Virgin Unite

Many of us take going to the doctor’s for granted, but in Sub-Saharan Africa it’s not always so easy. Here, many people live miles away from the nearest hospital or clinic and, too often, transportation is unreliable or nonexistent.

A shocking number of people are dying from preventable, treatable diseases. Hundreds of thousands of women across the continent suffer devastating consequences because they can’t access obstetric care during childbirth. And, to make matters worse, less than half of people living in rural areas have access to clean water or sanitation, dramatically increasing instances of illness and even death.

So it’s motorbikes to the rescue. We’re helping build a Rural Transport Network and provide community health clinics with motorbikes so their health workers can deliver essential medicines, health supplies and water purification products, and provide health education to people in rural areas. Pretty impressive, for just one health worker and a bike.

Improved livelihoods and better health go hand in hand so that’s why we’re also developing ways to also boost the local economies where our riders are based. How? Well, riders will have the opportunity to use their bikes to start small businesses, such as couriers or taxi services, in their communities, as well as doing their health work. This means they deliver essential medicines and help thousands of people, as well as earning more money for themselves and help out their families too. Taxi, anyone?

We’ve partnered with some inspiring grassroots organisations, including the Sustainable Healthcare Foundation (SHF), an entrepreneurial network of community-owned clinics in Kenya. Other partners have come on board to help bring the right skills to the table like E-Rangers who is helping to supply bikes and rider training.

And you’ve been helping out too. Businesses all around the Virgin Group have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support this ground-breaking initiative.

So what will you do for Heaven’s Angels today?