In 2022, Esnart, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Zomba, Malawi, received a seemingly simple gift that has had a profound impact on her life and business: a Buffalo Bicycle.
Esnart sells dry maize in her community, but the long distances limited her ability to reach more distant markets. The limited options led her to buy maize at higher prices, cutting into her profits.
With the Buffalo Bicycle, Esnart’s world expanded. Now, she travels to different parts of her community – including a market 18 kms away – sourcing higher quality maize at better prices. The bicycle also saves her transport costs each week, money that she previously spent on motorbike taxis.
The bicycle has changed my life and that of my family. It has brought us peace and unity.
Today, Esnart has boosted her business and generates additional income, with which she can afford healthier food, pay her children’s school fees and purchase their uniforms.
With her Buffalo Bicycle, Esnart also uses it to access health services, attend community events and run errands. Her neighbors also benefit, borrowing the bike for their own errands.
These changes in her life have not only transformed how she lives her life, but also the joy she finds in her day.
“I feel happy because of how comfortable I feel with the bicycle,” she says. “The bicycle has changed my life and that of my family. It has brought us peace and unity.”
Esnart’s story is a powerful testament to how something as simple as a bicycle can transform lives, fostering economic growth, enhancing community ties, and improving overall quality of life.
