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Pedal Power to the People: Bicycle-Powered Machines Are Changing Guatemala

By Monica Buck

Maya Pedal Asociación recycles all scraps of bicycles, turning them into various machines requiring only human power. No electricity, no gas, no harm to the environment. That is the organization’s key to success.

Carlos Enrique Marroquin and César Molina Zamora wanted to help the farming families of San Andrés community. The big issue for the people there was shortage of electricity, or any kind of fuel really. So they decided to work around the problem and started building the Bicimáquinas – the pedal-powered blenders, threshing machines, pumps, and even washing machines.

The result is truly inspiring; the sustainable, eco-friendly solution has transformed many lives and inspired volunteers from all around the world to come and help the organization. Just watch the video above and see for yourself that donating your old bikes to charity causes really does help!