Every June, projects and organizations unite through the Canada Africa Partnership (CAP) Ride bike-a-thon to raise funds for African community development efforts.

The Canada Africa Partnership (CAP) Network is hosting the 17th Annual Canada Africa Partnership (CAP) Ride as a virtual bike-a-thon to provide a platform for projects and organizations to raise funds for African community-led development during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The national bike rally takes place during the week of June 1-6, with riders taking off from their homes all across the country, while participating in an engaging virtual event week experience, featuring remarks by Eco-Explorer Mario Rigby.

As the second virtual ride, the 2021 CAP Ride builds on the strengths of last year’s record-breaking event which tripled fundraising targets, revealing an effective campaign format that allows riders to stay safe and active while raising much needed funds for grassroots efforts to build health, advance education, reduce poverty and adapt to climate change in African
communities.

The economic impact from COVID-19 is devastating many African communities that are already struggling to meet basic needs. With urgent fundraising needs and increasing strain on the non-profit sector, the CAP Ride represents an innovative collective fundraising strategy by Canadian
non-profits.

More than 115 riders on 31 teams have already raised over $42,800 for the projects of our 18 partners to create collective impact across the continent. Meet our 2021 partners:

• Art Building Children’s Dreams (ABCD) – supporting children’s education and well-being in Tanzania 
• ADRA Canada (the Adventist Development & Relief Agency) – raising funds to send girls to school in Niger and Sudan
• Afrah Orphans – operating an education centre orphan children in Dayniile District, South Central Zone, Somalia, and providing support to orphans, widows, and people living with disabilities
• Africa Climate Action Initiative (ACAI) – supporting African communities on the front lines of climate change to adapt, mitigate and build resilience
• Beautiful World Canada – providing secondary and post-secondary comprehensive scholarships to the most marginalized girls living in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Uganda
• Bridging Worlds Through Music (BWTM) – supporting children’s empowerment through music in Geita and Handeni, Tanzania 
• Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) – raising funds to help rural villages in Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania combat the life-threatening health consequences of inadequate water supply and sanitation, food insecurity, insufficient medical care and inadequate education of the rights of women and girls
• CAP/AIDS – raising funds for the Home of Hope in Boroboro, Uganda – an education, community and training centre and safe home for community members affected by cycles of HIV/AIDS, abuse, poverty and orphanhood, equipping young women with livelihood skills 
• CAP Network – supporting the central infrastructure of the Canada Africa Partnership Network to continue supporting community impact across Africa
• Crossroads International – riding in support of women’s rights and empowerment in 11 Sub-Saharan African countries
• Graceland Africa Mission – investing in young women by providing scholarships for girls enrolled in secondary and post-secondary school in Kenya
• Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) – raising funds in support of Simba Utano, a project that is working to improve the health of adolescent girls and young women at risk of HIV in Zimbabwe 
• Neloshan International – supporting single mothers in Kenya to end the generational cycle of poverty by equipping them with knowledge, tools and resources that enable them to be empowered economically and spiritually
• Pan African Centre for Climate (PACC) Policy – supporting a cleaner and safer environment in Africa through education, empowerment & policy advocacy 
• The Rainmaker Enterprise – raising funds in support of solar-powered water infrastructure for health and food security in Tonj, South Sudan
• The Olive Branch for Children (TOBFC) – working with remote communities in Tanzania to assess their primary needs & establish programs supporting the most vulnerable in those communities; riding in support of programs reaching over 150,000 people per year
• Village of Love Canada (VOLC) – supporting 90 women and over 600 children in the Kibera slum of Nairobi; raising funds for COVID-19 emergency food baskets for women to be able to feed their children with dignity 
• Zacadia (Zanzibar-Canadian Diaspora Association) – raising funds for relief efforts and health, education, social welfare and climate change mitigation activities in Pemba, Zanzibar

“I’m proud to offer the opportunity to Canadians to be part of global change and to see our riders rallying behind the cause once again this year,” said Kwame Anane Frempong, CAP Network Board Member and fundraiser, PACC Policy team. “I love to see all the organizations working together to support our partner communities. Our partners across Africa are on the frontlines of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is more important than ever that we see a strong Canadian response and show of solidarity.”

Riders can join or create a team and raise funds for one of the participating partners. All Canadians are invited to learn more, join a team or make a tax-deductible donation at: www.canadaafricapartnershipride.ca

Let’s ride together from coast to coast to coast! Now more than ever, we are in this together.