{pp}Students at Eden Campus, South Africa’s first, free rural eco-business school for entrepreneurs, are set to launch a business which they hope will become a premier centre for mountain biking on the Garden Route. The business, operating from the campus at Karatara, near Sedgefield, will be launched on April 25 at a handover of 120 bicyles donated to Eden Campus and the Karatara Primary School by the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN). The launch will be attended by David George, Common Wealth Games medallist and three-time winner of the Pick ‘n Pay Argus Giro Del Capo.
Eden Campus’ goal is to create wealth for Africa’s rural communities in harmony with the environment. Steve Carver, the founder, was inspired by his friend Taddy Bletcher’s remarkable Cida City Campus – a free university for youth from impoverished backgrounds in downtown Johannesburg. Eden Campus opened in February 2006 and is now in its second year with the 52 students registered for a two-year certificate in marketing, accredited by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.The Campus partnership with BEN promotes the use of bicycles to address low-cost mobility, health and access to opportunity, employment, skills and education. In collaboration with both national and international development and donor agencies, the project facilitates the transportation of bicycles from Europe, Great Britain and the United States to South Africa, the establishment of bicycle workshop projects and the introduction of bicycle user paths/ networks.Eden Campus’ bike business is one of six being set up by the 52 students there to gain practical experience in basic business skills like planning, budgeting, profit, fair trade, tax and VAT, BEE and healthy competition.The students’ vision for their new business is to be the leading eco-tourist activity centre for mountain biking in the Garden Route. Their short-term goal is to provide local mountain biking services such as maintenance and repair, customising bikes, teaching people to ride bikes, hiring and local tours for visitors. Tours will also include in time a customised service for taking tourists to remote villages to experience how local people live, eat traditional food, and explore the surrounding countryside while leaving no footprints.To launch the Eden Campus bike business and acknowledge the donation, scholars and visitors will set off on a fun ride around Karatara at 4 pm on April 25.David George will talk about being a professional cyclist and what it takes to get to the top. Cape Town singer/songwriter Verity who has supported Eden Campus from its inception will be there with her band to sing. Contact DetailsAmanda BoardmanEden Campus044 356 2789/08www.edencampus.co.za
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