Bicycles for Democracy

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 00:10 Written by Andrew Lai Thursday, 24 September 2009 06:26

In 2007 Bicycles for Democracy (B4D) UNIFEM Australia partnered with IFSA-Butler Australia to support women elected to local government in Cambodia. Bicycles for Democracy is a small, finite project aimed at building stronger partnerships between elected women and their constituencies in rural Cambodia.

However it also helps promote gender equity, nourishes local democratic processes of participation and validates the quality and legitimacy of women’s decision making in that process. Bicycles for Democracy is the focus of the IFSA-Butler's Community Engagement program where we encourage our students to get involved in international aid organizations.

History

IFSA-Butler’s support for the program came when Ms Nanda Pok, Executive Director of Women for Prosperity (WFP), inspired me after hearing her speak at the UNIFEM Australia International Women’s Day Breakfast in 2006. She spoke about her work delivering training programs for women who wanted to be elected representatives in government. The programs, funded by UNDP and UNIFEM, educate women in governance running for office, community capacity building and gender equity. Since 1992 over 5,000 women have received training in the skills needed to run for election and, to govern once elected to local or state government in Cambodia.

In May 2009 $A2,000 in donations was sent to Nanda for women Councillors elected in the 2008 elections in Cambodia. The 2009 campaign has been kick started and IFSA Butler is donating two bicycles while the Mayor of Leichhardt has donated another bicycle and agreed to be a Local Government sponsor.

B4D is supported by the NSW State Minister for Education, The Hon. Verity Firth and by the Federal Minister for the Office of the Status of Women, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek.

Donating a Bicycle

To donate a bicycle please make a transfer of $100AUD into the Women for Prosperity bank account. This is an organisation authorised to take funds and the bank account is a secure and legitimate international account. This transfer may attract a small transaction fee.

Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for the bank account details

You can post an international bank cheque to:
Ms Nanda Pok
Women for Prosperity Bicycles for Democracy
# 17, Street 430, Sangkat Phsar Doeum Thkov,
Khan Chamca Mon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The funds will go directly to Nanda Po, who will buy the bicycles in Cambodia directly. Once the funds are received the Ministry of Interior and Women for Prosperity in Cambodia will provide your organisation with a letter confirming your contribution to Women for Prosperity should you wish to claim it as a tax deduction.