIRED BY NON-PROFIT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS (PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND REPAIR SKILLS TO THEIR STAFF)AND SUBSEQUENTLY BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND REPAIR SKILLS TO THEIR STAFF)AND SUBSEQUENTLY, SOLD AT COST TO HELP LOW-INCOME