From simple bike project to long-term social entrepreneurship
Whether old, broken or new, we collect all kinds of bikes to repair and upcycle into modern, comfortable and sleek bikes to donate to refugees. Scooters, helmets and locks, while more challenging to repair, are welcome additions and high in demand!
UpCycle is now aiming towards becoming a sustainable non-profit boutique workshop specialising in restoring, modifying, improving, and custom-building bicycles and eBikes for recreation and urban use.
CAS student and refugee bike mechanic working together to pump up tires
Getting ready for delivery – CAS students working hard
ECOLINT and Florimont students
Puplinges delivery: thankfully, Florimont CAS students helped
Workshop with different CAS schools
Founders with student leaders of ECOLINT
IB students loading up cleaned bikes and donations
Workshop at refugee centre La Seymaz
Thank god for volunteers!
Puplinges delivery
Students cleaning bikes
TESTIMONIALS
I found a bike for me and my daughter. Now we can bike together to the beach, and to see our friends during the long summer while school is out. We have been feeling isolated during this time, because taking the bus is expensive. Now we are free to enjoy this beautiful country, while praying for the war to end so that we can rejoin my husband. – Lena
For the last few months, one of my daily jobs has been to go and shop for food for my family. And when you have few resources, it means buying things in bulk because it’s less expensive that way! My arms felt like they were being ripped off when I had to carry 10 kilo bags of rice under my arms, or walked 8 km to France to buy things from there because it is less expensive. Through UpCycle, I found a bike with a big basket which now allows me to shop much more easily and spend more time cuddling my baby. – Mikita
I am looking for my own apartment to rent. Landlords here are quite strict: they send me where I need to be at a specific time. It takes a very long time to move around by train and bus, to go to small villages in the area. I am so grateful to have this bike so that I can more easily visit apartments and start my own life here while it is unsafe to return to Ukraine. – Irina
