Thien Chi Bamboo Bicycle Workshop
Creating Rural Jobs in Vietnam Through Bamboo Bicycle Production
Factbox
Location
Ham Thuan Nam District, Vietnam
Grant Period
Jan 2014 – Mar 2015
Grant Amount
USD 17,143
Beneficiaries
10 Families
Focus Area
Overview
Thien Chi’s bamboo bicycle workshop creates stable employment for seasonal farm workers while generating income to support community healthcare and education programmes.
Impact At A Glance
- Full-time employment created for former seasonal farm workers
- Production of handcrafted bamboo bicycle frames increased significantly
- Worker salaries and benefits improved through stable employment
- Profits reinvested into healthcare and education programmes for local communities
The Challenge
Dragon fruit farming is the primary economic activity in Ham Thuan Nam district in Vietnam. Each year, farm workers are hired during the dragon fruit harvest season between May and October, but once the season ends, many are left unemployed.
Without stable work, seasonal labourers must rely on irregular jobs to support their families. The lack of income security often leads to debt and social challenges within the community, including increased vulnerability to poverty and related issues such as alcoholism.
Creating sustainable employment opportunities outside the agricultural cycle is therefore essential for improving economic stability for rural households in the region.
The Solution
Thien Chi developed a bamboo bicycle social enterprise that provides year-round employment while producing innovative bicycles using sustainable materials.
The bamboo bicycle workshop was first established in 2011 in Tanh Linh district as a social enterprise initiative designed to generate employment and create a sustainable source of income to fund Thien Chi’s social programmes.
The bicycles, made using locally sourced bamboo, quickly gained interest for their distinctive design and environmental benefits. As demand grew beyond the workshop’s production capacity, Thien Chi identified the need to expand operations to meet market demand.
A second workshop was therefore established in Ham Thuan Nam district to increase production capacity while providing more employment opportunities for seasonal agricultural workers.
The Grant with AirAsia Foundation
AirAsia Foundation’s grant supported the expansion of Thien Chi’s bamboo bicycle production by enabling the establishment of a second workshop and training new workers.
- Purchase new machines and production materials for the new workshop
- Train new staff to manufacture high-quality bamboo bicycle frames
- Support partial production costs while the workshop improved its production standards
By the end of the grant period, the workshop employed eight permanent staff and one part-time worker. Average staff salaries doubled, employees received insurance coverage, and production capacity increased significantly—from 318 frames in 2014 to 403 frames within the first five months of 2015. Profits from the enterprise are reinvested to support Thien Chi’s healthcare and education programmes.
Gallery
The Organisation
Thien Chi
Thien Chi is a non-profit organisation established in 2004 to address rural poverty through employment creation, community development and social services.
The organisation works with more than 3,000 families across three rural districts in Binh Thuan province, delivering programmes that strengthen livelihoods while improving access to healthcare and education.
Team Leader
Luong Thi Phi Loan
Luong Thi Phi Loan serves as Director of the Thien Chi Centre in Ham Thuan Nam district, where she coordinates and supervises the organisation’s community programmes.
In 2013, she oversaw the establishment of the bamboo bicycle workshop and successfully guided the social enterprise towards profitability within two years, expanding its role in providing stable employment and supporting community development initiatives.
Social Enterprise
