Dave Niswander was 37 years old, held a prestigious position at an investment bank in the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., and enjoyed a distinguished professional status and a promising future. However, a growing feeling of disappointment and dissatisfaction began to seep into him regarding the nature of his work. During a vacation in Africa, a pivotal turning point occurred in his life when he met the founders of the non-profit 'World Bicycle Relief' (WBR), F.K. Day and his wife Leah Missbach Day. This meeting left a deep impression on him and influenced the course of his life and career.
Niswander describes that moment, saying what inspired him greatly was what this couple had managed to achieve, along with their courage to leave a stable life to dedicate their efforts to helping others through the organization, which focuses on combating poverty in developing nations through programs that distribute locally designed bicycles to support education, health, and economic development, and to provide essential transportation for rural communities.
Six weeks after that vacation, Niswander received a phone call from F.K. Day, inviting him to accompany him on a trip to Zambia. Niswander recalls that period, noting that the year was 2007, and he was then working in the financial sector at a time when the signs of the global financial crisis were beginning to loom on the horizon.
With a growing conviction of the need for a change in his life, Niswander returned to his boss at the investment bank and informed him of his decision to travel to Africa for charitable work. The response was simple and encouraging: 'Okay, that's great.'
In Zambia, diseases related to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were widespread, making the need urgent to support community health workers who were walking long distances of 10 to 15 kilometers daily to provide care and support to children who had lost their parents.
In this context, WBR committed to providing 32,000 bicycles to these workers, aiming to facilitate their tasks and improve their ability to reach those in need.
On the ground, Niswander realized the actual need for strong and reliable bicycles, especially since the locally available bicycles were poorly made and could not withstand the harsh working conditions, breaking down quickly.
He then posed a fundamental question to F.K. Day: how to deliver such a large number of reliable bicycles to a vast country, larger than France in size, and with extremely weak infrastructure. Day's response was decisive: 'That is something you will discover for yourself.'
Afterward, Niswander decided to take a leave of absence from his job in Washington, expecting this leave to last only one year, but what happened exceeded all expectations. After 18 years, Niswander became the CEO of WBR after spending six years of his life in Zambia and another three years in South Africa.
The first months were not easy; they were filled with challenges and difficulties. However, the need was clear and urgent. It became apparent that the organization needed a practical bicycle capable of withstanding harsh conditions, which led to the innovation of the 'Buffalo' bicycle, designed specifically for rugged terrain and carrying heavy loads, meeting the needs of local communities in difficult circumstances.
F.K. Day pointed out that Dave Niswander was ready to leave his job and join the organization, bringing with him a business philosophy that perfectly matched the values he and his wife believed in, which contributed to the organization's success and sustainability.
As WBR's activities expanded, the organization paid special attention to the education sector, collaborating with Zambia's Ministry of Education to support women and girls who face significant difficulties in accessing schools by providing them with bicycles. As WBR approaches its 20th anniversary, it is expected to surpass the one million bicycles distributed mark during the first half of 2026, an achievement that reflects the impact the organization has made over its years of work.
Dave Niswander designed the 'Buffalo' bicycles to meet the needs of individuals in challenging conditions.