Job created: 19The bicycle-based entrepreneurship programme promoted by A&K Philanthropy is an extraordinary initiative for women’s empowerment and community development that uses sustainable mobility as a starting point to transform entire villages.
It all began in September 2015 with the opening of the Chipego Bike Shop in the village of Nakatindi, Zambia, located near the Sussi & Chuma Lodge. Since that initial venture, the initiative has successfully expanded into Uganda — where the Buhoma Bike Shop was established in Bwindi, near the Gorilla Forest Lodge — and has since reached Egypt and Jordan as well. Today, these outlets are fully self-sustaining businesses: for example, the shop in Nakatindi employs seven women, whilst the one in Bwindi employs 12. The model involves comprehensive training that transforms participants into specialist mechanics and capable entrepreneurs, able to run their own shops independently.
The launch of every new initiative is based on a circular donation model and efficient logistics. AKP funded and dispatched an initial container loaded with second-hand bicycles, collected directly by A&K staff in various countries around the world, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. This effort is complemented by the long-standing partnership with the Chicago-based organisation Working Bikes for the dispatch of further bicycles. The figures demonstrate the enormous scale of the project: in 2025 alone, 1,652 bicycles were shipped to women-led businesses in Uganda and Zambia, bringing the total number of bicycles distributed since the programme began to 24,058 across Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt and Jordan.
The impact of these shops extends far beyond the economic independence of the women who run them, going on to improve the lives of the entire community thanks to an affordable and essential means of transport. In Nakatindi, for example, the female entrepreneurs use part of their profits to donate bicycles to children, making it easier for them to travel to school and the local health centre. Thanks to this newfound mobility, the neighbourhood’s nurses are able to move quickly around the area and provide medical care even to patients living in the most isolated and hard-to-reach areas.
The Sussi & Chuma lodge takes its name from the two faithful companions of explorer David Livingstone, who brought his body back to England after his death in Zambia. Nestled in the heart of Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, the resort is an exclusive retreat on the banks of the majestic Zambezi River, surrounded by unspoiled nature and an extraordinary variety of wildlife.
Famous for being home to the iconic Victoria Falls, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, the park offers lodge guests the chance to admire them up close. In addition to this natural wonder, the resort offers a wide range of activities: walking or 4x4 safaris, visits to local villages, fishing trips, sunset cruises, and much more, guaranteeing unforgettable experiences.
The lodge has 12 elegant Tree Houses overlooking the river, connected to the main building by wooden walkways. Surrounded by imposing ebony trees and spread over two levels, the main building offers an intimate and refined atmosphere. After a day immersed in nature, guests can relax in the panoramic swimming pool or enjoy a rejuvenating treatment in the wellness centre.
For those seeking greater privacy, the lodge offers two Chuma Houses, independent villas with two bedrooms, a private terrace, and a swimming pool. These exclusive residences include a dedicated chef and butler, for a personalized luxury stay.
A stay at Sussi & Chuma is a unique experience that combines adventure, relaxation, and comfort in the heart of one of Africa's most fascinating places.
